panic

Ugh! its morning again??!!

As someone with OCD and GAD there are many mornings I wake up afraid to get out of bed. My brain starts its "what if" generator specifically curated for the day - if I'm working its "what if I don't do a good enough job today," if there is a doctor's appointment its "what if I'm late" - even visiting the hair salon can be a stressor, "what if I don't like the cut and have to tell my stylist..." Hooray for Anxiety!!!

And as soon as the "what ifs" start so do the heart palpitations and the sweating, etc. etc. etc...

Needless to say I have never been a huge fan of mornings but like everyone else I have to get out of bed (sometimes more sloth-like than human) and start the day. I needed to find a coping tool to make this process a little easier for me.

I have used a form of meditation for many years but it wasn't until 2019 that I became a regular practitioner. Now every morning when the "what ifs" start and my body responds with its "fight or flight" business, I have a method to quiet both body and mind. My morning meditation is simple and requires little time. However, the beauty of this mental practice as I have learned after further research is that meditation is limited only by your own creativity and personal preferences. One can incorporate words, music and even nature sounds to name a few variations.

Getting back to my personal morning mediation - its basic but effective for me. All it involves is breathing, counting and focus. I start slowly counting to 100 - taking two deep breaths for each number and focusing only on the inhalation and exhalation of breath. Sounds easy right- not so fast... As anyone with a brain can tell you sometimes the hardest thing to do is maintaining focus on one concept. Every time my mind wanders off my breath - I focus it back on the process of inhaling and exhaling. And I guarantee your mind will wander and wander and you will have to refocus many times in just one session.

But at the end of this simple daily exercise, I find that I am calmer, my body's nervous system a little quieter and it is easier to embrace the day at hand.

The beauty of meditation is that it takes only minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. As a daily practitioner you learn that it is neither a race nor a contest to be won - simply a mental exercise to continue practicing daily. And as a daily practitioner you are rewarded with a calmer, more peaceful demeanor.

If you are interested in learning more about mediation I have listed several good books and apps below - which can be used by beginner to long-time practitioner alike...

Several books to read:

Wherever You Go There You Are - Jon Kabat-Zinn

Meditation is Not What You Think - Jon Kabat- Zinn

Two apps to explore

Calm

Headspace

I wish you peace on your future meditation journey...

#OCD #Anxiety #panic #GAD #Meditation

On the second day of driving practical classes, my instructor led me to a busy road. I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to learn how to drive because I couldn't follow him, couldn't turn when I needed to, kept using the pedals inappropriately, and the car repeatedly stopped in the lanes.I am frightening whether I can learn driving?

#Anxiety

#Phobia #panic #Stress

I don’t think I actually am but sometimes I wonder, I know only a professional can diagnose me I think it’s just really bad highs and lows with life changes/ stressors etc. but it happens so often and during the week sometimes I don’t know if my extremes could be something else or not. Was just curious if others who know they have bipolar disorder or are officially diagnosed with it could explain a bit how it is for them? Thanks.

I’ll seek a psychiatrist or doctor to evaluate
Im only diagnosed with
GAD
And depression etc

Thanks appreciate any help.
I think I’m just having a tough time right now and I just need to get some help which I’m setting up, but just wanted to hear from others who do struggle with other disorders bpd, ocd, anxiety, depression, or in particular bipolar.

I’m pretty sure I’m having more than my one or two diagnosis but can’t tell what it is

Thanks for any help, but I will seek an evaluation and get some help to confirm. #Bipolar #Diagnosis #Unsure #confused #struggling #Trying #Crying #panic #Doctor #Psychiatrist #Hope #help #Depression #Anxiety #MightyTogether

Just like the title. I am very curious to see if anyone experiences the same full blown panic attacks that I have! Mine are horrible! They are the all the same! They are all like a deja' vu to me! Like I have been there before in the exact same scenario, but I haven't. They are so real! Again, they are full blown where it takes me awhile to get out of then I sweat and have a warming go over my body! Heavy breathing/panting til I finally realize I am where I am and come down off of the attack. These have happened while driving before and could be quite dangerous since they are so debilitating! Anyone else? Thanks for reading and sharing if you don't mind. Kim #Anxiety #panic #Depression #Fear #Driving #deja

Every single day, between 2 and 4 PM, without fail, I experience an anxiety attack. I am beginning to experience anxiety leading up to that time, because I am dreading the attack, so it is becoming a vicious cycle. After 5 PM, my anxiety subsides and I can continue on with my day and if anyone asks, I can tell them that I had a good day. Because it's true - overall, I may be having a good or even great day, but there is this daily attack that mars the afternoon.

I have tried distracting myself, booking meetings during this time to keep myself busy, taking a break at this time to allow myself grace, talking to a therapist about this, taking an Ativan when it starts and all to no avail. The midafternoon anxiety comes regardless.

The Ativan can sometimes help me manage the symptoms, but it does not help me continue to be a functioning person, as it does its job sedating me.

I just wish that I understood what caused this and I wish that I knew how to make it stop.#Anxiety #AnxietyDisorder #PanicAttack #panic #Depression

Feel free to share! Would love to listen to them all :) #Music #Love #Hope #keepgoing #Faith #doingyourbest #coping #Depression #OCD #Anxiety #panic

I don’t personally fully struggle with it to the point of being in my home all the time but people that do how do you cope with not feeling shame or being too hard about it and your struggles?

#Agoraphobia #Anxiety #panic #Comment #Support #question

They say time fix everything but it doesn’t work for me. I was heartbroken and I still am after 7 years of struggling… I stopped following him, quit social media, got new jobs in different states, forced myself not texting him… But almost every night, every sadness moment, every desperation, I still think of him for the past 7 years…Am I crazy? He texted me as a friend last year but I rejected him because I found myself still being severely affected by him…I can’t move on with my feelings towards this guy who played me 7 years ago?! Having #PTSD , #Depression ,#Anxiety , #panic attack issues don’t help me move on at all. I totally lost my confidence that I could be better without him… was I better than myself 7 years ago? I gained 30 lb, aged more… I can’t have him back and let him play me again… He is so successful but I am not…Will I just being like this for the rest of my life?