Anxiety Support Community

...See more When I was a kid I was very anxious, having heavy abandonment issues and a strong fear of death and losing my parents. Once I got older the feeling got away but for the past months (especially this week) I have been feeling so anxious I have panic attacks at night and cry before going to bed. I'm 18 now and haven't had this since I was 8. Nothing bad has happened to me - exactly the opposite actually. I finally have a good relationship with my mum, started uni with a major I'm interested in, have found friends I feel comfy around with and gained a lot of confidence. I feel my life is peaking. Still I can't help but to irrationally fear loosing my parents, I don't know why but knowing one day they won't be there anymore makes me so sad my whole body hurts and I can't stop shaking. I came to the realization death isn't inevitable for real now - I feel wh3n you're younger you don't really REALIZE that yk? My mum is sick and she says she often fears death and dying in general (she has severe anxiety and has been kinda putting this on me for the last 3 years) and I am so scared that sh3 will be scared once she dies. I also want her to get better and knowing she isn't feeling good mak3s m3 incredibly anxious. No matter what I do, those anxious thoughts especially since three days seem to haunt me. My dad cam3 over today and I started crying th3 moment he was out the door. Why can't I just enjoy the moment and already worry about the future? It stresses me out and I feel like I'm at the edge of breaking down every second. Is this normal? Is it normal to feel this anxious though nothing is really wrong around you? And how can I stop this? This feeling comes often at night and not even doing my favourite things help me. I just wanna enjoy life as it is right now without the haunting fear of it all ending. For God's sake, I'm 18, I should be enjoying all of this right? 😭

Check-in, Anxiety Support, 1 to 15 of February 2023

by HealingTalk

3 days ago

...See more Calming down: Let's share what works for us! Calming ourselves by our own means, even a bit, is great in itself, we have some tools always at hand to make us feel better. But it's also important, I think, as a way of self-regulation. The fact that we can do it ourselves improves our self-confidence that we can reduce our anxiety when needed. It's under our control to some extent. This increased confidence might decrease base anxiety even further, in a "virtuous circle". That's why it's important, I think, to try, learn and practice relaxation and calming techniques. There are many, many of them. Among so many options, it's very valuable and encouraging to know which ones actually work for other people. So we might try them knowing they are not just something written in a book or article, but it works for someone we know. I propose we share what things work for each of us to calm and make us feel better when dealing with anxiety. I will start with my (incomplete) personal list, not intended as a recommendation, but as a prompt to share ideas among us: Meditation: it gives me a baseline for each day and lets me see what's going on in my head from a kind of external "real me" perspective. I sit down on a high cushion, legs crossed on a mat, and focus on my breath. Cutting down on coffee: I love coffee. But it increases much my anxiety. So I adopted a "zero coffee policy". I have an expresso from time to time though... Breathing: Emptying totally my lungs, then filling them to the brim and waiting a few seconds before releasing. Repeating some times, at any time of the day. Stretching: I hold a lot of tension in muscles, particularly in my calves. Stretching releases tension and makes me feel more comfortable and relaxed. Walking: long walks are at the same time a great release of stress (by exercising) and a distracting, rhythmic activity. Doing it mindfully makes it more effective for me. Music I use it in two alternative ways; as a soothing background, and as an enjoyable focus of attention, that keeps any other thoughts away. Awareness: stopping now and then to check what's going on in my mind. I don't use all these things every day, but frequently, And it's reassuring to me that I can count on them at any time to feel better. ------------------------- Some Online Resources: 8 Soothing Techniques to Help Relieve Anxiety - University Hospitals: https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2020/04/8-soothing-techniques-to-help-relieve-anxiety [https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2020/04/8-soothing-techniques-to-help-relieve-anxiety] Anxiety management strategies - BeyondBlue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-management-strategies [https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/anxiety/treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-management-strategies] Relaxation techniques for stress - MedlinePlus: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000874.htm [https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000874.htm] Relaxation Techniques: Learn How to Manage Stress - WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/blissing-out-10-relaxation-techniques-reduce-stress-spot [https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/blissing-out-10-relaxation-techniques-reduce-stress-spot] Relaxation - Mind.org: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/relaxation/relaxation-exercises/ [https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/relaxation/relaxation-exercises/] Relaxation Techniques for Stress Relief - Helpguide: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief.htm [https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/relaxation-techniques-for-stress-relief.htm] ------------------------- Questions: - What things you do to calm down? - What other things would you like to try? - How have you been feeling these days? ------------------------- All questions are optional. You can add any comments you wish, as they come to your mind. I look forward to your answers! ------------------------- To receive check-in notifications, click HERE [https://www.7cups.com/forum/AnxietySupport_53/AnxietySupportCommunityTeam_425/JoinTheAnxietySupportTaglist_211697/?p=19] Learn HERE [https://www.7cups.com/forum/7CupsLeadership_188/SubcommunityHelpWanted_2306/HelpWantedForumSupport_260791/] how to join the Anxiety Support forum team. We welcome you with open arms! ------------------------- Tagging taglist subscribers: [phantom-tagged AS taglist]

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