How do you deal with anxiety

[Dorothy Zbornak]

Without rx drugs? Nothing wrong with them, but not as widespread here as in the US. Plus, I don't know if I want to approach a doctor right now.

My job is making me so fucking anxious, and I worry a lot about shit that might not even happen (regarding for example choices I make on how to do a photo shooting for our sustainability report). This is my first year in the job.

My current solutions are: working 12-hour days during the week, beer in the evenings. Running and more beer on the weekends.

Lolz.

Pdq!

[jg183]

i think exercise is great advice. when I'm really anxious I usually can't get myself to exercise.
I like essential oils. I know they are a little hokey but I figure they are worth a try. I bought the roll-on ones from plant therapy- they have an anti anxiety and also a few others.

my dr said sleep is the most important thing for anxiety and because i was trying to avoid anxiety drugs she suggested unisom while pregnant. If you dont get a solid night sleep it supposedly makes anxiety worse.

[Deleted]

Biofeedback, more sleep and exercise could all help. My dad and sister have both used biofeedback successfully.

[kdrake8]

Jesus. No wonder you're anxious!

I currently bite my fingers until they bleed and yell at my children and husband.

I'm going to get my meds back when I wean.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

Nov 23, 2014 12:47:43 GMT -5 kdrake8 said:

Jesus. No wonder you're anxious!

I currently bite my fingers until they bleed and yell at my children and husband.

I'm going to get my meds back when I wean.

Ha, yes. Yelling, too.

[lolaburns]

When I was working in the garment district I felt like I couldn't breathe through the day and it would send me into a panic. I went to a cardiologist and a pulmonary specialist until they finally told me I was fine and it was anxiety. Their solution was to quit my job. ?

Obviously, that wasn't an option. I did biofeedback therapy and yoga. They helped me be able to relax so I could reign in those panicky feelings.

I'm sorry you are having so much anxiety, Dorothy. Are you an overachiever and perfectionist at work? Know you are doing a wonderful job... I know that's easier said than done, especially when burning the candle at both ends you can feel defeated and never " good enough" , but I know it's true.

[kandrze1]

Exercise helps me. Time alone to paint or cook personally helps me. When I was in college spending time in the art studio listening to music always was the best for me. Time like that is hard to find now though. Wine helps...honestly I need xanax to really help me now.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

Nov 23, 2014 12:50:46 GMT -5 lolaburns said:

When I was working in the garment district I felt like I couldn't breathe through the day and it would send me into a panic. I went to a cardiologist and a pulmonary specialist until they finally told me I was fine and it was anxiety. Their solution was to quit my job. ?

Obviously, that wasn't an option. I did biofeedback therapy and yoga. They helped me be able to relax so I could reign in those panicky feelings.

I'm sorry you are having so much anxiety, Dorothy. Are you an overachiever and perfectionist at work? Know you are doing a wonderful job... I know that's easier said than done, especially when burning the candle at both ends you can feel defeated and never " good enough" , but I know it's true.

Oh man, yeah. I feel like I am not good enough for this job. I get good feedback most of the time, and I know that I'm well-liked, but I feel like a fraud a lot.

[jsillyfun]

Yoga, the Feeling Happy Handbiok, hot baths, professional massages, cognitive behavior therapy

[DesertMoon]

I smoke, not good but that's my way. I'm very noise sensitive so I get anxious and stressed from sounds. A lot of people do hobbies like knitting, crafts, yoga, reading, puzzles and stuff like that. Maybe even setting 10 mins aside to be alone can help. When I worked at this retirement home the elderly did a lot of swimming for their nerves.

[rxbeth]

I wish I had the answer. I currently bite my thumb until it bleeds and exercise when I can.

[thedahliharpa]

Nov 23, 2014 12:49:03 GMT -5 Dorothy Zbornak said:

Nov 23, 2014 12:47:43 GMT -5 kdrake8 said:

Jesus. No wonder you're anxious!

I currently bite my fingers until they bleed and yell at my children and husband.

I'm going to get my meds back when I wean.

Ha, yes. Yelling, too.

I was going to suggest having a good fit.

I listen to angry or angsty music but some people prefer relaxing shit like Enya.

What about yoga? Or guided imagery meditation?

Whoa. I might have just invented something. I feel like a good punk rock yoga class could change my lyfe.

