Unexpected Visitor.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Unexpected Visitor.
14
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 6:47pm

Hello there~

I'm new here , I actually used to be a cl on the relationship board several years ago. Anyway...My name is Jani, but I'd like to be called Honesty. Hope everybody is having a great day..it's so beautiful outside!

That brings me to my ordeal....

The unexpected visitor...'ANXIETY'....it happens at the oddest of times...my heart feels like a small race car's engine, trying to make it to the finish line, which by the way is on the other side of my body...

I take xanax mostly at bedtime, although, I also take it when that feeling decides to just make it's presence known...siiiiggggghhhhhhhhh

Does anybody want to share with me
1. How to calm down
2. How you ride through the anxious feeling
without taking more medication

I'd appreciate any feedback....I look forward to meeting you!

^j^Honesty

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2007
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 11:03pm
Hi Honesty,
I have some ideas for you to try. They're a combination of what my therapist has taught me & my years of trying to cure myself. One of the easiest things is counting. My therapist says forcing the left side of your brain to take over will calm you down. So counting, smelling something strong (she suggested vicks cream) singing, reciting anything. These work for me. If you're in a position to talk yourself out of it, then accept that it's just a symptom, remind yourself that a panic attack has never killed anyone, deep breathing, & just talk to yourself & reassure yourself that you're going to be ok. Hope this helps!
Lynn
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2006
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 11:13pm

Honesty,

I,too,experience my bouts with anxiety at bedtime. What if I can't sleep? Who will I talk to? Will I be alone all night long? Who will take care of me if I'm scared? I go crazy worrying about the feeling of loneliness that comes when everyone else is asleep and I'm not. Enough about me, just wanted to let you know that I know EXACTLY how you feel. It can be very tough to wind down. Here's my advice.

1) Don't TRY. Just BE. The harder you try to resist feeling anxious, the louder the anxiety will roar at you. Just give in. Like the cold or a bad cough, you've just got to let it run its course. When you do this, the course is very brief. If you resist, it persists.

2) I,too, do not like sedative medication. I do, however, drink Celestial Seasonings "Tension Tamer" hot tea. I don't know if you're into that, but its very soothing and it is all natural. No chemicals or pharmaceuticals involved. Some tea along with a good sit com is just right sometimes to wind down.

3) Meditation works. I don't like the word meditation because it brings along that creepy Tibetian monk image sitting on a mountaintop chanting "Om" for hours. That is not what I am talking about. So, I will call it concentration instead. When you're in bed, just concentrate on the inhale and exhale of your breath. When you inhale, take in all the stress, anxiety, and worry you can muster. When you exhale, push the negative out. Use imagery in your head to accompany your breathing. Also, practicing full-body relaxation always puts me to sleep. Start at your toes. When you inhale, contract them and make them as tense as possible. On the exhale, relax. Work your way up your body slowly. Toes, feet, calves, thighs, back, etc. I usually dont' get past my legs (haha). The important thing is to be patient. If it doesnt work, just start over. Don't get worked up. When your body is tired, have faith that it WILL fall asleep.

Hope this helps.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 11:36pm

Hi Lynn,

Thank you so much for responding...Wow...I've been doing a couple of those things; counting and talking myself through it, telling myself that I'll be fine...strong smells and reciting something over and over are other things I'm definitely willing to try...

I'm really happy to be able to try some new things...

Thanks again Lynn!

^j^Honesty

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-04-2007
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 11:56pm
Glad I could help!! If you need anything else, you know where to find me!
Lynn
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 05-09-2007 - 9:53am

thATT7.gif


Hi, Honesty! Nice to see you;) You can find lots of techniques in the *coping tips & tricks* folder below. Also, reading the back posts will give you plenty of new ways to beat anxiety. Someone posted once that eating a *tic-tac* helped her to focus. A friend of mine sips on pepsi when she panics & feels her throat getting tight. She never leaves home without a bottle in her purse. I use the belly breathing & positive affirmations to get me through. If the panic strikes with a vengeance, I use progressive relaxation to get some muscle control. I am a shiverer & shaker when I have intense panic.


Keep in touch! GL & GBU! (((hugs))) jan

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Wed, 05-09-2007 - 1:54pm

Hey jan,

Thanks for the warm welcome...I appreciate all the help and suggestions that everybody has been so kind in sharing with me...I'll surely check out the tips and tricks and back posts...thanks!

I like tic tacs, although I have a tendency to swallow them, so I don't try anymore :( But I do try to focus on something positive :)...And as for drinking Pepsi...I always drink it...caffeine free...but to no avail...Maybe it's the caffeine that I need, lol...

For so many years, I went undiagnosed and I knew something was wrong, so, on my own, I learned how to cope by counting often, making crazy 8's with my toes while going to sleep and deep breathing...I still do these things, even after being diagnosed, only a year ago...

I've felt for a long time the I am somewhat OCD...hmm, is there such a thing as being somewhat OCD?, lol...I've got a lot of reading to do on this...I think I'll write a paper on these things...Maybe it help ease some of my anxieties or could it make them compound themselves...?

^j^Honesty

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2005
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 1:32pm

Does anybody experience mid/late afternoon exhaustion?

Due to having anxiety attacks...

I have this often occur...also try to battle through many unwanted anxiety

This makes me wonder...Any thoughts?

^j^Honesty

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Thu, 05-10-2007 - 11:15pm
hello, honesty! i havent had a full blown anxiety attack in almost a year-but what works for me is simply breathing-deep breaths, walking around...drinking some water-splashing some on my face-stretching my body out(touching my toes while breathing deep)...putting on some music i like-really loud...prayer...focusing on the good things in my life-(okay-the bills are paid...you have 2 healthy kids...youre healthy...etc). walking around outside...holding and petting my cat...staring mindlessly at the tv for a few minutes...reading a few pages of whatever book i might be reading...vocalizing my thoughts/venting out loud (to nobody except maybe my 3 year old...i get accused of talking to myself, but vocalizing the thoughts really helps)...doing something i enjoy-like going on the message boards or playing a game...or calling my mom or sister or hubby or dad if it really is bad...okay-i just now realized i have a ton of coping mechanisms-lol. i have GAD and ive never used medication (except otc sleeping pills at times)so i have to find ways to cope without it. take care!!
joanne
maman2goons@yahoo.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 12:19am

thATT7.gif


Hi, Joanne! It's nice to see you;) We appreciate you replying to posts & sharing your experiences. Don't be a stranger. GL & GBU! (((hugs))) jan

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Fri, 05-11-2007 - 12:30am

I haven't had that sort of daily exhaustion in a long time. When I was experiencing severe anxiety it was a real problem. Nowadays I stick to my routine, making sure I have plenty of *me* time. Also, inactivity for a few days will set me back. Thus, I keep up with my exercising.


Have you considered supplements? Some people have posted different vitamins, herbs

 

 


 



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