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Jenn Sal
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| Posted: May 07 2013 at 6:09am | IP Logged
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Joann, God knows I would never tell anyone what to do, since I have struggled with anxiety since I was a teenager!  But, this is what helps me, it's two parts: take care of the physical and mental. When one of those is off, I have a more difficult time managing my anxiety. So, eating well and exercise are key...together. I know what foods I should stay away from and what to include. They may not be the same for you. What Angie stated about the distorted thinking is so true for me! In fact, my dd and I try to remind each other when we are on that path. It's really amazing how distorted my thoughts can get!  This can be a third part or combined with the second, habit forming of healthy coping skills. Again, it's what works for you. These ladies have provided great ideas! I need to stop, breath until I notice I'm no longer tense, check if my thoughts are distorted, pray, talk calm, step outside, take a shower, listen to music, force myself to smile (basically this means to just laugh at myself, because it is funny how I get myself in this situation again and again   !).
Knowing I'm not alone certainly helps, too.  God bless and take care!
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Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
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Servant2theKing
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| Posted: May 07 2013 at 6:48am | IP Logged
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Joann, sending prayers, hugs and much empathy your way! One of my biggest "remedies" for anxiety is prayer. If I'm extremely anxious I sometimes struggle with saying formal prayers, but I pray informally and ask the Lord to please use my anxiety for someone else's good. Somehow, offering it up for someone else makes it more bearable. Offering up today's anxieties for you and all the intentions you hold dear in your heart, especially those of your family and loved ones. Pray! Hope! Trust! Hold Fast! 
One more thought ~ I put prayer intentions on slips of paper in a "prayer jar" ~ that way I don't feel any anxiety that I might forget an intention. I just hand them all over to the Lord! We also have a gratitude jar for answered prayers! If I were to read through all of them I would surely see at a glance God's perfect answers to each and every one of my worries and concerns! Placing your intentions in the first before leaving on a long car trip this morning.
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All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: May 07 2013 at 9:59am | IP Logged
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Caution - sensitive folks please disregard the following :)
Joann, we've been friends forever so I feel free to add one more thing that REALLY helps me. I've given a few people permission to kick me in the tail! My husband (who really isn't inclined and truly wants to be gentle with me) and a few women who are peers and who I know I can trust. I've told them flat out, "If you see me getting off emotionally, I'm stressing out, etc. CALL ME ON IT!"
It is very difficult for them to do so, but they do it out of LOVE! I needed to really ASK for this kind of accountability - in that I don't readily accept unsolicited advice AND I need to REALLY trust the person doing the kicking AND they needed to know that I wanted this type of help! For me, it is a RELIEF to know that someone has my back...that someone is willing to tell me the hard truth...that someone will look me in the eyes and say "We've got this!"
My children are also asked to help me, not quite in the same way, of course. I try not to burden them BUT I need to let them know where I'm at and how they can help. As they grow older, they are truly becoming more capable of seeing anxiety in me, themselves, and others. They are learning practical tools on how to stay cool 
More prayers for you, friend. We got this!
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: May 07 2013 at 2:38pm | IP Logged
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Joann,
Do you use any caffeine? If so, this can be problamatic with anxiety. I can tell when I have had too much that day because I have an intense panicky feeling in the late afternoon, usually around dinner, fairly frequently. Now, I have to say I have had this to some degree of the other ever since childhood, so not sure about that. Maybe some of us are just prone to anxiety? Anyway, if you use coffee/tea, maybe try to decrease your intake. If not, then perhaps blood sugar is to blame? I noticed that I always get anxious around the dinner hour. Even if I had already eaten, I sometimes feel scared, like the way one might feel at the top of a rollercoaster before you go down. Just an intense wave of fear. Sometimes it is associated with thought patterns, as someone mentioned, or I get the feeling and then the thoughts come that there is some "danger" lurking. (thoughts about kids wrecking cars when they got older, even though they were too young to drive , or me falling on the kitchen floor, which happens a lot around here..I have a real fear of falling now! Anyway, my husband told me something a long time ago that was so simple yet very helpful. He said, "Dear, I understand what you are feeling is a completely real feeling, but remember, it is just that..a feeling. It is not necc. real as far as there being some danger to the kids, etc. So, just know that you are experiencing a chemical response to something possibly, maybe low blood sugar, and tell yourself, "everything is o.k. This is just a feeling." That made me feel better instead of thinking the feeling was actually attached to something real. (Does this make sense.?) Now, you did mention actually having concerns about real things, and this comes back round to the human condition. We are in the hands of God's Providence. That IS a scary thing for 1. control "freaks", 2. for mothers, and 3. for people who are exhausted and overwhelmed. check, check, check. All three for me! I don't LIKE that I cannot control some uncontrollable aspects to life as we know it, but that is where prayer and trust in God have to take over. Very difficult. Have you tried going outside when you start to feel panicked? I go outside, to clear my head, give my brain some different stimulation with the view, and just take a few minutes to literally "chill". It seems to help me. Good luck!
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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10 Bright Stars
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| Posted: May 07 2013 at 2:39pm | IP Logged
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Oh, and too much sugar can make me panicky too, so watch sugar intake!
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Kim married to Bob (22y)
Mom of 11 blessings:
Bobby 19, David 17, Noah 14,
Mary 12, Gracie 10,
Isabelle and Sophia 8,
Gabrielle 6,
William Anthony 4, Joseph 3 and Luisa Marie - born in M
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dinasiano
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| Posted: May 08 2013 at 2:16pm | IP Logged
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Joanne,
I will pray specifically for your intentions at the retreat I am attending this weekend.
Lara,
I know that you were addressing Joanne, but I must thank you for that link. I have spent the better part of the afternoon reading through the website and I am so grateful to have found it. It is extremely helpful and I will have it bookmarked for future use.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Dina
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drmommy
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| Posted: May 18 2013 at 12:41pm | IP Logged
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I agree with all posts, especially Servant2theKing...saying the Rosary really helps to bring peace and clarity in my life. Also, getting up very early before everyone, so I can have my alone and devotion time. Our priest also once told us to say, "Jesus, I trust in You" 10x when we feel stressed or anxious. It helps me to focus on the tasks at hand.
God bless you and keep your chin up. Bridget
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monica4patience
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You have received a lot of good advice. It's advice that I too have taken at times in my life. But there are also times when none of that worked and it was time to bring out the big guns....yes medication!
I could not believe the difference an anti-depressant made in how I could cope with DS20 who is bipolar and autistic. I have seen my holistic doctor for 20 years; he uses medication as a last resort, after trying all the natural means possible. When I told him I was crying everyday over little things, he decided it was time to try an anti-depressant. I had to trial 3 before we found the one that worked the best with the least (or at least easiest to live with) side effects.
A close friend was experiencing terrible anxiety for years. She made me so nervous driving that I always drove her car for our road trips. She changed her diet, prayed, offered it up, talked to her spiritual director. The priest finally told her to talk to her doctor, get some meds, or don't see me anymore. What a difference it's been since she started an anti-depressant! She wished she had done it much sooner.
I'm not saying meds are always the answer. But after trying other means unsuccessfully, they can help. Talk to your doctor.
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~Monica (58)
DH(62), married 34 yrs.
DD23, DS21, DS13 (all adoptees)
New to homeschooling 11/12.
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Topic: Self help: for anxiety
