What was a life changing quote or tip that helped you with your anxiety?

Hey Stella ! My thought is, Positive attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.

My therapist gave me this handout of 10 Rules for coping with panic and it has helped me.

1.Remember that the feelings are nothing more than an exaggeration of the normal bodily reactions to stress.

2.They are not in the least harmful or dangerous – just unpleasant. Nothing worse will happen.

3.Stop adding to the panic with frightening thoughts about what is happening and where it might lead.

4.Notice what is really happening in your body right now, not what you fear might happen.

5.Wait and give fear time to pass. Do not fight it or run away. Just accept it.

6.Notice that one you stop adding to it with frightening thoughts, the fear starts to fade by itself.

7.Remember that the whole point of practice is to learn to cope with fear – without avoiding it. So this is an opportunity to make progress.

8.Think about the progress you have made so far, despite all the difficulties. Think about how pleased you will be when you succeed this time.

9.When you begin to feel better, look around you, and start to plan what to do next.

10.When you are ready to go on, start off in an easy, relaxed way. There is no need for effort or hurry.

Anxiety is just thoughts and feelings that cannot hurt you.

Also, to allow your anxiety rather than fight it.

I tried everything to overcome anxiety and at one stage when i was suffering a lot then someone told me to use tramadol medications and I really got good results. That advice changed my life forever.

I experienced pretty bad anxiety following a redundancy and being of an age that re-employment would be difficult. It simply knocked me for six and battered my confidence. I was surprised at how anxious I became about relatively small matters having been decisive and positive previously.

There were some key elements in my recovery of which two seemed to me to. Its just to be most helpful.

One was to focus on what I had done / achieved / managed and not on what hadn't gone so well.

About being kind to yourself. Don't dwell on a bad morning but know and be grateful for an afternoon that went well and you met a friend or someone said something pleasing or you achieved a step forward, no matter how small. Your anxiety can feed on things that don't go so well but that's normal for everyone.

You will find if you persevere that hanging onto the positives is good for you and will (trust me!) make you feel better, slowly but surely.

The other little routine that worked for me was a 'confidence mantra'. I would start the day (and still do occasionally) by standing in front of a mirror and saying ' I am a good man (woman)' I lead a happy, healthy and good life'. I am a good - husband, wife, brother, sister, father, mother, son, daughter, friend, neighbour etc." I am getting better. I control my life and I make the decisions for my life". etc

Other bits can be added that will have meaning for you. Its shouldn't be too long and should be the same each day and said with conviction. You are talking to yourself and encouraging yourself. This will give you confidence and resolve to have a better day. Yes you do feel a little daft initially but it works!

if u suffering from anxiety then pray the Lord of the lords.

if u still suffering from anxiety then give charity to the poor near you.

if u still suffering from anxiety then sit in the company of kind and sinless people.

if u still suffering from anxiety then spent time with children.

I started really suffering with anxiety and depression in the 80's and it was scary because i had no idea what was happening and nobody took it seriously. I started getting treatment and the social stigma attached to that was horrific. After psychodynamic therapy and psychiatric help i was diagnosed post trauma and given help managing my condition.

You have to disregard the pigeonhole judgements. You have a unique challenge. Understanding it takes away the fear and gives you confidence. Remember that a Panic Attack is a natural body response to percieved danger and will pass in five minutes max. You will not die!

Be selfish, don't put yourself in situations you are not comfortable with, at least until you have more understanding of the problem. Also, regarding depression, trust your body; if it wants to sleep then sleep. It is how your mind repairs itself. After a while, my longest was four days almost constant sleep, you will find you can get up, shower and shave then eat something. Then go for a quiet walk and tidy up. Soon you will be feeling stronger.

Remember you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Love and best wishes

Anxiety is a cloud that comes over you , blocking your vision and takes away your sense of what's real.

It makes us think too much and create unreal threats that don't make sense to others. It can affect us mentally by focusing all our thoughts on fear and it can immobilize us physically by leaving us exhausted and physically ill.

In order to overcome it , we need to find some relief from it by physical exercise or meds, then we need to uncover what brought on the anxiety and then change the way we think about what brought it on. Understanding the reason is a hit and miss until you say it out loud and it hurts. Then changing the way you think about it ,is logic and mind over matter until you realize it wasn't something that can beat you . You can beat it because you aren't in that moment any more and you can now see that. Sometimes we need to create reasons for things that upset us . It may not be factual , but it will let us accept it and move on , not dwelling on it anymore . Think in a way you can accept. Dwelling about things we can not change is the reason for most anxiety. Fear and anxiety is as deadly as death itself if it takes away all Joy's of life !

Get back to life and leave the cloud . And be proud !

I could write a book about Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression and Agoraphobia...I have experienced it all at different times and intensities over a quite a while. The symptoms can be terrifying and debilitating at times. at my worst I was housebound for around 4 yrs.

I took meds for 18 months (which was monumental for me personally..as I was also very anxious about the effects of any Drug). This is also why I suffered in constant pain with my teeth for yrs because I feared The Drugs used by Dentists and any possible side effects.

I started to avoid public places. If I could get myself to attend..I would be sat near to the easiest exit out of there. Ques were a nightmare. Traffic Jams I would avoid at all costs. It seemed that the further I tried to travel from home..the more anxious I would feel...as if I had an elastic band attached to me..the further I went the more tense I became..which would result in either a full blown panic attack or my turning around which would lower my tension and anxiety. The constant anxiety and worry about having a panic attack and the fear of dying during it..or even worse losing control and the embarrassment this would cause was overwhelming at times. The depression I can only describe as being aware of everything in life..going on around you but feeling you are actually dead inside..no emotions,,struggling to get through each day..bed was a welcome relief from the despair..to reason with yourself that if you passed whilst asleep..this would be a relief..but then to feel sadness for the effect this might have on your loved ones and kids...to wake after a couple of hours sleep...if you were lucky only to lye in bed dreading the repeat of all the anxiety and nothingness...no enjoyment...just the despair and emptiness that the next day brings....This is the short version.

I now live a reasonably good life, NO MEDS! I have improved as time has gone by...I no longer have anxiety..panic attacks, I have no issues with shops, crowds, traffic jams, etc...and my travelling is getting better with time. I still have bouts of sadness and depression...but I feel I am stronger in myself and deal with this easier...more importantly...I feel happy at times and Have some amazing people in my life...I feel for anybody who is going through these "EPISODES".

That is what they are. You are not weak. You are not sick. You can and will get better. If you allow yourself to.

YOU UNDERESTIMATE YOUR OWN STRENGTH.

I am here to give any advice and to share my coping strategies and perceptions towards these episodes.....no doubt everyone has developed some of their own........we are all students in life.

"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you." Saint Augustine.