Stress and Anxiety

Noffles

Since waking up this morning I seem to be in the middle of a chronic anxiety attack and almost everything is stressing me out to an almost ridiculous level... I'm taking a half day from work as the job is making things much worse, I'll head down the gym to try and burn it off then...

How do others deal with this??

af_thefragile

Maybe figuring out the cause of your stress might be the first step.
Like what happened (or you are think is going to happen) that is stressing you out.
Think about it.

Once you've figured it out, try to think of a solution for it and work at it...
But figure out whats stressing you out first. There's always something in the back of your head that results in that. It doesn't happen for no reason.

I get stressed out before getting my exam results. But i get stressed out cuz i know i did bad in my exams and i didn't wanna see bad results which was very likely i would (some good luck, i managed to pass em!). But like when i've done good in my exams, i don't get stressed out before getting my results cuz i know i'm gonna pass and do well so there's nothing to get stressed about!

Like that there might be something that you're not sure about which is causing your stress. Once you've figured it out and worked at it, then you won't feel the stress...

Noffles

It sounds simpler than it is though, life in general is stressing me.... home, work family... my mind seems to be looking for a reason to stress out on... If I think of home I stress about it, think of work I stress about that...

af_thefragile

But what is it about your home and work that stresses you?
Don't you like your job? or do you feel your work and family are demanding from you more than you can offer to them?
Are there some tensions going on in your family that you feel are out of your control?
Don't you like the people in your job?

You might just wanna take some time off to reflect on these questions to pin point what its exactly thats stressing you out.

There is a reason for everything and also a solution to everything. You've just gotta take the time to sit back and figure out these things.
And a lot of times time is what we seem to not have. But that is not true. There is always time, you've just gotta find it.

Easier said than done indeed. Thats why so many people seem to be stuck in a rut. Cuz they're too caught up working 9 to 5 to pay their bills, they've forgotten about the more important things in life like themselves and their family. No one at the end of their life says "man, i really should have had spent more time in the office working...".
No, mostly its more along the lines of "man, i really should have had spent more time with my family and doing things i love...".

People get stressed from making things more important than they really are. This happens when you're not in control of your life and are basically "going with the flow". In a boat with no oars, and when you're 10ft from the waterfall, you realise its a bit too late!

Its the people who get aware and take control of their life that succeed and lead a fulfilling life. You don't need to be a millionaire to be happy. Many people have tons of money but they still end up in a rehab a lot of times. Happiness comes from spending your time where you love to spend it. You've gotta love your job. If you don't you've gotta leave it and find another job you love. You've gotta love your wife, if you don't you can leave her too. These are big decisions indeed but they're not bigger than your life. Remember its never too late to decide to change things around.

InReality

I felt like that before I totally "burned out" and took a week off work.
That turned into 3 months off with serious depression , and on various medications etc.

You might not be quite at that stage yet,its hard to tell in message boards , but I'd talk to a doctor and/or a close friend and see what they say to you.

cantdecide

Sometimes I just decide- right. Today is a write-off. I'm having a day of no decisions. What's for dinner- 'I dunno. You decide'. Will I change the channel- 'meh. whatever you think yourself because I'm having a day of no decisions'. It works wonders for me.

Are you sure this is restricted to just a bad day??

faceman

OP, if stress and anxiety are a regular occurence then it may be worth visiting your local GP or chat to a professional about how to deal it with it. there is absolutely no shame in doing it, it happens to many of us at some stage in life.

With some forms of stress or anxiety, we can tend to chose stress releaving activities that do nothing but brush the issue aside temporarily. It doesnt fix the problem.

COnsider what issues are inside and outside your circle of influence.

Noffles

Thanks for the positive posts, I think I really should talk to a professional, today was the worst in a long time... as I do get this fairly often...

*Honey*

I would agree with the other posters who have advised you seek professional help with it - not only can stress be devastating to your mental and physical health, but it's bloody horrible to have to live with and life is too short to not to do something about it. I would say if you suffer like this as a regular occurence, professional help via your GP, in the first instance, would be a very good way to go - it could be you can resolve this without the need for medication, try alternative therapies etc (personally I've found biofeedback very useful in dealing with the stress of the death of a close relative). I hope this gets resolved for you quickly, best of luck.

faceman

Noffles wrote: »

Thanks for the positive posts, I think I really should talk to a professional, today was the worst in a long time... as I do get this fairly often...

Good for you. Best of luck with it and do post back and let us know how you get on.

Learn a little bit of meditation. Whenever i feel stress or anxiety, I close my eyes, and focus n my breathing. Inhale for 15 seconds, hold it for 10 seconds and exhale for 15 seconds. And repeat. Do this for 2-3 minutes, and you'll feel refreshed. Takes little practice but it works a treat.

Another one is before i have something big, I'll close my eyes, imagine a basketball hoop in front of me. I'll trace the tension in my body, imagine it moving to a certain point, and then i'll take it out of me. Focus on the stress in your hand, like a ball, and then throw it into the basketball hoop. Then walk away. It does work, but again needs some practice...

wexford1

Recovery CBT group meetings will bring your anxiety down to a manageable level.

http://www.recovery-inc.org/

http://www.recovery-inc-ireland.ie/