ADVICE

[Reholla]

I am currently struggling with social phobia/anxiety myself... But things that seem to help are:


- enjoying small things like sunshine, good weather, etc.

- music!!! I love music because whatever mood youre in you can always relate. It can really calm you down on your way to class, or someplace that you are stressed out about.

- t.v./movie-- sometimes, when I get the chance, it relaxes me just watching the actors on a tv show, or my fav. movie. I see how they react to situations and it makes me feel better. (i dunno if that sounds weird!) But ok, example. If you like seinfeld, George is always getting himself in situations where for me would provoke a panic attack or I would just want to get out of the situation. he approches it with humor, and that;s something to learn ab. anxiety.

- just thinking positively! I know its easier said than done..but I saw this in a book and its really helped me:

Your body, right now, it constantly being fed negative thoughts. It's in a vicious cycle.
"But your body doesn't know the difference between a good addiction and a bad addiction, so why not get addicted to the good stuff?"

I really liked this, it helped a lot for me

- Uplifting quotes! (all over internet) My fav. that has to do with anxiety is:
"Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two. And I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before it."

- If you are having anxiety before your day has even begun, just say to yourself "It's not the end of the world, its just another day"

Hopefully this will help some of you struggling with the same things i am.
If you have advice PLEASE post for everyone else! You could change some one's outlook completely!

 

[spikefan777]

I like the second quote. Don't really understand the first, lol. Thanks for sharing!

The music and television/movie things actually do work for me. Lol, I totally understand what you mean.

 

[BasilTheGreat]

I agree.

I find much of those same things are helpful ... but I question how helpful prolonged television and music can be, unless the music is relaxing. I've found relaxing, slower sorts of music helpful and faster, more intense music can make me more anxious. Makes me think of a study they did with rats...they put the first group of rats in a maze to see how long it took them to get out. Then they took a second group of rats in the same maze but pumped hard rock into it and the rats got confused and very jittery. I think fresh air, sunshine and nature are very helpful as is learning how to just enjoy silence, to sit and to just be.

Sometimes I think anxiety is partly one's conflict with themselves, a lack of acceptance of themselves so they have a hard time sitting still etc. So just sitting and being silent sometimes can help as a way to just affirm yourself and to just be alone with yourself. At least it helps for me ....

The self talk is huge! You mention saying things to yourself or reading good quotes. That is very true. A battle is to attempt to identify and get rid of the bad, unhealthy thoughts. What we believe, how we think, affects how we act and our whole body. Rather than thinking "everyone will make fun of me," it helps just to think "it's okay if I make a mistake and if they laugh because everyone messed up sometime." I've found that helpful but very, very difficult - a long battle.

I've also found getting my life in order - getting things done that need to get done, having time for both relaxation and work, and just having order in my life helpful. It seems to order the brain too.

Just my few cents.

 

[dzerklis]

thoughtless, i think spikefan meant the first quote - "But your body doesn't know the difference between a good addiction and a bad addiction, so why not get addicted to the good stuff?", i dont understand it too, but the second one about hammering the rock is brilliant.

 

[Reholla]

Yes, and to clarify... the whole -your body doesnt know the difference between a good or bad addiction-

The cause of your anxiety is the way you think. Once you make a concious effort, everyday, anytime you think about it, to think POSITIVELY and to deny your negative thoughts, you will slowly notice a change. Not drastic... but your anxiety didn't happen drasticly either, it happened over time. SO this, too, must happen over time. And this wonderful feeling will become addictive. (just like your neg. thoughts were) Thats what I mean by that