To ask for your number 1 tip for anxiety?

[KM99]

Me = menopausal, separating from my husband, looking for a new job. Needless to say, some days I'm riddled with anxiety.

What is your number 1 go to thing you do to help manage it?

@Acheyelbows I saw a fb pic that stuck with me and has helped with my anxiety. It is to tell the voices in your head to sit down and shut the f up.

This is good. I read something that referred to the voices in your head as 'the shitty committee' and I quite like that one.

I loved a poster’s description earlier this week. Anxiety is like a bully. See it for what it is and don’t let it win.

When it’s in full swing and you want to avoid the thing making you feel anxious, remember it’s just being a bully and don’t avoid it.

Sertraline game changer, just switches it all off

I find taking ashwaganda helpful (available in Boots, Holland and Barret, Amazon etc). Takes a few days to notice the difference.

Magnesium Glycinate an hour before bed helps overnight.

Getting out for a walk. Breathing helps a bit in the short term.

If it's affecting you day to day do talk to your GP - don't keep suffering on.

Therapy. Exercise. Nutrition. Meds if you need them.

Having time to rest & relax. Not always possible so a short meditation

Draw a circle. Inside the circle write down what you can control, and on the outside what you can't.
Focus on the inside.

Sending love ❤️

Some great tips here.

Hypnotherapy has really helped me. Look for someone who is registered but after one session I felt a lot less anxious. Good luck, it’s horrible when anxiety takes over x

Physical touch either by a loved one or (petting your) pets, it soothes your body as oxytocin calms you down.

Thank you so much you lovely lot!

Prozac.

A bloody long walk in a pretty place.

Writing a journal.

Try L-Theanine tablets they really do work.

Are you on HRT OP? That was the first thing that helped me.

Years ago my lovely GP told me to focus on the mantra "Worry does not prevent negative outcomes". Getting my head around that one sentence has done more for my anxiety than anything else.

A few deep breaths in and out and really focus on them

Consistent sleep patterns. No late nights if at all possible. Streaming and catch up are your friend.

I've had an anxiety disorder since I was a teen. Im medicated which helps but I basically 'feel the fear and do it anyway.' It's my constant companion.

Exercise. I do HIIT classes regularly and I’m concentrating so hard on that physical activity during the class that I tend to forget about whatever was consuming my brain.

Minimising alcohol consumption.

Sometimes just saying out loud (to people who I know will be supportive rather than dismissive) that I’m feeling very anxious at the moment, rather than trying to hide it.

Watch some absorbing TV to try to take my mind off it.

Sometimes cleaning- not that you’d know it by the state of my house! But sometimes getting up and keeping myself busy with a physical task helps.

I hope your anxiety lessens soon

Drugs. Sertraline was a game changer for me after a lifetime of anxiety.

In the midst of a panic attack and about to pass out, a nurse gave me an ice cold drink - apparently shocks the system - and I rapidly recovered!

When panic is rising:
I used to get angry about being anxious and beating myself up over it. This just gave me guilt. I now tell my anxiety in a gentle voice that I know it thinks it's trying to protect me but there's no threat and it's OK. Then slow breathing.

If I know the situation can't be controlled with the above but I absolutely MUST do it, I'd see the GP for something (Valium in the past but not sure if they'll give that out now) to get me through.

I've been in pschotherapy, counselling, CBT, hypnotherapy, and taken meds and now on HRT. Nothing has stopped it in 17 years and for me it's just learning to live with it and manage it the best I can. Sleep is key!

Giving up, largely, caffeine and alcohol. And running/ power walking.

I never thought I'd be this free from anxiety. It's wonderful. Depression, bizarrely, is still a problem, but panic attacks are a thing of the past.

Singing! So so good for our brains. Honestly I’ve come off my Sertraline since taking up singing regularly. But other than that, yes Sertraline is a good shout.

Hot bath lots of bubbles.