I feel your pain, buddy. Anxiety's a real beast. Have you tried aromatherapy? Lavender oil's my go-to when I'm feeling wound up. Also, don't knock the power of a good distraction. Funny movies and stand-up comedy specials always work on me. Hang in there, we gotta keep focus on positives. Keep fighting!
i don't know your whole situation, but i'm curious - did something happen about a year ago that might have triggered this anxiety? you know, pinpointing a cause can help us understand our feelings better. i struggle with anxiety too, so i know how tough it can be and i totally get how frustrating it can be when medications don't seem to help as much as we hope. did you talk to your doc about this? they can adjust it just for you. it took me a couple of tries to get the perfect match
and yeah, don't be too hard on yourself. anxiety sucks and makes us think that we're not making actual progress, when in fact we do! and if me. couple of months ago met me today, she would be surprised. i was mostly anxious about being other people, but recently i've gone to club for the first time ever!! it's not really my scene, but this step was so important for me. just a couple of months ago i couldn't imagine that i would do something like this! i remember that my only wish was to go the nearest grocery store without having an anxiety attack. so yeah, don't give up on yourself. i know it's difficult, but you have to keep going for future you
@Ariel Hey Ariel and OP, I'm going through the same thing. You're describing my life right now. I'm super scared of people and nothing seems to help. Most of my friends are online, could that be a part of the problem? It's just so hard to be around real people. I get all sweaty and shaky and feel like everyone's judging me. I can't even leave my room without freaking out. I've tried deep breathing and stuff, but it doesn't really work. I feel stuck and don't know what to do. It's nice to know I'm not alone, but also kinda sucks that others are suffering too. How do you guys deal with it day to day?
@Ariel Thanks for replying, Ariel. I've thought about therapy, but the idea of opening up out loud terrifies me. I'm worried they'll just tell me to "get out more" or something. How did you start feeling more comfortable around people? I feel like I've forgotten how to act normal in social situations. Even simple things like ordering coffee make me panic. I'm scared I'll never be able to have a normal life or relationships. I wonder if I should just accept that this is how I'll always be. Did you ever feel like that? How did you push through it?
@Ariel I've tried some relaxation stuff, but it's hard to stick with it. My mind just races all the time. I feel like I'm missing out on so much because I'm too scared to try new things or meet new people. It's frustrating because I want to change, but it feels impossible
@Miles Rowe hey there! no, i don't think it's because you have online friends. online friendships can be just as real and meaningful as in-person ones. the internet has been a lifesaver for many people with anxiety (including myself). it's more likely that your anxiety is making it hard to be around people, rather than the other way around. have you thought about talking to a therapist? they can help you figure out where these feelings are coming from and give you tools to manage them. also, don't be too hard on yourself. anxiety lies to us and makes everything seem worse than it is
@Miles Rowe a good therapist won't just tell you to "get out more." they'll work with you at your own pace. for me, it was a slow process. and yeah, i definitely had moments where i thought i'd never get better. but here's the thing: anxiety lies. it tells us we can't do things when we actually can. it's like having a really mean voice in your head all the time. learning to recognize that voice and challenge it helped me a lot. have you tried mindfulness? this can help you stay grounded when anxiety hits. i always brushed it off, bc i thought that was some sort of scam (spoiler: it's not lmao)
Sweetie, my heart goes out to you. I remember when I first started experiencing anxiety after my second child was born. It felt like I was drowning in worry and fear. But let me tell you, there is hope. Regular exercise has been a game-changer for me. I know it sounds cliché, but trust me, it works AND I've recently learned that it's scientifically proven to reduce anxiety! Even just a 20-minute jog or a yoga session can make a world of difference
@Imthinking yep, OP, you should try hitting the gym. exercise is a natural stress-buster and can work wonders for your mental health. start small if you need to, even a brisk walk can help. stay strong!
