ANXIETY

[Fez]

On the other hand, alcohol really does work for me. I have two symptoms of social anxiety, I'm not great at talking to strangers one-on-one (unless I have a reason beyond small talk, like something for work, then I'm fine) and I sometimes have a shy bladder. But after a couple drinks, I'm a social butterfly and can pee freely anywhere.

Obviously I don't recommend everyone just start boozing it up; but that there's often mundane solutions worth trying before going over to pharmaceuticals. Maybe its meditation instead; I've tried it, it didn't do jack for me, but it clearly helps some people. There's nothing wrong with pills if you need them and they help, but why deal with any side effects if you don't need to?

[Unlady B]

Are you sure that your bed problems were because of the Xanax? Maybe your anxiety was "put down" by the pill, but you channelled it in this other way, subconsciously.

Alcohol and drugs numb you, and the problem is still there, so whenever the effect is over, the anxiety comes back.

Yoga, exercise, writing, playing an instrument, etc, are all things that will soothe your body and mind, but all this will help more if you could identify what exactly makes you feel this way. Kinda of Freudian my advise, but once you know what makes you tick, you can work in a long term strategy.

[armidil0]

Get a sweet robot arm (that shoots lasers).

Or just force yourself into social situations until you get used to it. Fake it until you make it.

[Gillio]

Yes, I suffer from anxiety, but since I stopped working for Centrelink, I no longer have panic attacks, so that's an improvement.

I use "fake it till you make it, too and I try to imagine the other person feels just as bad as I do, and is hoping someone will break the ice and start a conversation. Apparently, I can do it for someone else's sake easier than for my own sake.

[Yersinia]

I find that what helps me most is avoiding social situations whenever possible.

*ducks*

[Theda Baratheon]

I find that what helps me most is avoiding social situations whenever possible.

*ducks*

then you just get depressed. Well, I do anyway.

Make sure you're sleeping and eating well and actually i have personally found the 'fake it till you make it' works for me too.

[DemiNymph]

Find out what is the trigger or the worry in your life to solve the root of the problem. Solving the symptoms will just help for a little while.

[Yersinia]

then you just get depressed. Well, I do anyway.

Make sure you're sleeping and eating well and actually i have personally found the 'fake it till you make it' works for me too.

Usually the obligatory daily interactions (family/work/shopping/whatever) are enough contact. But yeah, if you ever find yourself leaving the house only once or twice a week, then you have a problem.

[scotcat]

I suffer from terrible social anxiety. Going out to a pub/a party/ a wedding is literally hell for me.

I've tried pills, they're not helping but doctor advises me not to stop taking them. Alcohol is a no go area for me - there's a history of alcholism and I feel its a slippery slope from a 'wee drink for confidence' to 'having to drink '. I get what people are saying about forcing yourself to go into social situations until they are no longer a problem, but that doesn't work for me either.

The only thing I can advise is identifying the triggers of your anxiety and working in making it so they are no longer an issue. You don't want to end up like me - a social cripple that terrified of dying alone.

[DemiNymph]

You could be an introvert. That just means that you are energised by being alone and that your energy is drained from being with people. I am like that. Having a pet helps a lot and grounds me emotionally and mentally. I love my cats more than I love a lot of people.

[Lady Woodland]

Yes, I suffer from anxiety, but since I stopped working for Centrelink, I no longer have panic attacks, so that's an improvement.

I use "fake it till you make it, too and I try to imagine the other person feels just as bad as I do, and is hoping someone will break the ice and start a conversation. Apparently, I can do it for someone else's sake easier than for my own sake.

You poor thing, as a resident of Elizabeth in SA, & in & out of secure employment over the last few years, nothing makes me more anxious than the prospect of applying for help, let alone being behind a desk there, I hate being lumped with some of the "entitled ferals" who share my neighbourhood.

@OP

Anxiety for me has increased due to previously mentioned issues, have had depression all my life & learnt to deal with that, but a panic attack & hyperventilating is not fun & totally scary to watch. Zanax has been taken off the table by my GP unless I start seeing a shrink, (don't want to, I hate talking about my issues, I already know what they are & talking about them just makes me more anxious) I have recently started working out at the Gym (which I hate), & it's not the dopamine cure for depression everyone claims it to be for me but being active does help calm my busy mind.

I cannot for the life of me just lie there & try to relax all my muscles & breathe, or sit in the lotus position staring into a flame. My mind will not stop, If I try these fixes, I find I go from worrying about my job, & my kids to thinking about way's to solve the Ukraine VS Russia crisis, which is just crazy, it's like my mind is out of control.

