Those of you with anxiety. . .

[kniftyknitter]

Is it always the same thing that triggers your anxiety, or does it vary? Mine is fixated on certain things - noisy neighbours, drunk people. I have some 'coping mechanisms' (rarely going out at night, never into pubs) - although I think this might be avoidance rather than coping mechanisms!
Tonight as every weekend I am really struggling with neighbour noise, my anxiety takes over everything. Do any of you have any good coping mechanisms?

Sorry to hear you are struggling. I know how hard it is. Certain things definitely trigger my anxiety- although sometimes i get it for no apparent reason and it hits me out of nowhere. I've recently been reading a book called DARE. I got it on amazon. I've been trying to implement the ideas, and I think if I can practice and practice then it's really going to help me. It's about accepting anxiety, not fearing it! I can't explain it how the book does but I would definitely recommend having a read and seeing what you think.
In terms of coping mechanisms- can you listen to some music with headphones on? Try some mindfulness? Or meditation? I hope you feel better soon!

I'll have a look for the book on amazon, accepting anxiety sounds good as I've had it for so long, pretty certain I'll not get rid of it!
Thank you!

My anxiety is usually worse with new things, places or having to speak to people. I develop a nervous stutter which makes it worse. But it has on occasion just hit me like a brick wall out of nowhere.

As for coping mechanisms I havnt really got anything that works 100%
I listen to music when walking in crowds, when going somewhere new I try to have someone with me ( not always possible) I also carry something that I can fiddle with, something small like an elastic band I find that helps.

I find liquorice tea really calms it down quickly. Unless it's really, really bad. And alcohol makes it worse. Can be triggered by the oddest things though.

Anything triggers me - it's shit :(

Always the same things - drunk people, enclosed spaces/crowds, and travel. I don't have a good coping mechanism...I just don't go out anywhere people are likely to be drunk, I don't go anywhere busy, and I don't travel (and I mean this literally, I haven't left the town I live in since new years day!)
So I can't offer any words of wisdom. I'm queen of avoidance.

Sympathies op, and everyone else, It's fucking horrible
I'm in the process of trying mindfulness, but still get attacks, plus I have a lifelong health condition which makes it worse.

Quite often with me, there's no real trigger at all. I'll just suddenly get a sense of dread for no reason. I often wake up in the night with a racing heartbeat and a feeling of doom, and then I'll come out in a cold sweat and feel sick and dizzy as if I can't get my breath, and I'll be convinced that something terrible is going to happen.

There are a few things that make me feel anxious (a couple of which are OCD related) but it does often just come from nowhere.

My main ones are

Phone calls
New places
Loud people
Drunk people
New people
Too many people in one area
enclosed areas

Many of my coping mechanisms is never going out without DP, or just shutting in on myself, which my DM hates when I'm around her and it happens.

It sucks donkey balls, and I can't offer any advice, just saying that I fully understand what you're going through

Another coping mechanism I have I'd say is celebrating my successes no matter how small they might seem. My most recent one would be that I used an elevator on my own. So now when I feel that awful feeling taking over and filling me with terror I remind myself that I can do it and go through a list of what I've accomplished. Doesn't always work but can sometimes give me that little boost that I need.

Proponanol. It's honestly the only thing that helps. It's not a cure, but has been known to get me from a quivering tearful mess to teaching in a classroom post meltdown.

Avoidance has become my middle name - anxiety literally sucks the joy out of everything!

Anything can trigger a full-blown panic attack. Currently on waiting list for therapy - plus taking diazepam on really bad days.

Propranolol is good.

Apart from that depends on the situation. Overcrowded train, I just keep telling myself that if I really need to I can get off at the next stop and wait for the next train. If I wake up in the night having a panic attack I try and sync my breathing with DH. If it's work I go for a walk - or take more Propranolol.

More generally, just trying not to think and just focus on my breathing. Meditation techniques really.

Another Propanolol fan here. Those adorable pink dudes have saved my sanity.

I do the whole yoga, lavender tea, incense and quiet but they're not always practical.

Triggers for me are loud noises, crowded places, talking to new people, supermarkets, train journeys alone, driving, social events and house guests. My coping mechanism is to take Propranolol. It really works well for me. Also, I'd recommend reading up on women with Aspergers. I've recently realised that I'm most likely on the spectrum. Women often don't present typical asd signs (Due to more effective masking) so are often misdiagnosed.

I only mentioned aspergers because there appears to be a link with aspergers and anxiety conditions. I was viewed by gps as just having social anxiety for years.

Arrietty I have both diagnoses

kniftyknitter I had anxiety a few years ago (about 18 years ago I think). I went to the GP and got seen by a psychologist or counselor, can't remember now what the title was. Just had Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and it really helped.

I have found travel hard, places I do not feel are safe, loud people, drunk people, rowdy crowds. But after the CBT I never had another anxiety 'attack'/panic attack (they were quite mild). Anyway, I do find now I avoid reading things that will be distressing, (I used to read the papers a lot) but I can manage now to read or watch stuff and not get upset.

Please seek help, or seek it again, it has made a massive difference to me.

Anxiety is horrible but it can be controlled, with help, for some. It is just finding out what works for you.

All the best.

I had a course of CBT, which helped me to notice when I'm over thinking things and keeps me calmer most of the time.

There's a grounding technique that sometimes works to snap me out of it when I'm building up to a full on attack - think of five things you can currently see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste.

Breathing exercises - there are some you can use daily as a sort of meditation thingy (but they didn't work for me personally), and some techniques that are really good for calming down and preventing you from hyperventilating. The latter is usually based on how you breathe in your sleep and sort of fools your body into relaxing, if that makes sense.

My anxiety was substantially worse when my ferritin and vitamin D levels were low. NHS GPs seem a bit clueless about physical things that can exacerbate anxiety in my experience, but there is some evidence that there are a few nutritional deficiencies and totally unrelated medical conditions that can trigger anxiety (e.g. anything that makes you dizzy isn't going to help with panic attacks!)

I was referred for CBT and turned down as there is none available in my area. So drugs it is.

BubbleAnimal I am sorry to hear this.

Can you explore other GP surgeries in your area which may be able to provide this.

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/free-therapy-or-counselling.aspx

You may want to look at this for ideas...

www.nhs.uk/conditions/Counselling/Pages/Introduction.aspx#Availability

I don't know if MIND can help, the Mental Health charity, but they may be able to.

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/talking-treatments/#.WaszkMiGOUk

Good luck.

I was referred by the trust. It took a lot to get referred, so when I was knocked back I sat back for a few months . I did see the letter again this week and will retry though.

LEM I'm the same, anything could trigger mine, It's horrible!

BubbleAnimal is there any patient liaison type thing where you are? Can you get some nice bods on your side helping you for free? Where I live we have an independent advice charity and also an independent charity for young people's mental health, where you live there may be similar etc. Depends how old you are, there may be suitable charities anywhere near you.

Good luck, don't give up. It may seem hard but maybe fighting to get the right treatment may empower you a bit. Of course it is is detrimental to you then don't put your health in danger.

I hope some nice local people will be able to help you.

The reason I know about the young people one is because it is for my dd. But as I say different charities and organisations could be geared towards different people.