Topic: SELF HELP TIPS FOR MANAGING ANXIETY

Recently when given the opportunity I stop what I am doing and meditate in the sun for 10 mins.

Work can be quite busy and noisy at times so sometimes I have morning tea outside in the sun

Hi there,

I have GAD and I'm always on the search for quick,helpful tips.

Thabkyou for sharing these tips! I'll write them down and refer back to them often :) 

Hi wonderful post.

Some things I've found helpful to manage Anxiety are:

Cutting out or limiting Caffeine: Switching to Herbal teas like Chamomile.

Colouring In, Painting, Photography and Sketching: It helps to have a hobby it makes us kinder to ourselves.

Meditation or Guided Meditation:  This helps us relax and feel calmer in tough situations. 

​Muscle Relaxation Exercises:  Exercises that help to relieve tension in your body. 

Breathing exercises: ​Can sometimes help when you have night terrors or other stresses.

Exercise:  Makes us feel good and keeps us fitter. 

I really enjoyed reading all the other responses as well, I think theres a lot more out there to try!

Thank you,

~Stacy

Hey Everyone :-)

"Calm and True Acceptance" (Ref: Dr Claire Weeks..RIP...Self Help For Your Nerves) A small paperback/download that is written in plain English without any jargon...Its old..but it works..

Turn off any cellphones/ipads'tablets before going to sleep...They will only increase your thought processes/brain activity and hinder a quality REM (rapid eye movement) sleep :-)

Kind Thoughts

Paul

Hello,

I actually found this book to be extremely comforting, and entertaining at times. A great pick me up when times are getting tough..

"Opening the Door of Your Heart" by Ajahn Brahm.

This was recommended to me by someone who also suffers from anxiety and depression. 

Regards,

Bek

the best way that i have found is to do something with your hands such as colouring in or knitting. I find as long as my hands are active then the anxiety is reduces.

hope that helps

Hi Mickey, I too do mental maths, like working out my budget. When I shop I calculate my shopping. Anxiety is ebbs and flows, not a daily thing for me but I do get anxious about not getting enough sleep therefore I dont sometimes lol. I also do crosswords.

This post was very helpful to know Im not the only one.

Hi Bluekimba :)

Pardon my absence I had a few classes to attend.

As you mentioned exercise when you have 3 little ones, please don't worry so much about it. I have to admit that sometimes even though I am feeling good I don't exercise as much. I have a niece and I find that by copying her eating habits helped.

For example eating smaller amounts regularly.

Making food more interesting.

Staying hydrated

This might sound weird but also freeing up time for games helped. Even chasing your kids around when you feel well enough can be counted as exercise.

Totally understand that not feeling up to exercise, I hope you found some of my insights to be helpful. Good luck with everything.

~Stacy

Hi everyone

I have found that exercise helps in keeping my anxiety in check. And watching what I eat as well. Skipping a day or two is not a huge deal, but ongoing it just doesn't work. Being in the sunshine, avoiding too much sugar and staying hydrated helps a lot. Also, being out with a friend, who doesn't judge, is good therapy. Often we talk about his day and his challenges. It does take to focus off me. Which I find is a welcome relief.

Very new to panic attacks and recently nervousness / anxiety which lasted 3 days. I walked to stop the jitters, . I got on YouTube and looked up Tapping lots there but I found a guy named Brad was straight to the point. I felt myself getting panicky while falling asleep so did this tapping and I came straight out of it. I also have to have a light on so If I wake at night i can see. I also listen to a mantra with background music. Also talking myself telling me there is nothing to panic about. The other thing is i ring my niece and talk. You have to get your mind off it. Good luck everyone it is a horrible thing. I'm on my own which sometimes makes me freak out more.

Hi

Has anybody heard of Paul david and his book (at last a life) it basically explains anxiety

Hi Julia,

I have used the Sarah Edelman CD and found it very beneficial. I also recommend The Meditation Podcast and Meditation Oasis, both easily found and free to download. My go to book has always been Self Help For Your Nerves by the late Dr Claire Weekes, written many years ago but as helpful and as relevant as it was when first published. Her mantra, float and let time pass and the panic and anxiety will pass. It always does.

Hope this is of some assistance. Continued good wishes for your journey towards wellness.

Kind regards, Guy.

Hi there,

Remember, you are never alone. Someone will always be here to talk and help. I've fought anxiety for nigh on 25 years and it comes and goes and I've learned the signs and triggers. I can recommend plenty of things that might help, mostly of a meditative and wellness nature. I try to avoid medication if I can but am currently going through a period where I find it necessary.

Stay strong, have faith and never give up. Always here to talk if needed.

All my best.

Guy

CDs with natures sounds on them: I find them to be really helpful. I have a number of them actually. Things like sounds of waves, wind in the trees, birdsong, water flowing, things like that. Very restful and calming. The real thing would be just as good - take a walk on the beach, a walk along a tranquil river.

See if that helps .......

