Things can get better

If you're reading this, then I want you to know, even if anxiety is at its worst for you right now, that things can improve. Even if it seems impossible. I was in the same position in the spring/early summer when I could barely leave the house and was constantly feeling depersonalisation.

I'm currently somewhere around the 1 or 2 month mark of being panic-attack free, and its been around 2 or 3 weeks since I last had to take a benzo (and that was more of a sleep deprivation prevention measure). The numbers aren't what is important about this, though. The fact I'm not clear how long it has been since I really felt bad anxiety and its related symptoms show that it's not in control of me.

Earlier this year, I could tell you exactly how long it had been since I had suffered a panic attack at any time. It was all I could think about. Hopefully, you can all get to where I am (or closer to it - I know how hard it is to imagine any improvement when things are bad).

I haven't been around here much as part of an effort to fill my life with activities and such that weren't based around anxiety. I've been having some good results with it, but I understand everyone is different. So I'm going to end this with some tips to lessen the hold anxiety has on you.

1. Stop reading and researching about it. It's very easy to consult Dr Google and read 5000 books on the subject from Amazon, but it just keeps it at the front of your mind.

2. If you have a hobby, do it some more. Get as involved as you feel you can manage as much as possible. I play video games a lot, but it can apply to anything. If you like home improvement, make some plans to redecorate your home (even if you don't actually want to, it gets your brains creativity centres working on something other than imagining what can go wrong).

3. When you feel bad, just allow yourself to feel anxious and don't beat yourself up about it. Just do what you can to help you feel better.

4. When you feel good, take advantage of it. Go do something, even if it's small. Eventually you can build up to doing more stuff you didn't think you could manage.

I realise this all may not apply to everyone, but if it helps just one person, I'll be happy.

 

Glad to hear you are doing so well NC!!    Happy Dance time!

Good to see you here again, thanks for the update, and what is working for you!  Awesome progress!

Don't be a stranger...and keep on working towards your goals!

Hugs and high fives!

S.C.

thats great news nite crawl. well spoken too. i also am in a period of zero anxiety for several months now. havent taken any meds .zero! its great to feel normal again.

alohaknown said...
Hey Nightcrawler,

You mind if I ask how your dp/dr is going? Ive fallen into a bit of it and I honestly just cant stand it. Im glad to hear youre doing better.

Aloha,

Thomas

Not at all. Yes, I hate it too. It has gotten a lot better recently, I'll occasionally have a weird feeling of DP/DR that lasts 5 minutes at most. The trick is to not fall into the trap of believing it's permanent. It's almost like a mood - you have good and bad moods, but they change depending on what's going on. Keeping busy helps with that.