Doing My Best
Lately my anxiety has gotten so bad I'm having symptoms I've never had before (temperature fluctuations being the biggest new one) and I've been trying to do whatever I can to make it easier. I'm making sure I eat and take vitamins, I'm meditating, I'm watching or reading things that make me happy... But there's stress in my life I can't escape until it passes with time. All I can do is try living in the moment, but it's hard when the future is uncertain and looming overhead.
@triilobyte
It is hard and the future is pretty scary right now with COVID! Talking to someone about every little worry, even the ones you don't think matter, will help. I'm always here for a listen if you need one or could recommend a counselor on here if you can afford it. It sounds like your taking a lot of great steps to overcome your anxiety. Have you tried writing down or journaling about your fears and what triggers them? That has helped me immensely! Also sensory therapy. When first heard of it, I never thought it would work, but wow has it!
@akay06
Thank you so much for your reply and advice! I definitely need to reach out more, I didn't realize how much I've been keeping things in honestly. I do have a journal that I need to find to start using again, and I'm going to look into the sensory therapy you mentioned! I can't afford counseling right now though I wish I could, but I'm going to try to be more open with people, on here and in person, to help work through this better!
@triilobyte
No problem! We all get so caught up in thinking our thoughts don't matter with anxiety, but just getting them out is amazing and our feelings are valid, but they do not have to control us. Try finding a long term listener on here if you don't feel comfortable sharing every thought with your friends or family. It's free!
Here's a pretty good definition of sensory therapy: https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/sensory+therapy
My very first counsellor introduced me to it to ground myself while I was having panic attacks. I have adapted it though for day to day use with help from my group therapy and if you want any examples just let me know, but we all are different and different things work for us.
@akay06
I'm going to do that! I did just have a good talk with my family about what's going on and feel better since I got a good part of it out, but I know I should seek help from more people besides them sometimes. ^^;
Thank you! When I looked it up I mostly found articles on it related to childrens' development, so seeing that definition helps it make a lot more sense. I know that when I feel particularly bad I seek out really soft things, like fluffy throw blankets, since the texture makes me feel better and more grounded. Is that sort of what it's like? I stim a lot with those textures to help me calm down.
@triilobyte
Yes, it is exactly like that. The sense that helps me the most is smell so I keep things all around the house as well as in my purse that will make me feel better in a stressful situation. Play on fabrics if you think touch is your primary comfort sense. Maybe get a stress ball then too or some putty? Might help. The idea is based on the theory that people with anxiety aren't very grounded or live in the moment, but instead live in the future or their own fearful thoughts and if you can play on the senses, they'll focued, or be pulled to the moment. A therapist could explain it better, but there is me trying!
I rolled my eyes at it at first, because I thought it was childish, but it really has helped me.
@akay06
!!!!!! I didn't know I've been doing that for a long while then! I do have some putty and I like playing video games to keep my hands and mind busy if the anxious thoughts aren't super loud. If I don't have either, I play things on my phone or fidget with my clothing or my partner's hands. I also discovered recently I like listening to guided meditation, especially since even when my mind wanders I can focus back on my breathing or their voice, since otherwise it's hard to rein things in to pay attention to the Now rather than the Later, y'know?
I understand the sentiment! I was nervous about playing with things because it felt childish too, and while I don't do it very much in public it's been helping a lot!
@triilobyte
Yeah, it is a pretty amazing therapy when you think about it! I didn't even notice before I started it how much smells affect my thoughts. Since then I grow lavender and put it under my pillow because for years I had issues with waking up from nightmares going into a panic attack. Now, when that happens, I focus on the smell of lavender and pull myself out of it. Plus, I am now pretty proud of my green thumb and ability to grow plants.
Just play around with it and find out what works for you!
@akay06 Thank you so much for mentioning about this. It was very enlightening to know about it. This knowledge, I am sure, shall help a lot of people. 