Hi everyone, just a reminder that this a thread for posting your self-help tips on managing anxiety, so we've had to edit and remove some off-topic posts in here this morning. People coming into this thread will be expecting to find examples of tips that others have used to manage their anxiety, if you have a question about your anxiety or want to discuss your own situation in more detail then please start a new thread. Thanks!

My anxiety is so off and on. One minute i'm tackling the world, the next minute i'm get afraid to go out and do the things I love. So to cope with the ups and downs here's a few things that really work for me:

Acceptance - acknowledge, accept and challenge uncomfortable feelings or unwanted thoughts as fighting them will only make your symptoms worse. One day they just won't matter at all.

Reflection - take some time out of your day to look at your anxiety and understand it. I realised it wasn't the big, scary monster I perceived it to be. Writing your feelings, thoughts and experiences during moments of setback can be a real eye opener on how really bad your symptoms are.

Time - devote a portion of your day to both relax and spend time with your anxiety. Listening to calm music, walks and meditation are great ways to do both.

Support - parents, friends, gp, therapy, uni societies, co workers - whatever! - are great ways to move on from your anxious symptoms and help you get back on your feet in the darkest of moments.

Really hope this helps! :))

Muddlee

HI everyone

Here are the ways that I found useful in helping with my anxiety

1/Talk to others that are supportive on what you are going through especially if they have dealt with it personally and have got through it

2/Spend time playing with a pet.Their unconditional love can be a great comfort

3/Walk everyday for a minimum period and try to focus on things around you rather than how you feel

4/Take up something new ( I took up guitar a year ago and love practicing every night)

5/Get a fitbit and have a steps goal and focus on achieving this no matter how bad you feel.Meeting a goal is a great mood booster.

6/I step on the spot humming tunes ( I hum because my singing is not good )

7/ Use distraction.I liked gardening and doing dishes or preparing the evening meal

8/I found a heated wheatbag on my tummy very comforting.I even did it under the desk when seeing clients !

9/One thing I found very useful was to Just Focus on Today.Do not let your mind go to worrying about what tomorrow will be like or when you will feel "normal" again.It will happen in time but concentrating on just today seems to limit the potential anxiety.

I hope these tips help someone else.Many tips I have read about in books did not help me but the more you hear about the more you can try and discover which are best for you.

Best wishes from Rick (Fozzy)

Anxiety can be disabling, making it hard to do the smallest tasks.

A few things that can help lessen anxiety, even if it's momentary, is to breathe.

As trivial as it sounds, taking out 10 seconds from the anxiety inducing situation to breathe can help you gain clarity in your mind and see that the situation may not be as bad as you initially thought.

It's important to know that you are not alone in these situations and there are many other people who are going through the same thing.

If anyone else has any suggestions on how to deal with anxiety, please respond.

I look forward to your responses :)

- Alison, Not so 'mental'

I find Eckhart Tolle very helpful. He has become big business now but dont be put off by that. Just read Power of Now or one of his other works or watch on you tube. He sufferred terribly on the verge of suicide when he had an amazing breakthrough. Hes a humble chap and very sweet. Give him a try he is wonderful for mindfulness and meditation. He was in the bad place and broke through. Dont buy into the product bs you can access him free on you tube. I send my thanks and gratitude to all of you. Nice not to feel so alone any more.

Hi Alison,

I have reducing anxiety and had a lot of depression. Attempted to take my life once. I have been on a variety of medications and prescription drugs as well. Goes Ok for a few weeks and then gets worse again during the taking of medications. Medications also have the habit of calming me but in the process also make it so I have little energy to do the things I need to do. I then get angry, frustrated and super tense that I am not capable and hence make things worse.

A friend who had similar issues is now bright and bubbly. I said to her that she is so bright and bubbly and full of energy. It is hard to believe she was in a anxiety and depressionary situation.

Play indoor soccer 3 times a week at 60 yrs of age. I also eat raw organic foods as well. 

I hope the above advice will pass the moderators as this has been very life changing for my wife and I.

Jawrge

1) avoid songs that might sound nice but are actually depressing foe ex.adel some one like you or some james blunt songs except bomb fire heart.so positive music.

2)when i drive the car i can do so and day dream,so i can drive and thing bad things too.not on a motorbike,some thing kicks in that i become completely fearless and focus't that the world and all its crap disapearse from my mind.

3)avoid as much as possible watching the news.

4)watch comedy.

5)watch action and thriller movies

6)mostly im scared of my own shadow,so before i walk out the door i act the part and tell my self in my mind:

im hansom, im tough,im an above average person and i don't give a f... .i think of some thing funny to from a comedy show so i look happy too.i think all this because if i look like a miserable scared lamb some wolf could eat me.

there are other things to but all ready mentioned here.i wish good luck to you all.

Good one dueb,

I have stopped reading newspapers and watching the news. Instead we watch game shows at dinner time and the kids and i play. I watch light sitcoms Everybody Loves Raymond, Big Bang Theory and light hearted movies.

I also try and tell myself i don't give a f.... It works when i feel well lol.

Baby Steps