I finally have a handle on my panic attacks, but it hasn’t always been easy. I was diagnosed with anxiety disorder when I was 22 years old. My doctor told me it was likely triggered by a traumatic experience I endured a few days prior to the diagnosis. I became bogged down by fear and anxious feelings. Any sort of stimulation would send me teetering on the brink of a breakdown.
Unresponsive to medication
I began taking Zoloft to alleviate my symptoms, but it only made matters worse. I became significantly more anxious, sensitive and emotional. I felt helpless, like I was gradually sinking into quicksand, but could not climb to the surface — no matter how hard I tried.
A holistic approach
One night, I came across an infomercial about generalized anxiety disorder. They were advertising a self-hypnosis CD of some sort, so I decided to give it a try. At that point, I’d cast all skepticism aside. I had reached my lowest point and was willing to give anything a try.
That CD changed my life. It allowed me to mentally transport myself to varied serene places. My ideal refuge was a quiet beach with waves lapping on the shore. I would lie still and visualize all of my fears escaping through my pores. I did this process for about a month and was able to reduce my symptoms by 75 percent.
Learning how to cope
I would still get intense panic attacks where I couldn’t calm myself enough to visualize anything. Luckily, as the years progressed, those attacks lessened. Now, I seldom get panic attacks. Whenever I feel one coming on, I simply close my eyes and picture my little piece of paradise.
Do you have anxiety? Social or otherwise? If so, I’d love to hear about the methods you use to tame those anxious feelings.
(Picture via here)
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