It might sound silly, but give yourself a big harm, a little self-love can go a long way. Whenever you're feeling anxious, try wrapping your arms around yourself and saying: I've got you, and we're going to get through this together! Be your own best friend! On those tough days, be extra gentle with yourself, do whatever makes you feel safe and happy. Here's a fun idea that has helped me in the past, why not create a "comfort box"? Fill it with things that make you happy or calm you down. It could be anything from your favorite snacks to a soft blanket. When anxiety hits, you can dive into your comfort box and surround yourself with good vibes
You're doing great, even if it doesn't feel like it right now. Every day that you keep going is getting you closer to a life without anxiety, a life that you deserve ❤️
I prefer to use art. It always helps take my mind off the intrusive thoughts I have, which I have a lot of if I'm not creating something
hi, james, i get what you're going through. i've been dealing with anxiety for a long time too. some days, it feels like it's never going to end, right? i've tried different meds too, and sometimes they help, but other times it feels like nothing works. sooo frustrating. i know how lonely it can feel when you're struggling with anxiety. i don't really have any friends outside of my colleagues (though i don't think they consider me their friend...) i've spent so many nigts just lying awake lately. i worry about everything and nothing at the same time. it's exhausting. i wish i had a magic answer that would make it all go away. but i just wanted you to know that you're not alone in this and if you ever need to talk and vent, i'll gladly listen. idk if i can offer you anything in terms of good advice, but just a listening ear can help sometimes. we're gonna be okay some day, okay? we're in this together
Anxiety sucks, plain and simple. I've been there, at times I'm still there. It's not an easy fix, and anyone who tells you otherwise is probably trying to sell you something. But it 1000% can get better. It might not ever go away completely, but you can learn to manage it
Therapy helped me a lot, especially cognitive behavioral therapy. My therapist said to me that I have to accept my anxiety, not try to fight it, but fully and peacefully accept. The crazy thing is, when you do it, anxiety kinda becomes less scary and has much less control over you ?? I honsetly don't know how this works, but it really does
@W.Goodman I second that. The less you think about anxiety, the less it bothers you, but it's like a cycle you, OP, gotta break, and that won't happen overnight, that's for sure. It's a process, and it takes time. But stick with it, cause it's worth it. It's tough, but you can do it. Just remember, you're not alone in this. Lots of people deal with anxiety, and we're all in this together. Keep pushing forward, and don't be too hard on yourself. Small steps are still steps, right?
@W.Goodman You're more than welcome! I'm glad to share my thoughts. Distraction is definitely a great tool. For me, I've found that physical activity really helps. When I'm feeling anxious, I'll go for a run or hit the gym. Something about getting my body moving seems to reset my mind
@anitar.7 Thanks for chiming in! You're absolutely right about it being a cycle, anxiety feeds on itself, and the more you worry about being anxious, the more anxious you get. It's a tricky beast, but breaking that cycle is key. I found that distraction can be powerful
When I feel anxiety creeping in, I try to focus on something else entirely. Could be a hobby, a TV show, or even just taking a walk. Anything to get my mind off the anxiety spiral. It doesn't always work, but when it does, it's like a breath of fresh air
kudos for seeking help and taking meds. that's a big step. i found that cutting back on caffeine and alcohol made a huge difference for me. oh, and don't forget to breathe, deep breathing exercises can be a lifesaver during panic attacks for me. it gets better, i promise. what's your go-to activity when you're feeling anxious?
Medication can be helpful, but it's often more effective when paired with other things. One approach that's been beneficial for me is cognitive restructuring, learning to identify and challenge negative thought patterns. This takes practice, but it can be incredibly empowering. When you get an unwanted thought that's bothering you, try to reframe it. Ask yourself if this is based on fact or opinion? Are you assuming the worst? Because a lot of times we probably do.
I relate to what you're going through so much. It's not an easy road, but there's definitely hope. I found that a combination of approaches worked best for me. Medication was part of it, but I also incorporated therapy, mindfulness practices, and some lifestyle changes
One thing that really helped was keeping a journal - it allowed me to track my triggers and see patterns in my anxiety
You should try relaxation techniques like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery as well. These can be really effective for managing anxiety in the moment. Recovery and healing isn't linear, there will be ups and downs, but each step forward is progress. Stay strong, and know that you've got this!
Hello,
You should have a word with your therapist about the medications. It is al about trial and error method where your therapist would try another medication if this is not working. Your therapist should be aware of your concerns. There could be various others reasons also when medication doesnt work like lack of sleep or poor nutrition or any other physical problems which needs to be ruled out too. Remember medication is to control your symptoms but it cant eliminate your problems coming from external sources like work life or relationship issues. Medication will only provide you like breathing space to find a solution for the problem but cant make your problem go away. You need to develop the skills required to handle the situation so medication with psychotherapy and few life style changes.
Following are few strategies you can adopt too:
Develop a exercise routine where you are active and do different set of exercises in a week. Like you could start with walking in the park once a week, yoga twice a week, jogging may be once a week. Different set of exercise regimen will boost your mood too. Start out slowly and then increase the time gradually say 20 min initially.
You can try progressive muscle relaxation. This would reduce anxiety levels and improve sleep quality. First start with head. You have to focus on tensing your muscles by breathing in and then for 10 seconds tense the muscles on your head. breathe out slowly and feel the muscles relaxing. relax for 20 seconds and repeat this process again now for other body parts such as chest, shoulders, arms, stomach, legs. Start with top to bottom.
Maintain journal where you write down your triggers, stressors. This will help you to prepare yourself in advance of what situations causes anxiety and be ready to handle it when you face the stressors.
Join an anxiety support group where you listen to stories of others and you can share your experience. This will also make you feel better as you know you are not alone and this group will understand what you are going through.
Practise mindfulness meditation. Any time you feel emotions surging just feel it without passing any judgement or evaluating it. just accept it but don't think about why,what. Eventually as you practise it you will start accepting the emotions without thinking too much about it.
When you feel to heavy within due to anxiety then just close your eyes and notice your breathing pattern. feel it and then slowly start counting number from descending order. It will calm you down.
start volunteering for community activities.