Tops for dealing with anxiety without meditation.

[Monr0e]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for advice on how to deal with increasing anxiety.

I have always been a bit anxious however as I have got older and since menopause, it is getting increasingly worse. I wake every morning with a knot in my chest feeling constantly worried throughout the day.

My worries are never for me but for my dc's or dm. E.g we are on holiday at the moment, the first day of our holiday, 19 year old ds found out he had failed 2 of his end of year exams at uni. I cannot stop worrying now about what will happen if he fails his resits, will he be kicked off his course, will he ever get a job, how will it affect his mental health etc.

I am also struggling being away from home despite being in a beautiful place and can't wait to go back. I know how unreasonable this sounds but can't seem to help it.

I feel this is just getting worse as time goes on and rather than enjoying experiences and being grateful for how lucky I am in certain ways, I'm catastrophising on all that could go wrong. If I wasn't worried about ds, there would be something else I would be focusing on.

I hate feeling like this, but I cannot seem to help myself feel better. I am very intolerant to most medications so I'm looking for any advice that has worked for others. I'm open to anything! Diet, exercise, you tube videos. Anything at all anyone can recommend, thank you

How old are you, this sounds very peri?

I'm 51

Couple of videos from my mentor and friend Tim Box, which may help you;

Morning anxiety;

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How not to feel anxious about anxiety;

@Eyesopenwideawake. Thank you. That really helped.

Thank you very much for sharing

That was really helpful especially the one about morning anxiety, this is exactly how I feel

I've just realised the mistake in my title, I meant to say without medication, not meditation 🙈

I am quite open to meditating!

Hi I was suddenly overwhelmed by horrendous anxiety at 52 and after a lot of struggles found it was directly linked to Menopause. The right HRT has made a huge difference. I refuse to take medication even though it's been really bad at times, but I would never judge others who do.

It's quite a personal thing, but I found a journal helped. I do an exercise where I confront a particular worry, write it down, then write down the actual facts are related to that worry. Then write down what is the best and worst outcome, and finally what action you could take. Really unpicking a particular worry on paper helps, and remember that thoughts and feelings rarely represent the truth of the matter.

if you haven't already done so learn what anxiety is, how it affects you mentally and physically, what your nervous system does. A big part of anxiety is fear, get a handle on the facts.

I like Claire Weekes and Julie Smith but go careful with You Tube videos, too much can make it worse.

Never shy away from situations that make you anxious, you are stronger than you think. Try to train your brain to know you can be really worried and still be ok.

Then good diet, sleep, reducing caffeine and alcohol, fresh air, yoga, time for you. Sounds like a cliché but it matters.

And finally remember that a lot of people out there, go through this and it will get better, but if it doesn't don't be afraid to ask for professional help.