As North of the Wall said look into a physical as well & rule out anything relevant there.

Supermarkets (Grocery stores) depending where you live? They are trained at checkout to ask how are you? have you had a nice day? don't go self serve. make yourself have a chat, even if it's not genuine, = Iv'e been really busy, just finished work/school, ready to go home & put my feet up. What about you? are you just starting your shift or nearly finished? - (switch it back to them - I guarantee, you 8 out of 10 times you will catch them off guard because most customer's don't really care)

Respond genuinely to their answers, but relate in a friendly, generic way (unless you are interested) - long day hey? so do you have more chores at home before you get to relax?

Or - "Just started huh?", "So is this your after school job?" "really, year 11, it's great you are doing this as well as school".

It will give you confidence, just be natural & let the conversation flow, it's two minutes & you get to walk away & you might have made someone's day by showing a little interest in them. :)

[Lady Woodland]

You could be an introvert. That just means that you are energised by being alone and that your energy is drained from being with people. I am like that. Having a pet helps a lot and grounds me emotionally and mentally. I love my cats more than I love a lot of people.

And this... so much this... some people are just toxic & not worth your energy, avoid the haters & drainers.

[rmholt]

Meditation quiets the mind and allows it to see the forward path by not thinking. Very useful. If you've tried antidepressants for anxiety they have a lot of side effects. Benzos work great, But just Xanax and Klonopin. Klonopin has few side effects and lasts longer so smoother action, less addictive.

The shrink is advised to manage meds and to help address solutions to anxiety. The panics etc are merely physiology. Like pain or itching of other physiology I stick my face in a pillow until it all goes away which it does. Like a headache it's a pain but nothing to fear. It's CALLED a panic attack even if it's making you panic, Shrinks have lots of non medical tools for anxiety and depression as well as meds to help you learn what normal is and how to achieve it. It's serious. So like all serious health issues it's not for a GP. It's for a specialist. Try not to pick a crazy one. Best of luck - it's serious but very treatable.

[Tears of Lys]

Practice when the stakes are very low. Make very short small talk when normally you'd say nothing ("Hello, how are you doing today" when you buy coffee, on the elevator, to your coworkers in the morning). Practice speaking in a confident voice when you say anything at all. Practice making eye contact and smiling in mundane social situations.

This is excellent advice.

Also, when people say exercise helps panic attacks, it's because when you exercise, you naturally breathe more, getting more oxygen helps the body, which, in turn, helps the mind. When the body is well-oiled with oxygen and good blood flow, you can think more clearly. Thinking more clearly turns the mind from inward to outward. When your mind turns outward, you start noticing other people more. Take grocery shopping for example. You'll find that you'll start wondering if the cashier is tired or happy. If they seem down, maybe you'll compliment them on a pin they're wearing or some such minor observations.

When you can think of others' feelings, you'll stop concentrating on your own.

Also, if exercise is impossible on a certain day, practice a technique called "square breathing" - breath in to a count of four, hold it for four, exhale for four. Do this until your mind quiets.

Hope these tips help.

[Hazel of Summerhall]

I have this issue right now. My boyfriend has helped me a lot sorting out my stressors.

I always have to do deep breathing exercises too. When I'm hyperventilating due to panic attacks, I have to breathe through a paperbag.Now, I'm working on structuring my days to tackle difficult tasks with short breaks for me to calm down.

[Weeping Sore]

Take long walks outside in a natural setting.

[childe roland]

I would see a psych. While not curing my anxiety it has helped me manage it. I also have a prescription for Xanax but rarely take it. Most of the time keeping one in my pocket provides the security blanket it sometimes feels like I need

[childe roland]

I cant even remember the last time I had to take one at a function. I wash more in the laundry than I actually take but yeah having it available is a difference maker

[Arch-MaesterPhilip]

then you just get depressed. Well, I do anyway.

Make sure you're sleeping and eating well and actually i have personally found the 'fake it till you make it' works for me too.

You're not the only one. I get depressed as fuck. Sleeping isn't a problem. I been trying to fake until I make it for awhile, I think it's about to work.

[Theda Baratheon]

You're not the only one. I get depressed as fuck. Sleeping isn't a problem. I been trying to fake until I make it for awhile, I think it's about to work.

yeah, I like my own space at times but not being around people for long periods of time just makes me feel lonely and horrible. Just getting out of the house and to the shop helps.