Even as I love the autumn season, it is full of anxiety for me.
I start to mourn the ending of summer when I hear the cicadas grow louder the …
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines. The comments below begin with the oldest comments first. Click on the last comments page to jump to the most recent comments.
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines.
Post a Comment:
Copyright © 1995-2013 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Site last updated: 25 May 2013
|
i love your post!
I normally approach about 2-3 of these approaches at any giv ime, but nowadaysmy aiety is really getting ba.
I try to focus on affirmtions, and having a sense of ahievement at the end of the day. Sometimes, I write down in a blog or in my calendar that I have achieved something, no matter how small. I try to keep a shcedule, and if days are really difficult, I will put things down that cos me a lot of emotional effort, even if it includes brushing my teeth.
a nice post with simple interventions. A cognitive intervention, while easy to advise but hard to put into place, is just this:
stop WHAT IF, and instead focus on WHAT IS and HOW TO BE.
One of the biggets mistakes I see in my office these days is “I need a pill to take away my anxiety”, and yet people almost always have some psychosocial stressors that play a sizeable role to the angst in the first place.
Hence, pills don’t give you skills, so learn the skills and hopefully you’ll need less, if any, pills.
Half the battle is framework, so frame it so it makes you more positive and productive.
Again, nice post for the general public.
It is funny that there is so much about the use of pills to make up for common stress responses. I was just reading about michael Jackson’s reliance and the new measure jerry brown is taking to combat the issue over on emotional brain training news. Emotional Brain Training News Sounds like some others might be interested
Excellent article Therese. I will share it with my readers and link back to your article here.
One of the best techniques I’ve found is simply to refocus your mind on something good (positive or funny) the second you feel the pinch of anxiety or panic coming on. This takes a bit of practice but works great once you learn it. Thanks again!
This may appear to be too simple, but what has really helped me is to stop being upset about being upset. When I welcome negative feelings as something that I am experiencing rather than something that is wrong with me and needs to be fixed, everything just seems to settle down.
I also accept the fact that I can feel whatever comes along; the one thing I can almost have total control is my behavior. I work hard not to have negative emotions drive my behavior. The control does great things for my self-esteem.
I know tip number two is great!
Say more that you’r good enough, say that you are great! Don’t compare to others!
Thanks!
tip number 3 and 4 is what I’m doing. Thanks for sharing this topic to us. Another thing that I do is that I listen to music and will make me feel happy.
i usually calm myself down by taking 6 to 10 deep breath.
Breathe in for a count of 4sec/hold that breath for a count of 7sec./exhale breath to a count of 8 sec. Do this cycle a minimum of 4 times-More IF you have the time. It WILL relax you.(Remember,4-7-8)
Great stuff, all! I especially relate to letting go of being upset over being upset. Stops the “compounding” right then and there. Thanks for the post, I’m a therapist and will share it with my clients, crediting you, of course.
I am determined this winter to find JOY IN THE SEASON – not dread the cold winds blowing. I have made up my mind not to be ‘housebound’ – i have promised my self and my children we will get out for walks etc. I hate that an outsound event/force has control over me and refuse to allow this to continue.I will make some time to go out to a theater, lunch at a restaurant, meet with friends, etc and I will love to wrap myself in a cozy new scarf and mitts – and i will wear COLOUR lots of colour – this winter will be a great one!!!!!!!
There are so many suggestions here, my therapist has already tried to convince me to practice doing…..Set BOUNDARIES..There is nothing wrong with putting yourself first, before helping others (family members)…You have to help yourself, before you can help others… If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be ABLE to take care of others!! … I’M STILL WORKING ON THAT!! …
THINGS THAT CALM ME AND MAKE ME FEEL GOOD: Looking at a CLEAR BLUE SKY (MY FAVORITE COLOR)… OR, A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET OR A SUNRISE, WHICH I DESCRIBE AS GOD’S BEAUTIFUL ART WORK!!! ALSO, LOOKING UP AT THE STARS ON A CLEAR NIGHT!!! IF I’M NOT ABLE TO SEE THESE THINGS IN THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS, I CAN THINK ABOUT THEM AND THE CALMING AFFECT THEY HAVE ON ME.
OH, AND OF COURSE, THE AWESOME AUTUMN COLORED LEAVES ON THE TREES IS ANOTHER CALMING AFFECT FOR ME. I DON’T HAVE CHILDREN, SO THE CHANGING LEAVES DON’T REMIND ME OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, OR HECTIC SCHEDULES.
