What works for you to overcome fear?

[ScaredyMcScaredyCatterton]

I go through phases of anxiety, which I'm taking medication for but I'm looking for helpful tricks and coping strategies that people employ to deal with their fears. I always tell my kids that it's ok to be scared and being brave means doing things in spite of being scared but I'm tired of feeling those worry worms wriggling around my stomach for every tiny little thing. I can do stuff in spite of being scared but how do I stop or reduce the intensity of the fear in the first place?

Try a CBT course.

Anything else? I am curious about what has helped other people?

Cbt did nothing for me. I understand and agree with the logic but cant put it into place.
What medication do you use op? I have propranolol.

I went through this when my anxiety was so bad I couldn’t leave the house - not even to go to the corner shop. Honestly, the only thing I found that truly helped was constant exposure and making sure I followed through and did the things that made me anxious, because every time I didn’t it just reinforced that it was scary and it was worse the next time. I went from feeling like I was physically going to vomit when I had to leave the house to actually enjoy getting ready and feeling excited about it. What also helped whilst doing this was grounding tools - me personally what helped was carrying round my favourite lush massage bar because I love the smell of it so whenever I felt overwhelmed I would just inhale and exhale the scent of it. I also used fidget toys and when I was driving having something around the gear stick to feel (a hairband for example). I also like ASMR on TikTok and some people like really sour sweets as it’s so sensory that your mind can’t focus on that and being anxious at the same time. Hope it goes well! 💐

ETA - you can also try the 5 senses (actively look for 5 things you can see, hear, smell, feel) to calm down when anxious and the pendulum theory, you might have to google for a full explanation but basically pinpoint where you most feel anxious in your body and acknowledge how it feels (nausea, racing heart, sweaty hands) and then somewhere where it feels less anxious (even like a toe or something!) and then acknowledge how that feels (calm, peaceful) and then go between the 2 places and feelings. Google it - it’s really helpful!

I've never had anxiety and don't do stress so this is probably useless. Stop caring about what others think is the big one, they have their own shit to deal with and don't truly care anyway.

I would think you need to drill down to what is causing the anxiety and work through it. I personally see worry as a complete waste of time and energy but have no idea how to pass this feeling over to you. 💐

I would recommend the book ‘At Last A Life’ by Paul David to get this ‘I don’t care’ feeling. It has really good reviews and people claim it changed their relationship with their anxiety and completely changed their life.

Budhhist meditation and chanting. Honestly, it really helps. You find your own little mantra and you just start silently chanting inside your head. Brilliant at the dentists, other occasions too.

Edited to add, I hope your anxiety lessens over time, OP, it's so unpleasant and debilitating isn't it.