Could you try showing them your post?
3 Likes
Those never worked for me, but I can recgonize that different things help for different people. What helps for me that my therapist taught me is to get my brain thinking logically, because Anxiety is usually the opposite of logic.
One way to do this for example is to think of how many pokemon I can name that start with the letter C. How many marvel movies can I name? How many cities in wow?
It really helps with my night time panic attacks and next thing I know Iām asleep.
5 Likes
I wonāt offer actual advice to dealing with anxiety: I have generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, diagnosed >23 years ago, and am medicatedāthough it helps, itās not perfectāand have been in therapy at times in the past; however, I donāt deal well with my anxiety, so unless your idea of dealing with it is cry and bawl when you are not able to ground yourself away from the catastrophyzingā¦well, I wonāt provide advice. Others can help better probably.
But, donāt let age get in your way of getting the kinds of help you might need. Iām just shy of 42 and deal with my anxiety by crying, bawling, hiding, and running for stressors. Sometimes I am able to use techniques Iāve learnedā¦repetition, mental or physical, sometimes helps me keep the anxiety from going too farā¦sometimes. Being medicated helps for sure too, just not as much as it does for some. Iāve had people also just say stuff similar to āItās in your headā as if that doesnāt make it real. Just, know that you are not alone in this kind of battle.
8 Likes
I was diagnosed as Epileptic as an adult. I lost my CDL because of it. Now this, plus a few other things that have been going on. I grew up believing that men donāt have these kinds of feelings. Gen X, lol. Iām good at masking my pain with humor and just shutting down. My doctor wants me evaluated for PTSD. I have never talked to a therapist or whatever they are called. I have no idea what that is going to be like and the thought of it causes all those feelings to rush into me and makes me want to just shut down.
4 Likes
Whoās them?
This is the stuff that hurts the most and most of the time itās from the people I rely on the most.
Iām sorry to turn such a fun thread into this. I have been wondering who to talk to and it dawned on me that a group of people; and itās not right, that deal with this stuff every day may be able to offer up a bit of help. I have turned to God for some help, and that has worked, but Iām looking for people who feel what I feel because they may have advice I have not yet tried.
I really appreciate all of you!
4 Likes
Youāre going through A LOT and I feel for you. Keep in mind like weāre all different so I donāt think thereās a one size fit all solution.
I found that something that helped me a lot to deal with (and I canāt say overcome it, itās a constant fight) is focusing on an āanchorā. Kinda like in Inception. Iāve always felt things like anxiety/depression is like this inner world where so many things are going on and the only way to keep sane is to have an anchor in mind so that you donāt get lost.
This could be anything from maybe a music you enjoy listening to, to a faith in a higher power, love for a family member, or combination of different things. So when my mind goes wild, Iāll give myself some time to explore my thoughts/feelings (cause I think itās still important to acknowledge your inner experience), and then Iāll focus on my anchor. E.g. listening to a song that Iām really into this week, some of my spiritual beliefs, checking in on a friend, or something that Iām looking forward to in the future like binge reading One Piece once the series is done, or X-Men 97 season 2 lol
When it comes to social events, I handle it a little differently where I do a lot of research. I usually feel better when I at least know what the location looks like via google maps, reading reviews, checking the menu, so that I can be as informed as possible. If all those is not possible, then Iād honestly just ask for help from my friends. Like a āhey do you wanna do this thing with me?ā thereās no shame in that. People need people, and if youāre struggling with something then asking for help is always a good option.
8 Likes
This is good advice and some of the tricks I have been trying to this point. Music and Faith have been things that have come to me lately and helped some. That and trolling the forums a bit.
I was supposed to go to my neighbors today, she is my cousin and God mother. I also knew 90% of the people there and when it came time to go, I just couldnāt find it in me to visit. I did after the crowd left, but I feel extremely terrible that I waited so long. Her brother, my cousin passed very recently. Iām very close to them and I felt so horrible because I let her down.
5 Likes
I work for a logistics/transportation company, so Iāve seen this before, not because of epilepsy but one driver developing seizures due to another health issue. Thatās hard to lose that part of yourselfāyour CDL and that way of earning a livingāover something you canāt control. I know many of our drivers are extremely proud of their job. So, be proud that you were able to drive whatever you drove for however long you did. Driver Appreciation is a few months out, but Iāll say now: I appreciate you even if you are not able to drive anymore.
Iāve talked about some things like this in here in the last few months, and others have brought up similar issues for a lot longer. At the very least, many people who visit and post in this thread genuinely care.
7 Likes
Is it because of the crowd? If so it might be better to arrange a smaller lunch/dinner visit
4 Likes
Being a truck driver was the perfect job for me. I drove since I was 21. Even while I was in the ARMY and then when I returned to the civilian world. Being alone and just doing my thing makes me wonder if I always had a bit of Anxiety, but it was never really picked up on until recently.
3 Likes
Thank you all for taking the time talk to me. I feel better and sometimes just getting shtuff off your chest works wonders!
3 Likes
Can someone break the tension and show a gif of a pizza eating an anaconda now. I would but TL2
1 Like
Itās possible like big social events can be overstimulating to you. I donāt go to big events as well cause the noise/lights disorient me a lot and then I get a terrible migraine or my ears will be ringing for days. I think the difficult part in all this is helping people to understand that itās not about them and that itās something about how your brain works and reacts to external stimuli that can really make you feel bad. But I think that compared to years ago where people took it very personally, people today are at least a bit more understanding and aware of these issues.
When it comes to things like gathering or birthday parties, Iāll just find the introvert corner or if there isnāt one, then Iāll make one and just be chilling using my phone and someone will usually join me to just have a 1 on 1 chat. Or if anyone is playing a card game or something then Iāll focus on that cause I find that easier to deal with. The only thing that I found works to even go there to begin with is to the mindset of āwell at least thereāll be foodā so itās like Iāll grab the cake and then smile politely and find a quiet corner lol
4 Likes
These are the worst. Even going out into the yard is sometimes a bit overwhelming and I will get these. Crowds are the worst, sometimes.
Food, for me, is the great motivator.
4 Likes
Best I could do boss
9 Likes
Thank you! and this is awesome!
I really appreciate all of you!
7 Likes
This is cute, Iām stealing it, lol. 
7 Likes
Go ahead, 
I stole it, and of course they stole it first from a commercial 
5 Likes
Pizza gang assemble
6 Likes