How do you deal with anxiety?
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23 commentsReplies
bizzy said, (181 days ago)
Sometimes I confront the source of my anxiety head on, but lately I've been using a lot of avoidance. Then there's always good ol' distraction, like cleaning or sleeping.
lay oale said, (181 days ago)
Breathing through the nose, expanding the belly, and breathing out. Repeat several times.
adam said, (181 days ago)
@benverine -- Knitting -- haven't tried that! Cleaning -- totally do that obsessively compulsively sometimes to deal with anxiety but it doesn't seem to work.
@biz -- If I could sleep like a normal person I'd probably have less anxiety.
@agentlover -- I've been trying the exercise thing. Also not working, as I think I just overthink things while I exercise.
Centropomus said, (181 days ago)
Oh, and a cat. I think the cat helps just as much as the Lexapro does.
jennatar said, (181 days ago)
I excuse myself and staaaaart walking -- doesn't matter what hour or where to.
Doctor_Joe said, (181 days ago)
I used to play Quake II before exams in college. That seemed to help. But I also used to be good at Quake II.
Video Games still seem to work to a degree.
mizzchelle said, (181 days ago)
Oh. I have a lot of it, and I don't deal well with it at all.
Avoiding the source of anxiety is something I've become adept at. This can be as simple as procrastinating on the project that's been making me anxious... I've also been known to get on planes and go to foreign countries just to avoid my family or a failing relationship. Ha haa.... I'm only half joking, so it's not that funny I guess.
But anyway, medication is helpful. At least to sleep at night. Of course, I rarely take my sleeping medication, so I'll stay awake for 40 hours and then do something like I did last night: Come home at 8pm, put down my things, and collapse from exhaustion before I've even undressed. (I just woke up incredibly confused with my clothes half off and all of the lights on when my 5:15 alarm went off - when did it get to be 9 hours later?) Of course, my first emotion was overwhelming anxiety, because I didn't finish the stuff I needed to get done last night... and, the cycle begins AGAIN.
SO. I'm the last person who should be giving advice about anxiety. I'm not sure why I just tried. :/
I hope it gets better for you though!
Namrok said, (181 days ago)
What kind of anxiety are you having? If it concerns a task you need to do, I always just suck it up and get started. Take baby steps if you need to, but a mountain of work is always less intimidating once you start making progress through it it.
If its social anxiety, getting in shape helps a lot with that, if you aren't the drinking sort. It gives you some confidence. And the more you socialize, the less of a problem it'll be.
If its anxiety that keeps you up at night, well, once again, exercise. Trust me, you will sleep much better if you exercised that day. Just don't do it right before you plan on sleeping.
L said, (181 days ago)
i deal with anxiety through a complicated series of tics, so i'm probably not the best person to give you advice, but i find that having just one thing where i don't have to think about anything else really really helps. for me it's playing frisbee with my dog, which i do for at least an hour almost every day.
also, getting in shape does nothing to help with social anxiety unless you are really out of shape.
benbrown said, (181 days ago)
get stoned and kill people on halo! Also, quit job and move to Texas and become a land owner!
bizzy said, (180 days ago)
@adam: I'm not advocating sleeping like a normal person. I haven't done that in years! But a good nap helps to clear the mind once in awhile.
And while an answer of "drinking" may be honest/effective/great, I am looking for non-alcoholic suggestions.