How do you deal with anxiety?

[Dan1980]

You must tell them about your sleep patterns when I am anxious I am the same. If driving is freaking you out take a break from driving it may help.

[artyboy]

You must tell them about your sleep patterns when I am anxious I am the same. If driving is freaking you out take a break from driving it may help.

I will say that, there are a few others things like the way I feel there is a black cloud in side my head pressing down all the time when Im feeling like this.

I'm not planning on using the car until next week, I've used it every day for two weeks. I keep thinking something is going to go wrong if I drive to often.

[artyboy]

I have to echo the "not very well part".

Depends on what kind of anxiety we're talking about.

Normal, everyday anxiety, work-related, family drama, things like that, I just tank through it without even thinking about it. At best I have to concentrate on breathing while on the spot and then lash out in some form when I'm alone at home. Usually cleaning and working out work wonders.

In the few times I've had financial troubles, there was a hell of a lot of budgeting and insane planning. Planning things makes it all good for me, makes me feel in control of things.

Anxiety related with emotionally disruptive situations I'm living at any given moment and any kind of problem that I can't openly talk about with someone else tend to attack my sleeping patterns first.

My brain seems to relish in making me go through the situations in my head over and over at nights and I get really poor sleep accordingly (I bet a lot of people can relate to this bit).

Most of my ways of handling that is not dealing with the anxiety directly but forcing myself to sleep. That is done via alcohol, first generation antihistamins (I need those most of the time anyway) and working out furiously enough so that my body says "no more". All those, except for exercise are probably not very healthy , but I only keep them going for as long as I'm dealing with that particular kind of anxiety. Once I start getting better sleep, it tends to go away and I think less about it.

Finally, social-induced anxiety. This is by far the worse kind for me. At one point I've ended up on the corner of a supermarket aisle curled up and crying cause I just couldn't handle the amount of people flocking in every direction. Crowds kill me. But over the years I've grown to control that very well. I zig zag, walk fast, avoid people, I make a mini plan on the spot calculating what is the most direct route towards my destination while avoiding the most people, what is the nearest and least used exit out of a mall, what is the less transited street. Planning, again, makes me feel pretty damn good.

Other ways in which this anxiety shows up would be your typical social events and how much people tend to give you shit because you're supposed to go and you don't and this and that and how can you NOT?

I spent years in both guilt about my reticence to go to any such event and being uncomfortably forced to do them anyway.

Right now, I say "no" and don't give to thirds of a semi-floating fuck about what people think about that. I don't feel comfortable joining a group of people on a concert, club, bar, party, wedding, etc, so I won't do it unless it's really mandatory to do it or too ill-seen for me not to do it. (I wish I had just said no to my coercive mother about prom. I still regret going). Saying "no" and not giving a fuck, especially about what people will say, just cuts away any anxiety on the spot.

Instead, any random trip to the beach with some snacks, a gathering with a few peeps at home, prepping some food, that's all good. I can and will go out with anyone that makes me feel comfortable doing so. I can count that kind of people in one hand, but they exist and I do leave the safety of my room and face the ugly outside world with no problems with them. Be it going out to eat, just exploring around the city, seeing places you've never been to, etc. Doing all that even makes me forget how anxious I've been over other uncomfortable social events!

Hey sorry took me awhile to actually get time to read that all.

I don't mind going to social events, unless I'm feeling depressed or something worries me about going to an event. Well if though at the event more than two people try talking to me my Brian shuts off and I tend to leave about that time lol.

Sleep is really bad at times, I can sleep in day light fine but if it's dark I can't sleep.

[InbetweenDreams]

Be sure to tell them everything, sometimes it is hard to tap into everything... I know it took many visits to really get out everything out in the open, plus there is the element of trust. It took a few months before I admitted that I was gay. I do kind of regret not mentioning that sooner as it kind of is a big deal when assessing things and I'll admit for me the gay things isn't all that easy for me.

[Gemini]

I've heard that from many guys, most before the meet me...if they meet me. Anyway, that nice and all but that's not the only thing I want from a guy... I probably could have been pretty slutty but idk never really went there. I have had my share of experiences but ultimately I'd like to meet someone who I can call my best friend...then fuck them.

Totally agree! But most of the guys I meet are like, Fuck first, (maybe) talk later. IDK...

[Darius]

Are you getting plenty of exercise during the day? Are you eating healthy....not too much sugar or caffeine, that sort of thing?
I just heard a doctor talking about how common sleep problems are and they they are usually caused by keeping irregular hours. He suggested something that is probably difficult for most of us and that is to go to be at the same time every night and get up at exactly the same time every morning, no variations. Limiting light sources, such as from a computer or tv, for at least an hour before bed helps the brain to shut down and relax.

[Insertnamehere]

[MENTION=23097] I hate going shopping because of the crowds. I just hate the people who shop at Wal-Mart, they take up so much space, walk slowly, etc. May not be for the same reasons but I walk out often in a bad mood and drained..

A big part of any meltdown I've had is related precisely to how slow, random and messy people are in public spaces. Made me feel trapped. Right now, it's more like you describe, draining, irritating, but overall manageable.

Right in a few hours I'll be seeing someone about my anxiety. Just wondering what sort of thing should I tell them?

Tell pretty much everything about your anxieties that you consider is hindering your daily life. Sleeping problems, eating behavior problems, problems when meeting people, etc.

[artyboy]

Hey ive got the job BTW

[Dan1980]

Hey ive got the job BTW

Congratulations mate

[artyboy]

Congratulations mate

Thanks, I'm quire scared but also very excited