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| Anxiety and being worried too much
Posted: 7/6/2007 6:58:35 PM | | exercise is one of the best medicines that we neglect far too often. Our bodies need to be managed just like our cars can't be neglected. Totally agree with what you said. | |
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| Anxiety and being worried too much
Posted: 7/6/2007 9:54:58 PM | To the original poster:
Anxiety runs on both sides of my family. Two of my mom's sisters are on just about every med under the sun, while my father has taken anti-depressants for his anxiety for over a decade. I myself have some kind of anxiety, though I don't know that I have ever been properly diagnosed. "General Anxiety" seems to be the closest definition to what I experience. It started very abruptly in my early teens, and continued to get worse in to my early twenties. Since then, I have sought to "cure" it in various forms without the use of medications.
I'm not a doctor and have no medical or psychological schooling, so I can't diagnose or prescribe you. However, I can tell you what has helped me over the years (I will be reiterating in part what other people have said):
FIRST
- Become aware. Learn about what ails you. Read, research, etc. The fact is that anxiety is an exaggerated stimulated response to unthreatening things. It's something that heightens our awareness and probably saved our ancestors ass in many situations, but is a burden for most civilized people with this particular genetic disposition. There is a wealth of info on this topic, and I suggest reading about it. Also, everyone's experience is unique, but the likeliness is that someone out there has been through something similar to you and come out the other side.
ESSENTIAL
- Exercise. Exercise helps to lower your blood pressure and expend frenetic energy that all too often fuels unhealthy thoughts in the brain. I've found that balancing forms of Hatha Yoga with jogging and "fun" or hobby-like forms of exercise like hiking and snowboarding is a beneficial combo. That way you don't get burned out on one thing.
- Diet. People burn food more through mental metabolism than physical, so what you eat, especially if you have anxiety, is very important. I try to go easy on refined sugar (especially sodas), NO ALCOHOL, NO DRUGS, NO CAFFEINE, and I only eat red meat when I crave it.
- Sleep. Since anxiety uses up so much energy (and often doesn't allow you to rest during the day) a good night's sleep is essential. However, binge-sleeping (where you get no sleep during the week and then sleep all through the weekend) only adds fuel to the fire. Make it a point to go to bed and get up at the same time every day -- preferably early.
- Talking. Find someone who you can dialogue with. Seeing a doctor or therapist is great. I think speaking to friends and family is good, but having someone who isn't emotionally involved in your life is equally, if not more, important.
- Giving. Anxiety is born out of a survival instinct, but as I stated earlier, is pretty unnecessary in the world most of us live in today. So essentially, it just becomes self-obsession. The best way to stop thinking about yourself is to help another person. I have volunteered at several organizations over the years and have found it very helpful for me (and often, for someone else).
SUPPLEMENTAL
- Higher power. For me, this is essential, but I don't pretend that my beliefs are right for everyone, so I put it in supplemental. That said, finding something to believe in has helped to inspire me and give me strength and perspective I don't feel that I would otherwise have. I have nothing else to say about "god" except that you don't have to accept anyone else's definition. I've found that a personal understanding has been the most beneficial.
- Journaling. I hate that word, but writing down my thoughts is often good therapy. I don't keep an official journal or diary, but I will often jot thoughts down on a piece of scrap paper or in a Word document on my computer. Really it is just expression, and whatever form you fancy (writing, painting, music, etc.) it helps to reduce the overwhelming bulk some times.
- Meditation. Some times it works for me, some times it doesn't. I do it when it works, and don't when it doesn't.
- Cleansing. Again, I'm not a doctor and can't say if this will work for you or not, but I can tell you from experience and some reading I have done that there is a definite connection between the digestive system and emotions. When people get extremely nervous, they have diarrhea, when they are stressed, they get constipated. If your brain can affect your body in such a way, then your body can affect your brain. Making sure that one's digestive track is working at an optimum level is important, and for me that started with cleaning the area out. I use Dr. Schulze's product.
- Pets. Pets can help to reduce stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that elderly people with one or more pets, live longer and happier.
OTHER
- The following books, which don't deal specifically with anxiety, have helped me in various ways. If you'd like: "Way of The Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman, "Everyday Enlightenment" by Dan Millman, "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz, and "Unconditional Life" by Deepak Chopra.
- I've listed a fair share of "alternative" methodology in this post and I encourage you to be extremely wary of this particular group. I'm not a New Age person and have found the majority of people I have met in that realm -- no matter how nice and well-intentioned -- illogical and out-of-touch with reality. While I practice yoga, cleanse, and have had positive experiences with some forms of acupuncture, I have also been burned. Better than eighty percent of these treatments are bogus, and there are a lot of predators in that industry. You're probably not naive enough to think sleeping with a crystal under your pillow is going to change your mental habits, but you'd be surprised at how many "cures" and "solutions" can sound persuasive when pitched or written in the right manner. Be careful.
