Anxiety's Touch

After some recent, serious struggles with my illnesses, I decided to write something specifically about anxiety. Whether you battle chronic anxiety or just overwhelming manic days once in on occasion, I hope you find this useful!

As some of us are aware, anxiety flares and panic attacks simulate the fight-or-flight response we experience when we are in real danger. The difference is that the “threat” our brain perceives is emotional, not a real, physical threat. With no tangible target to attack or dodge, your body is 'all wound up with nothing to blame.' When we are already scared or upset, all the adrenaline that can’t leave our motionless bodies stays trapped, intensifying the symptoms of the attack. In a matter of seconds, we become hysterical. It is a merciless trick anxiety plays on your will to survive.

Many of us try various breathing exercises, meditations, and stress-relieving activities to ease out of the panicked state. Just like with medications or alternative treatments, some work, while others do not. So, many of us trade techniques and fashion our own mix-matched self-soothing methods. Personally, I love playing around with writing exercises, or trying my hand at creating memes. The color-by-number pages in children’s coloring books are soothing busy work for my hands while I calm my mind.

First Try at Creating Original Memes to Cope with Anxiety Attacks

Also, I learned recently that singing is a great way to stop yourself from stuttering. During some of my attacks, I stutter so badly, I can’t finish a single sentence. However, singing is repeating words you’ve had memorized for months or years, and your mind switches into autopilot as you recite the words to the songs. The stutter vanishes as quickly as it came!

I love to read, too, which is how I tripped on a new calming method. Well, it’s a new spin on a couple of old methods, really. The other day, I read a packet of meditation exercises. At first, it looked like upgraded exercises that a behavioral hospital doctor suggested for me several years ago. I wasn’t too surprised; at some point, some therapists and doctors must discuss various methods, success rates, and trade secrets amongst each other. However, the last page was a diagram of the human body, and a description of the fight-or-flight response.

The diagram was marked from head to toe with many different symptoms of panic attacks, ranging from mild to more severe. What interested me most, though, was how this doctor explained every single symptom, and then connected them directly to the FF impulses. Not much of it was new information, but something about the clear, detailed presentation helped the information actually stick with me through my last attack.

Day before yesterday was another rough day, no matter what I tried. I noticed how dry my mouth was, and I instantly remembered what the diagram said about dry mouth during anxiety attacks and the FF response. The next thing I knew, my thoughts were slow and clear, my heartbeat was back to normal, and I could breathe.

I cannot explain why years of advice and information clicked in a single second. Maybe it’s because I am an insufferable bookworm, and I relish research and information on ANY topic. In any case, I was, and still am, beyond grateful that it did sink in for me that day. I wish I could guarantee that it will work for everyone else, too, although if there’s a CHANCE it could help one person, I have to try! What I can tell you is that I discovered a new perspective on old information, and found a refreshing new technique buried beneath less successful tips.

So, the next time your doctor gives you exercises or activities that don’t work for you, don’t toss them into the compost pile! Sift around a little longer, when you’re calm and able to clear your head. It may look useless on the surface, but there may be very valuable, and lifesaving, at the bottom of that pile. Don't be afraid to dig past the sludge for your gold!