Anxiety Support Group

I've tried lots of things, but what works for me, is distracting myself however I can, excusing myself to get some fresh air (if possible), and Xanax.

I try and get my mind off what ever it is I am having anxiety about. I put on a comedy or read my emails . If I am at work take my ativan

I bring a water bottle everywhere or something to drink because if you hold your breath or hyperventilate it will help you normalize your breathing pattern.

You could keep a rubber band on your wrist and snap at it to distract yourself.

Mantras are good, for example: I cannot be relaxed and tense at the same time. I am doing fine, this will pass.

Distraction is good, but it will keep you from the core of the issue. So journal and try to figure out where your off.

Self help books.

Internet games

Nature is really nice. Being outside in a beautiful area helps me out.

Deep breathing is a very crucial part of lowering your stress level.

I don't mean breathing from the chest but breathing from the stomach.

* Take deep breaths in, putting your hand on your stomach.

* Try to make your hand rise as far as possible and concentrate on that.

* Breathe in through the nose, and hold it for about five seconds.

* Let it out through your mouth slowly by puckering your lips and letting the air out like a balloon.

This helps decrease your heart rate and brings endorphins into the system.

My anxiety isn't so bad these days - but it hit me again when I stopped drinking.

What I did when I had bad attacks was to focus in on the anxious feeling and try to make it increase - put away any thoughts that came to me and keep focussing on the anxious feeling and making it more intense so that it would burn away.

Rolling my shoulders round in circular motions would help with this I found - opened me up and exposed me to more of the feeling.

I know all this is counter-inuitive but it did help.

Ive started back with Tai CHi since I stopped drinking - i think that is important in stopping me holding my anxieties in.

Prayer, meditation and breathing control a;; of which probably adds up to distraction.

the most fundamental reason we exist is

to be.

sit quietly and just "be."

when we look at nature, that is exactly what it already practices first and foremost.

Hi, about 8 months ago I joined a group called the Art of Living. (check out artofliving.org). It is a spiritual group which teaches the "art of living".
It is largely centered around noticing and focusing on the breath.
I have tried a lot of things in my life to cope with my anxiety and at least for me, this has worked. I hope you feel better.