Experiencing Anxiety? There Are Ways To Overcome It!
Feeling panic,
nervousness, uneasy, overly and uncontrollably stressed, heart palpitations……..These are some symptoms of anxiety.
I remember the first
time that I felt this way. I crawled in a ball in bed and felt like I was going
to stop breathing. I felt physically paralyzed from emotional pain and
despair. It was 18 years ago today on the 1st anniversary of my infant
daughter's death.
When we feel anxiety, it
is a way that our body is telling us that something is just not right. It can
be a warning signal to us that danger could be near in a situation. However,
some people experience anxiety in a severe and frequent manner in which is
termed Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
There does not need to
be a situation that warrants danger for someone to feel anxiety.
GAD is when an
individual worries excessively in a chronic manner. Some symptoms of GAD are
sleep disturbances, restlessness, fatigue, becoming irritable easily, having a
difficult concentrating, and muscle tension.
I used to suffer from
anxiety that stemmed from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from
experiencing multiple traumas and abuse. I lived in fear over just about
any and everything thing - from fearing that I was going to get cancer to fearing
that someone was going to come through my window in the middle of the night.
My PTSD went into GAD
because I had not dealt with it yet. I stuffed it. I swept it under the rug. I
didn't talk about it.
When we repress our hurt
emotions, they come out in other ways.
When I sought help, I
learned how beneficial it can be to talk about my traumas.
I also learned coping
skills.
Some of the coping
skills that were helpful for me were:
Positive self-talk
Reading Biblical
scripture and positive quotes
Talking to a trusted
friend
Getting plenty of fresh
air and exercise
Prayer
Going to a ‘safe’ or
“happy’ place in my mind …such as the beach
Drinking plenty of water
throughout the day
Eating a lot of fresh of
fruits and vegetables
Taking slow deep breaths
Remember that talking to
someone when you are hurting and /or experiencing fears can be very helpful
along with implementing positive coping skills.
Today, I live free
from symptoms of anxiety. You can too!
There is help for
anxiety and you can feel better!
In precious memory of Cammie Rose Gammon
Blog Website LivingWithHopeCounseling.com