[charlielove]

You can look up stuff about guided imagery, grounding, thought stopping and thought logging.
Sorry work is making you so anxious.

[laurensmomma]

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. One thing that I do to try to reign in my anxiety when it gets really bad is to take really deep belly breaths, nice and slow. I find that helps slow my thoughts from racing, calms my nerves.

[rjamz]

Yoga helps me A LOT. Even if it's just 20 min a day. Yogadownload.com has free 20 min yoga podcasts that got me through law school

[jnoellee]

Nail biting. Eating. Coffee.

When I was being more active, running/walking really helped, but I find it hard to stay motivated.

Lately, I've been playing music more and pretty loudly.

Piano used to help me relieve stress, but I don't have a piano anymore. Sigh

Also, the show Parenthood helps me. lol

[laurack]

Coming here to write about it and hear others have similar feelings
Exercise
Alcohol
Biting my nails
My nails looked so good while I was on maternity leave. Now they look so bad I'm embarrassed.

I hope you figure out some ways to deal with it! (Hugs)

[artgal84]

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. Work can be so stressful. you are such an intelligent and talented person, I'm sure you are doing a great job.

The things that help me most are yoga, sleep and two techniques my doctor taught me. The first is to stop the negative thoughts before they have a chance to become obsessive. If you start to think something negative, like "was that lesson even good, are kids even learning" (for me), evaluate the thought. Ask yourself if it's founded in anything? If it's not dismiss the thought and replace it with a positive one. The other thing is the mindfulness movement. I try to be mindful of all my thoughts and also spend some time each day meditating. I breath in and out for 10 breaths and only think about my breath, the sounds around me and the darkness of my closed eyes. It sounds cheesy but it really helps me. I have avoided anxiety attacks using these two methods. It's taken me a long time to get to this point, I'm not on medicine any more either.

[Dorothy Zbornak]

Thank you so much, ladies!

[claralou]

Yoga helps me too. A lot. Beyond that, nothing much that's helpful. There's some great advice in this thread. Hugs Dorothy. Right there with you.

[skwcm80]

Exercise is the best for me when I'm feeling anxious. (((Hugs)))

[carawestt]

My H has awful anxiety and he listens to self hypnosis recordings. Almost like a imagery meditation thing. We also did yoga together.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time.

[laurensmomma]

Also, as far as the feeling like a fraud part, just know that is a VERY common feeling among women in the workplace, especially higher level positions. Just know they wouldn't have hired you if they thought you couldn't do the job, and seeing as how you get a lot of good feedback, I'd say you're doing much better than you think you are. I recently read a book all about this phenomenon.

[EnchantedSoul]

Deep breathing, definitely. Breathe from your toes then exhale ALL of the air, while counting down.
Exercise with ridiculously loud music. The kind you can't listen to with little ears around.
Calling a friend.
Sex

[creamsiclechica]

I am sending really, giant hugs for this. Obviously running helps me. Gangster rap, death metal, and surprisingly, really sad, alternative/indie like Damien Rice, Ray Lamontagne, etc. Sometimes I have to go in the car alone and scream, cry, or both.
I write stream of consciousness out. Yoga. Herbal tea (chamomile blends, peppermint, lavendar).

Sometimes I need to do something that drains me enough so I cannot feel. Not like work, or parenting/partnering. But the above stuff needs enough TIME to play out. So that's why I'll run 12 miles, drive 3 hours. It's got to bleed me dry.

Ugh, this all sounds so unhealthy, (I swear it's not) but it helps.

[nilex0102]

You can look into Bachbluetentherapie. I have never used it but a lot of my friends have in Germany and think it works great

[kkfeb04]

I shop. It sucks for my bank account.

[formerlyllizzyb]

Exercise (even just a walk)
Sunshine
Hot baths
Doing something for myself alone (pedicure, fun errands, solo coffee shop date with a book)
Prayer (or meditation)

[fusion]

hot baths, essential oils, herbs - lemon balm is clinically shown to help anxiety and I love it, I use it in tea and tinctures, there's a breathing technique that's called "alternate nostril breathing" that is amazing and forces your body to go into rest and digest mode rather than fight or flight. Unhealthy things I still do are bite my nails and drink. I know exercise would help me but I can't figure out yet how to slog 3 kids around and do it with any regularity.