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Post by sophiehp on Aug 26, 2013 22:53:16 GMT
Does anyone have any tips for anxiety such as deep breathing or counting? My psychologist taught me to put the things your anxious about on leaves and imagine them floating down a river slowly, it has helped a little but I wondered if anyone has anything that works for them and might for others?
Thanks
Sophie xx
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2013 7:20:02 GMT
Brilliant thread Sophie! I've been taught a breathing exercise called 7:11 but I suppose really most breathing exercise will correct your breathing it does work for me The leaf one is very interesting, I've never heard of it though, glad it helps you a little My therapist has recently told me to accept my anxiety as part of me & it will ease, but don't accept it just to make it go away cos that won't work..you have to be genuine..I was like huh :/ so yeah that one.. & feel the fear & do it anyway, no matter how bad anxiety is we should try & stick with the feelings & do whatever it is anyway Have you been taught anymore? xx
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Post by Kimberley on Aug 27, 2013 8:47:33 GMT
Hey Sophie, thanks for sharing your tip. Like Anna, have never heard of that method, but if it works for you then fantastic.
Mindfulness is brilliant for me. I've really lost touch with it, but I believe it's very powerful if you practice. Have you ever looked into it before? There's lots of stuff on the internet, I'd really recommend googling Headspace and going on YouTube as well for guided sessions.
xx
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Post by laurenchara on Aug 27, 2013 10:14:17 GMT
Hey Sophie,
I suppose it depends on what physical sensations you feel - everyone is quite different. For me, it often feels like I'm breathing in a fume (almost like nail varnish, I can feel it in the middle of my chest) and then I can feel the adrenaline coursing through me. During those times I often find that if I think of the anxiety like some sort of fuel, and then try to burn it off by exercise (I love brisk walking, and when I'm not feeling too lazy, jogging/running). It's just a way of perceiving it - and I try to 'burn off' the nervous energy.
xx
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Post by Gwen123 on Sept 1, 2013 19:31:56 GMT
Hi, a few days ago I decided to try meditation on my own. It's been really relaxing, but I doubt I'd be able to focus enough when I'm most anxious for it to work. I guess it's essentially a breathing exercise, but it really helped to clear my mind before I went to bed, so I wasn't lying awake worrying, and weirdly it also seemed to help for some physical pain for a few minutes (just normal aches and pains). This is the method I used, www.wikihow.com/Meditate It seemed simple; I tried to focus on my breathing and when my focus was on that I started counting from 1-10 over and over while conscious of my breathing until I'd relaxed and blocked out everything, then tried to vividly picture this really pretty view with a walk I go on and imagine I'm walking there and count my footsteps. If I can focus on that entirely, then I try to block out that image and have my mind blank, although I find that a challenge, but it's a nice feeling. Only been doing it a few days and I've liked it, but I do get a bit impatient and frustrated with it sometimes. It probably isn't ideal if you're in a situation which is making you anxious, but if you need to calm down afterwards or before bed, this might help Otherwise, I tap my foot a lot or play with a hairband, although I'm not sure it's exactly a way of dealing with anxiety so much as a symptom of anxiety and it makes me kinda self conscious. I'd like to be able to stop it, so hopefully CBT will help with it.
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Post by carrie86 on Sept 6, 2013 10:38:50 GMT
I just tell myself its ok to feel like this, I think it in my mind and it helps to over power the negative energy. If I have a racing heart or shaking really bad I just think "it's ok to feel like this, it is your bodies natural reaction because in a strange way it's trying to protect you, it's ok it will pass" I don't know if it will help you but it has for me. Sometimes it takes a little while for it to work but keep at it and it will start to sink in. I also say it out loud if I want too.
Another thing I do is I make little notes at home when I am feeling anxiety free (if there is such a thing ha ha) just positive little things like remembering how to breath and that there is no real threat when I panic and that I am a strong person. I keep them with me so when panic arises I have positive things to read that I know have come from me and my mind! and that when I was thinking clearly and rationally I could see this is just my mind playing tricks on me.
Hope these help. Take care xx
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