SHARE WAYS TO LESSEN ANXIETY, PANIC, GAD, ETC.

Fantastic share! The problem with me, when I had the panic attacks, the more I told myself to breathe, realize my body's actions and feelings, the more uptight I became! So, you got it -- we have to get our minds off of the attack somehow and to look at it from a different angle! Super great and thanks for posting, my friend!

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for me, if i feel a panic attack coming on, i don't try to stop or suppress the feeling of panic. i let myself feel it and ride through it like a wave. they actually go away faster that way. also, for all of us who think we are going crazy, just remind yourself, if you really do go crazy, (which you wont) you're not gonna care one way or the other about it anyways cause you'll be crazy! so why worry about it now?
its also nice to keep a small notebook with you, and write down anything you feel thats negative, then, even if it seems silly at first, change that thing into something realistically positive- eg.-"I'm going to go insane and freak everyone out!" changes to- "I'm not going to go insane, I'm as normal as anyone else out there, I'm just nervous and thats ok."
When you do this, it helps condition your brain into eventually feeding itself with positive thoughts, instead of negatives all the time.
Anyways thats my two cents, you guys probably know all of this already :-D

share! And, while you're saying those words to yourself, remember to breathe deep -- Try saying it (hard to put it in words, but I think you'll get what I mean) -- But, "This (DEEP BREATH-EXHALE) Is (DEEP BREATH-EXHALE) Not (DEEP BREATH-EXHALE) A (DEEP BREATH - EXHALE) REAL (DEEP BREATH-EXHALE) THREAT (DEEP BREATH-EXHALE)! It is somewhat of a mantra -- say it slow -- and feel your body with every word -- again, hard to explain in words here -- but I use a mantra "Pray, Love and Support" and breathe along and it slows down the mind while helping that body do the same. Give it a try and let me know if it helps you.

Edited by: MOMMA48 at: 2/8/2010 (21:28)

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I've learned that anxiety is just adrenalin going through my body. It is there to help us run away froom danger or fight (fight-flight) If I'm feeling anxious about going out in public for example, I know the anxiety is just adrenalin pumping through so I say to myself "THIS IS NOT A REAL THREAT"

I learned the 2/1 breathing exercise in yoga yesterday. For every inhale, exhale out twice as long. It helps. I love belly breathing too!

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Sometimes taking deep belly breaths (where you push your belly OUT as you breath in to lower your diaphragm and let your lungs fill with more air), and breathing out for the same amount of time, focusing on the breaths.

When I'm having intrusive thoughts - you know, the ones that just won't stop and make you tense - my therapist suggested pretending I'm watching a movie in my head and pressing stop. It helps a little but I feel the defiant little brats try to creep back in; however, just thinking about stopping them and focusing on the player helps a bit.

For me, either breathing exercises or physical exercise can help, if I can catch the anxiety/panic early enough. If not, I have to resort to my medication, but still try to do something while waiting for the med to start working.
Once I'm already feeling anxious, there is no way I can meditate, but if I did that more often, I think it could prevent some of my anxiety attacks.

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Be it meditating, focusing, visualization, breathing exercises, bio-feedback, physical exercising, etc., please share ways you have found which have helped you lessen your panic attacks or general anxiety! If there is any way that we can help one another lessen that anxiety, etc., let's do it! And, this is a super wonderful group of friends who care about one another and would love to hear what works or helps you!

Edited by: MOMMA48 at: 1/30/2010 (21:19)

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