Help Needed for Anxiety Disorder

Hi,

I can certainly sympathise. I find my anxiety at work is really bad at the moment too. i work in a stressful profession also.

what i find helps me most is meditation. i goto stillness meditation classes, and do it at home as well. even though my anxiety still gets the better of me at times, the meditation is my saving grace. Its like an antedote to the anxiety. if you have an iphone, or an ipad, you can download heaps of meditation apps or hypnosis apps. I find i need to balance my life with relaxation, otherwise the chaos overwhelms. trying to train your mind to actually slow down, rather than being on the go all the time. try to take some time out just for yourself.

I understand exactly how you feel, anxiety just takes over my life sometimes. I recently found a new doctor who has tried me on new medication which so far has helped some & I have, at his request, started exercising more often & I have found when I actually do it it does help. I have had a counsellor who also taught me breathing techniques. Although all these things admittingly don't help all the time I feel like I'm at least taking steps in the right direction 

Hi, Shell.
here is a psychologist's perspective… You seem to to be nicely aware of your worry and can see the impact it is having. One of the better approaches that most people can use in their own way is the identify the beliefs that they have about their worry that serve to maintain it. A classic example of such sneaky beliefs (called meta-cognotions) would be “worry helps me to be more prepared - I don't wnat to be anxious but I can't afford to relax or switch off”. Once you have spotted these assumptions, then you can alter them and - crucially - give yourself permission to not worry. It takes  bit a work but you can do it. The other thing anyone with GAD knows is that they need to make peace with their worrying mind. Your mind wants to to be sure and certain about things that naturally lack certainty. You can't stop your mind worrying but you can manage it. You need to accept that this is what happens  - but you don't have to get caught up in every thought or emotion that runs through your mind. That is where meditation training really becomes useful. Good luck

Anxiety has had a lot of bad press and is often seen as BAD. Everyone experiences anxiety and sometimes it can be a very helpful adaptive response e.g. A breast lump prompts a call to the GP or smoke in the house prompts rapid evacuation, the fight flight response can however turn on when we don't  want or need it. When that happens it can be helpful to name it - I know what that is - it's anxiety. My body is on high alert and as I am am looking around me NOW I can see I don't need this anxiety. Then breathe into it, breathe around it, make a space for it and allow it to be there even if you don't like/want it. Because you are no longer struggling with it, the stress hormones will no longer be pumped out and the anxiety will begin to subside . This process is called Acceptance. 

Hi there,
I hear that you are experiencing considerable distress.
Perhaps you might like to consider, as part of your journey to increased psychological wellbeing, joining a local anxiety support group. Within the group members can share their experiences in a confidential way and support one another. Some counsellors/psychotherapists who facilitate support groups may introduce some CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) techniques to help you manag eyour anxiety better.
Vivienne Morrow

Hello, 
As the daughter of someone who experiences GAD I know how debilitating and overwhelming it can be. My mother has found hypnotherapy and EFT to be very helpful to calm both the physical effects of anxiety and the emotions. EFT can be learned in a session and used as a self -help technique to help you process and let go of overwhelming emotions as they occur. EFT combines Cognitive Behaviour Therapy with Acupressure points.  I have a free resource: a short morning meditation available for download on my website that helps you release stress, anger and fear, feel gratitude for what you do have and prepare for a productive day. Best wishes.

Believing that GAD has taken over your life will leave you feeling helpless. I understand that you experience both sides of the fight/flight response and this can be upsetting and uncomfortable. 

However, see yourself as bigger than your symptoms, bigger than your physiological responses. It will help you if you say "I have anxiety symptoms that come to visit."

Once your "smart" self, or "observer" part of yourself has this perspective,  it will become less daunting to learn therapeutic techniques to manage your symptoms.