What has helped with my anxiety
By dmm1932
@dmm1932 (46)
United States
February 13, 2008 11:09am CST
I have been suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder and panic attacks since I was 21. I am now 32. I am not sure if you ever completely get over it, but one thing has helped me more than anything. Lucinda Bassett's Attacking Anxiety and Depression. I did have to pay for it, but it was well worth it for me. There are many tapes with important lessons. There is a workbook to use. This workbook is excellent. It helps you, through exercises and practices, to realize your negative thoughts and change them. I spent many years going from one doctor to another; one therapist to another; one medication to another. This is what has helped me the most. I still do have some moments of anxiety (who doesn't), but I have not had a panic attack in 2 1/2 years. After a very long time, I am starting to feel like myself again, only better. There are also a lot of great books you can get from the library, or workbooks you can buy at a bookstore to help also.
No matter what people may think about anxiety and depression sufferers, this is a real problem. I have had doctors tell me that it's all in my head and I should "just get over it" (nice doctor, huh). While it may be thoughts that contribute to this, it is very real and very scary to go through.
Hopefully my words will help someone out. I know firsthand how terrible it can be. But it does get better!
1 person likes this
4 responses
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
6 Mar 08
I am glad you posted this discussion.
I am looking for help for my son.
I think he as a form of axiety disorder.
Unfortunately his fear is school.
I need to quickly find a way to help him.
Can you tell me the most helpful things that you learned from the program and book that you mentioned?
Thank you!
@dmm1932 (46)
• United States
6 Mar 08
There are several things in the course that are very effective. First of all, when you get really anxious, take a breath in for 2 seconds, then out for 4 seconds. This calms your body down.
Another thing that helps is visualization to calm your mind. Like imagining being in the woods and hearing the birds, feeling the breeze, things like that.
By far the most helpful thing, which is a little harder to do, but gives long term benefit, is the exercise in which you write down a negative thought right when you have it. Then you write down why this negative thought is not valid, or rational, depnding on the thought. Then you write a positive thought to replace the negative thought. It's basically retraining your mind to think more positive. It does take a lot of work, but well worth it.
For example, in your son's case, his negative thought could be "I am going to flunk out of school" or something like that. Then you write down reasons that this probably won't hapen, like "I may not get the best grades, but they are not bad enough to flunk out" etc. Then the positive thought would be like "I am going to study hard, and do my very best, and I will pass" It takes a long time to get over the automatic process of thinking negative first. I also have another workbook called Mind Over Mood. It is written by two psychologists. I got it at Borders for I think $20 or so. It also has these exercises in it. Good luck to you and your son. Always be there for him when he needs a friendly ear.
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
15 Feb 08
I found the only thing to really make an impact was hypnotherapy it is expensive tho and you have to keep using the tape but as it only lasts ten minutes, it's not too much hassle.
I'm glad you have found something that works, as it is a difficult thing to deal with and I doubt it ever goes completely.
@dmm1932 (46)
• United States
17 Feb 08
From my experiences, and what I have heard, it does not ever really go away. Since every person on the planet deals with stress daily, we are all capable of falling into the anxiety trap. I must always be aware of my thinking because I have, a time or two, fallen back into the same rut of negative thinking and feelings of anxiety. Hypnotherapy is an expensive way to go, though. But if you can afford it and it helps, go for it.
1 person likes this
@besthope44 (12123)
• India
6 Oct 10
Thanks for sharing, true as Anxiety is overloading the mind with multiple thoughts or pressures, that the mind or brain cannot able to withstand..so we burst out in anxiety and tension.
