May 2007 Weddings
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Stress/Anxiety Reducing Suggestions?
So I have a panic/anxiety disorder and I am trying to rely less on my medication and more on other things I can do. My anxiety seems to be getting worse with time though.
I work out regularly and do yoga once a week. They help but not for very long.
I have a few close friends that I can talk/vent too and that helps, but again only temporarily.
Anyone have any other suggestions for things they do to relax? Thanks girls.
Re: Stress/Anxiety Reducing Suggestions?
Do you have a hobby like scrapbooking or something? Walks outside are nice too, then again only if the weather cooperates.
Sometimes, when I'm really stressed at work or people are getting to me and I need to tune them out or I'll snap, I put my iPod on and listen to certain artists that have a calming effect.
I'm going through the same thing right now but sadly I'm relying on my meds more than ever (I've had difficulty breathing and chest pains a lot lately because of my anxiety. It seems to just be getting worse and worse).
I've been to a therapist but I didn't like her much so I'm trying to find a new one. I'd suggest trying that if you aren't doing it already. I know there are specialists out there who teach relaxation techniques like deep breathing and such.
Something else I'm trying to do is every day, when I get home from work I go upstairs to my bedroom and put in a relaxation tape. I lay on the bed with my eyes closed It walks me through a series of relaxing visuals. That usually helps me after I've had a long, stressful day (and even if I haven't had a bad day.)
Ky thats how I feel too, like i can't breathe. I feel like I can't catch my breathe no matter what I do.
I have tried a few therapists, I have never clicked with anyone though, I need to find some I click with your right.
Thats actually on my to do list for this weekend is to get some relaxtion CD's. I got a scented eye pillow from my yoga studio last night and I was thinking of using that with some CDs when I am really anxious.
Mel I don't really have any hobbies like that, I should maybe try to take something up though. Maybe I could learn to knit. The ipod is a good idea and maybe will help me drown somethings out.
I deal with stress & anxiety in two different ways.
Stress: I workout. I eat. I listen to music I love (similar to what Melanie said), except I can't deal with the "relaxation" type stuff. I need something with strong guitars or an edge. Think Evanescence, Metallica, Guns N Roses. LOUD. LOL Of course, that's not really the best suggestion because it's bad for your hearing. I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE to go for a drive with the music just BLARING.
Anxiety: I wish I could help more. When I had a really hard time with this, I used medication and it helped (but only name brand. I had panic attacks with the generic.) Anxiety is so difficult because sometimes it has nothing to do with one specific thing that you can "fix".
For me, it really came down to simplifying my life. If something was too stressful, I tried to eliminate it (my old job, for instance, caused me to panic because of uncertain money (it was commission based), that "I'm going to get in trouble" feeling (because I couldn't hit certain sales goals and you'd ACTUALLY get written up, even though EVERYONE was struggling and got written up), and the hours caused a TON of stress on me & our relationship.) Some things, obviously, you can't eliminate. But I somehow got to a point where I prioritized what things were going to make or break my life, you know? So my house isn't always perfect or incredibly clean. Is that what is going to bug me when I'm lying on my deathbed at hopefully a ripe old age? (No, in fact, I'm going to remember the things I did INSTEAD of cleaning the house day in and day out.)
I think trying the CDs might help you. They've helped me (but not as much as I'd like). I just make sure that I do them every day, no matter what. Once I get into the routine, then I feel better on a daily basis.
Its horrible not being able to breath isn't it? I just went to the dr. last week becuase I was having such problems (I acutally had one incident where I thought I was going to have to go to the hospital because i seriously COULD NOT BREATH! It was horrible). The dr. said everything seems fine and that its probably my anxiety. So I've started taking my "emergency meds (xanax) more often now.
I wish finding a therapist was easier. I hate just picking one, trying them just to find out we don't click then having to go through finding another one and telling your personal story/history all over again!
If you ever need to email me to vent or to bounce anxiety reducing ideas off each other just let me know! I'm always up for new ideas and chatting about anything, even if you're just having a bad day.
Thats the thing Paula, things (knock on wood) are ok right now. MH and I are getting along really well. I don't hate my job, money is ok, nothing that would cause this kind of anxiety which is really frustrating. I wish I knew the cause.
Elizabeth-people don't need to know what meds you are on, MH is really the only one who knows what I take regularly. And I could care less if people are judging me. I would rather take them and have people judge me than feel like I am literally going to die while having a panic attack. If you need meds you should get them and not worry that people will judge you.
I want to try to get into mediation Jen, I will look for that book thank you!
It's horrible Ky not being able to breath. I feel like I can very rarely take deep breath. It's really scary and frustrating. Xanax and Klonopin are my emergency meds too, I hate taking them though because they make me feel so tired and sluggish.
It is really frustrating to try to find a therapist you click with. I have been through a few and just stopped going because i didn't feel 100% comfortable. I work at a therapy practice and we have some great drs here, unfortunatley it would be a conflict of interest so for now i will just keep searching.
Thanks for that offer Ky, same goes for you if you need anything. I will definatley take you up on it
That's why I said it sucks that sometimes anxiety doesn't really have a cause.
Have you tried hypnosis therapy? If there genuinely IS something that's causing it, perhaps he/she (a LICENSED hypnotherapist) could help uncover it. If not, maybe it would help going forward? If they can hypnotize you to stop smoking, lose weight, etc, maybe it would help with anxiety?
A) Anxiety does not make anyone a failure. It can be chemical imbalance or even hereditary just like depression. This kind of thinking really bothers me because it is so dangerous (this is not trying to single you out, Elizabeth, but it's kind of a hot topic for me due to some things that have happened around me. Such as soldiers "sucking it up" and not getting help for PTSD because they feel like a failure, less of a man, etc.) Anyway, that's BS. NEEDING HELP is not a failure and does not make you less of a person. Not getting help when you do need it, is and does.
C) I'd get a new Dr. ASAP.
I have not tired hypnosis, never even thought about it but it is a really good idea. I am going to see if there is somewhere in my area I can go for that. Thank you
NP. FIL has been using it to help him quit smoking. It takes willpower, still, but hopefully it'll help.
Also, seeing Jen post made me wonder if accupuncture might help at all since that's also a natural-body chemical thing?