Good luck with everything. This thread is a great first step in finding your solution...or better put; your relationship with anxiety. As for me, like every person on his planet, I have my ups and downs. But they are more slow grades than rollercoaster dips nowadays. Most people haven't the slightest idea that I experience anxiety, and remark that I am one of the calmest most level-headed people they know. I used to be scared to speak in front of people (as a small example), and now I run the weekly meetings at my work and often speak on camera. I don't think I am special in any way, and possess no extraordinary skills that have allowed me to overcome thoughts that used to cripple me. I would just say that the difference between me and a lot of people I know that experience anxiety is that I have always taken responsibility for it, have never considered it incurable or insurmountable, and have rigorously worked to learn and conquer it. As I've heard, "I have anxiety, but anxiety doesn't have me." I've also heard "Life is tough. Be tougher." I just had to learn how. Werd up. | |
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| Anxiety and being worried too much
Posted: 7/8/2007 12:56:44 PM | Excercise sometimes triggers my panic attacks... so, how is this the "be all, end all"????
Paxil sucks if you try to ween yourself off of it.
Caffiene ALWAYS makes anxiety worse... so I would limit your intake.
For me, drinking more pure water helps more then anything else.
Deep breathing always helps as well... | |
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| Anxiety and being worried too much
Posted: 7/8/2007 3:50:30 PM | the suggestion to work out vigoursly for 20 to30 minutes at least isa valid one when you feel anxiety you raise your adrenalin you are prone to panic attacks better you get a a handle on this now by working out you burn off the excess adrenalin!
that being said panic and anxiety are flip sides of depression the most unlikely combination but most people who are depressed also suffer from panic anxiety problems both have to be treated at the same time!
you need to talk to your doctor about these feelings the sooner the better hope that helps you some: | |
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| Anxiety and being worried too much
Posted: 7/8/2007 6:55:49 PM | | over the long haul, exercising will be more beneficial rather than doing it in bursts. I've experienced panic attacks while working out and at other times I've felt completely relaxed after working out. For me I discovered that feeling clostrophobic in the gym is my trigger and that is what caused my attacks working out. So I purposely give myself enough room from others and go during a slower time of day. For you working out might be a trigger for some other reason. Try to figure what it is about working out that panics you. Are you berating yourself for not being better fit, are you clostrophobic? Or is there something else that triggers them while working out? I hope this helped. | |
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| Anxiety and being worried too much
Posted: 7/8/2007 9:17:15 PM | | I agree with ms diogenes, take a lot of deep breaths, exersise as much as possible, eat healthy....all that good stuff. And watch the lion king. | |
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| Anxiety and being worried too much
Posted: 7/11/2007 7:45:47 PM | | There's lot's of reason's for us going through stress. I do it off and on .Supplimentation helps. There are many healthy suppliments that can help that you can get at a health food store.B vitamin combinations , homeopathic remedies , valarian(an Herb) which works real well . Winter depression can be caused by a lack of sunlight which a high percentage of the population suffers from. This can be helped by buying one of the lite books that supply a "sun " replacement therapy that really works well. As for medications I don't beleive in them . They do not CURE the problem nor HEAL the problem that is occurring in your body .You need to get to the root of the problem and take it from there . The meditation is a good thing , so is relaxing forms of exercize but sometimes this is not enough . I know I went through the doctor /medication merry-go-round years and years ago and the only thing it did was make me fight it and hate it for it only masked what was wrong it didn't heal it .Doctors and medications don't heal the problem --- only your body can do that with you helping it out . | |
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| Anxiety and being worried too much
Posted: 8/10/2007 7:19:28 PM | Just Run.Or get on a bicycle and really ride hard.If it's too late to go outside or the weather stinks, watch a movie you think will help ya get you're mind off of you're troubles and concerns.Play videogames.Go somewhere and meet up with people to talk with.Play music that gets you're troubled mind off of troubling stuff.
I've struggled with reoccurences of anxiety and unneccessary worrying,along with obsessive compulsive disorder in stints and spurts since the age of 15.I'm 37 now and mostly,it's obssessive complulsive disorder every now and then,along with general basic anxiety and getting down on myself,but i continue to battle the everlasting auras of negativity out there in the world which seem to have they're ways of triggering such negative brain reactive responses.
Just know and realize that everything will turn out fine by itself,but then will challenge you again and again until you finally decide to just let go and let things be as they are to naturally be.
Like the beatles tune says......."Let it Be!".
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| Anxiety and being worried too much
Posted: 8/11/2007 6:51:47 PM | PAAAAAAAANNIIIIIIC!!!!!!!
Sorry that wasn't very helpful.
Same as most posts here: Diet and exercise. Endorphins are a good thing
If all else fails check with the doc...
I do know of a guy who had a panic attack and jumped out of his plane without a parachute. So this could indirectly kill you. You are wise to seek help and use it. | |
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