GOOD FOR YOU..BROADBRUSH!!! THE FRESHLY FALLEN SNOW IS JUST AS BEAUTIFUL TO ME AS THE AUTUMN LEAVES!!! LAST WINTER I DIDN’T GET OUT MUCH, AND REALLY FELT “CLOSED IN”!! I HAD SURGERY DECEMBER 16, 2008, THEN WAS PUT ON DISABILITY. SO I WAS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY, WHEN I USE TO BE ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL WINTER DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK!! I WILL TRY TO ENJOY THIS WINTER MORE THAN LAST WINTER, ALSO. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME TO DO THAT!!! ENJOY YOUR WINTER!!!
I do the work as described by Byron Katie. All the tools and info is available on her website thework.com
PEACE
“Use your SKILLS, not your PILLS.” Good advice if you’re NOT bipolar! I am going in for an ENG on Tuesday – a testing that my new physical therapist called “brutal.” I’m NOT supposed to take any antidepressants or tranquilizers for TWO days before the test. That’s just it – I HAVE to take my meds! My new roommate noticed that the instructions said -”You SHOULD avoid…” NOT “DO NOT.” I am QUITE anxious about this diagnostic test, and KNOW I will HAVE to take my meds irregardless. I’m NOT looking forward to it; but my DR is using it to diagnose what has caused my vertigo for the last 3 months. It is supposed to tell whether my CNS or my BRAIN itself, is involved with the dizziness. I have lost ALL my summer, and don’t want to lose the Fall (my favorite season!). Please PRAY for me; I need all the good wishes I can get!
SuzanneWA,
Do what you have to do during the days leading up to the test. Taking your medication should not cause you the further harm that may come from suddenly stopping it. Notify your doctor so that she or he is aware of ALL your medical issues. I send all good wishes and prayers that you find an answer to your vertigo problem in time to remedy it and enjoy a wonderful Fall!
Hello all:
First off, there is NO reason to be embarrased or ashamed of if you have anxiety, and/or need
meds to treat it, although finding the right one may be a challenge. However, my life didn’t even begin until I started on medication. I wouldn’t be here without it. Please nobody go off thier meds!!!
I found a wonderful quote. “Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tommorrow and it doesn’t happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.”
In the words of Mark Twain: “95% of the things we worry about will never happen.
My Therapist has told me that one many times.
Melissa Wright
Therese, I always enjoy your posts. Anxiety is so prevalent. So many of my clients experience it, and for many, treatment involves the right combination of cognitive and behavioral management and medication. It is not necessarily an either/or. For many people (myself included) the solution is a both… and… approach that allows them to make use of multiple resources. In short, I believe, in many cases, that both skills and pills can equal help and healing.
Each person should carefully explore their options and decide what seems best. This may be trial and error or it may be acting on the advise of someone trustworthy and experienced in treating anxiety successfully. I believe that pushing the “no pills ever” agenda can be very shaming for those who do, in fact, need them as part of what helps them function in a healthy way. I don’t think meds in and of themselves are the complete answer. Many times, though, therapy is not the complete answer either. Don’t forget about artistic expression and interaction with animals, too. Coloring books are still fun for adults, as are Light Brights and magnet sets and Play-Dough. And enjoying a good book or something funny on TV. Just like pills, not all TV is bad.
Carmella Broome EdS LPC LMFT/I
Crossroads Counseling Center, Lexington SC
Author of Carmella’s Quest: Taking On College Sight Unseen (Red Letter Press 2009)
http://CarmellasQuest.LiveJournal.com
Regular aerobic exercise, improving sleep hygiene and reducing caffeine are often useful in treating anxiety.
Manchester Dental Implants
when i was an anxiety attack sufferer,i suffered from extremely low self-esteem.But then i tried out one technique.It might sound odd but its true that it helped me.I actually would say to myself that i am good at everything and that i can do anything in life.You know,beginning to pretend to be a person who is very confident and cocky helps to build self-esteem.
drugs may help but prevenative solutions like these 5 steps are at the headwaters of efforts to reduce stress and anxiety.
WOW! I just want to say thank you for this I have already put reminders for me through my iPhone. I honestly don’t know what happened to my stable secure self to battle this but lately my anxiety has been increasing so I googled it and found this site and have been reading everyones responses makes me feel good knowing that I am not alone and your suggestions will be used for sure. I don’t take any medications as i hate the taste of pills and have been dealing with these issues with anger and frustration. Funny how the most simplest of practices get packed away in our childhood storage and never used continuous through our adult life. You all have really inspired me to figure this out and take back the control I know is inside me, again thank you much appreciated.
Hey, reading this has helped me a lot knowing I’m not alone, the doctor told me I have anxiety, but since then it has got worse and when I’m not having a panic attack or feeling wierd, I tell my self everything is going to be ok I will beat this, but when I get the attack I feel soo low and just think of the negative
I just get scared that its always going to be like this and that I will not beet this 
, I’m going to try the points given above, but I’m not keen on meds due to past childhood experiance, if anyone could send me some more tips I will be greatfull my email is smg07@hotmail.co.uk thank you