Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi, I was talking to a lovely member yesterday about anxiety and I realised that I literally have no coping tactics for my anxiety and it's getting worse. I'm not sure how it is for everyone else, but for me it is terrible. Feel drained when I'm anxious, I'm tired all the time. I get the shakes in my hands. Upset stomach. Feel sick. And I become so jumpy and on edge. Like if the doorbell rings I become so scared and panicky that I have a panic attack, it's that bad. If I go out I'm the exact same and if I see more than one person the exact same thing happens. I have passed out before which makes it so much worse and embarrassing for me. I hardly go out now, if I do I avoid really busy places but I don't like to be alone either in case I'm attacked by someone. I have my dog who is also my best friend but she's not very protective so doesn't help this. I'm on edge and anxious now just writing this so I'm going to stop now. It's getting worse and I don't know what to do to make it better. There's always the doctor but that thought makes the anxiety even worse. I could call my old hospital but I don't know if they'll help me with anxiety and also talking on the phone is a trigger for me.
I'd be really interested to know what you do to cope with your anxiety, if you struggle with it as well.
I joined an art group that was sponsored and paid for by our loca healthl authotity, Although anyone could apply, it was aimed mainly at older people who were perhaps alone all day looking at the four walls, or others who were having 'problems' It's sort of like art on prescription. None of us are artists, some better than others, Art isn't just painting, we've done sculpture, writing & poetry we use materials you find laying around the house, in the garden, even rubbish picked up in the street, You can make abstract art out of anything. We met once a week until Covic hit, but still keep in touch online.
So in answer to your question, how to control anxiety...... go paint a picture. The last few i did, i got an old video cassette and cut the tape into little pieces and glued them onto the back of a cardboard box, into pictures ............ Art, A State Of Flow........ And all while sitting in the safety of your own home.
PS Jess,
Go google .... state of flow, See why doing something you enjoy calms the mind. If you're concentrating and enjoying something, you forget about being anxious
Bill