Dealing with anxiety symptoms
 

Had some emotional trauma 10 years ago. Life back to normal

However, I now seem to have a diminished capability to physically manage mild stress.

I find that even mild work stress creates dizziness and periodic high blood pressure. This can persist for days after the work stress is gone

I think that my body/brain subconscious stress management system now jumps into high gear with little provocation.

Mentally, I don't freak out, its just seems my body disagrees with my conscious self and sets off a false alarm.

I'm not interested in medication, just looking for suggestions on strategies to diffuse the physical manifestations of stress.

Stress kills and I don't want my adrenal glands to end up giving me a hear attack or stroke.

Quitting my job is not reasonable, because every job has some level of stress.

Scotch and hookers is also not a great suggestion:rolleyes:
Medical marijuana might make work interesting, but I think my perma-smile might raise a few eyebrows!:cool:

Do you exercise much, that is always helpful from my perspective.

Yoga is also good for stress relief.

Try to get some exercise in and see if that will take the edge off. I normally go out for a long bike ride and try and ride myself into the ground. It help with blood pressure. during the ride, all the stresses are gone and they don't come back for some time.

A young fellow I know almost ended up in the hospital a few years ago, until one Doc who was brighter than the rest suggested sessions with a Psychiatrist.
His heart palpitations, weakness, etc. were panic attacks, brought on by stress at work.

Five years later, he has started over, with help from his family. His current lady understands his difficulties, so that helps.
Big thing for him was professional help.

It is tough for some to deal with because it usually doesn't manifest physical symptoms and people around you have trouble accepting anything is wrong.

Best of luck.
Les

I have a stressful job. Some say one of the most stressful. Physical activity, particularly long cardio sessions, 6 days a week, mitigates stress in my life.

Stress Management
Picture yourself near a stream.

Birds are singing in the crisp, cool mountain air.

Nothing can bother you here.

No one knows this secret place.

You are in total seclusion from that place called the world.

The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.

The water is clear.

You can easily make out the face of the person whose head you're holding under the water.

There now, feeling better?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In all seriousness -- work can be stressful. I work in corporate America and the stress can be all consuming. We work so we can get paid, so we can relax and enjoy life. If working is preventing you from enjoying life -- that's a problem. While we need money to survive (and enjoy life), sometimes putting it in the right perspective helps you deal with the stress. They talk about a work-life balance. Unfortunately, too many people translate that into a work-work life balance, which equates to no balance at all.

My wife and I are both workaholics. This is a problem for us -- we both get home late, and our minds are jelly at the end of a stressful day. We are in the process of learning how to change our perspective -- in 10-15 years, even if I am still working for my company -- will the extra effort I made TODAY really have a tremendous impact on my workplace environment? On the other hand, in 10-15 years, will I regret the time I lost with my wife because of work? You bet. If my wife is more important than my work, I need to be able to show that with my actions. And if my actions show this, then the stress of work gets put into a better perspective.

Food for thought.
-Z-man.

thanks
 

I will ramp up my trips to the gym

Simple - What are some things that you enjoy doing, but do not cause you stress? Find a way to make a living doing those things.

Z-man....that was beautiful. LOL.

I'm only 6 years from retirement with a good pension so I need to hang in there, but I also need to make sure that 6 years of work does not take 15 years off my life expectancy!

I doubt pot will help, it doesn't help mine. I have tried several things, exercise seems to works best. I started to use probiotics a couple months back, if nothing else it's a great placebo. I had major emotional trama a couple years back & got professional help to get through it, he gave me a couple of tools to help with crisis.

Mostly it is what it is, I try to see it a positive & use it to keep busy & motivated. There is no medication that works for me, I've tried several.

I agree with those who suggest physical exercise and Les who suggests professional help. I had an elementary school friend who grew up in a alcoholic home with lots of physical violence. At the high school where he taught, he also coached cross country & ran many miles a week year round, so always exercised a lot. In late middle age, he started to become unglued. He couldn't figure out what was wrong, nor could any of his family. He sought professional help and found out it was the result of stresses in his early life he had suppressed for so long, and were only then manifesting themselves. Years later, he's making it OK but had left his wife and is still a bit confused. I think getting professional help to aid in managing the situation is important.

As mentioned, exercise. Also, as you notice the stress coming on, do some breathing exercises. Take 3-5 minutes and just sit there taking deep, cleansing breaths--4 seconds inhale through the nose, 8 seconds exhale through the mouth. Try to work on developing a Stop/Start process. Meaning, as you feel something (a thought typically) beginning to stress you out, simply STOP thinking it. Then start thinking of it from a positive light.

These simple little things really can help.

Klonopin

I also say exercise, but I'd go one further and suggest a martial art like Karate. Once you're into it it clears the mind.
I can get you info on a real good Dojo in you area if you were interested. You don't have to hurt yourself overdoing it and it's not one of the crazy cult types.

Horrible suggestion.

+1000

It is a drug, but I don't care, it works. I only take it as needed. My productivity and ability to do things I would have avoided is back to normal.

thanks Mark, the name can't hurt. Please PM me

Had a manager here (not mine) who went on record saying "You can choose to have a work-life balance, or you can choose to be successful."

I have no further comment.

My 2 cents. in general exercise works for me it's a regular part of my life style.
And I agree with what gacook said. I read some were that navy seals take a few deep coming breaths.
Don't now for sure about that maybe some of our military members will weight in.
Some times I just ask myself what's the worse that could happen. The question gives me perspective. "Don't sweat the small stuff it is all small stuff"

This is the first thing I thought of... I used to meditate and do Yoga and all that stuff... then I got married.

Need to get back into that stuff.

Great advise! Get to a library and look up "Yoga breathing, plus there are some good books on self awareness meditation."

I agree Yoga helps, as does playing my guitar

Exercise does burn off the stress, I think in addition you have to find the source and address it (not remove the source but rationalize it).

In the moment see if you can step back and think about what might be causing the reaction and rationalize it.

Some good info out there about Post traumatic stress. Apparently some of the techniques that work on combat troops is to repeatedly put them back into simulated situations as an observer of the situation until they no longer react with stress, because they know everything will turn out ok.

I'm no expert and I may be way off in left field, but if you are repeatedly in a normal situation at work that causes abnormal reaction, maybe you don't need a simulation, just the awareness of what is happening in the moment and use each moment as practice and retraining that part of your brain until eventually the reaction is back to normal.

I'd look for something on PTSD and see if you can find some tips, or deal with a professional who can guide you.

How about goals? No better way to reduce stress than to be in control of where you're going. Working towards something helps. Whether it be planning a trip, learning a new language, redecorating the house with your better half, or finally doing that suspension refresh on the old P-car. Keeps your mind sharp, active, and striving toward something. Should help balance out the stress.

Exercise, simply get active and out of the house. Also, diet. Mega Stress vitamin and fish oil, lots of fish oil.

As stated ..... Excercise that includes cardio in a heart rate target zone plus just good long walks in the fresh air and sunshine.

Yoga

also might look into Tai Chi and Meditation.....proven good stuff if you have the time and focus

regards,

Best advice is to buy this book "Mindfulness" by Mark Williams and Danny Penman and you will be astonished as it will do wonders for both anxiety and depression. It presents many methods and practices to deal with the outside stress one experiences every day. To have piece on the inside you must learn to deal with peace on the outside.

No affiliation with publisher and/or authors.

I did a free meditation course. It was free hoping people would sign up for the big course. I got so much out of the free one I didn't need more.

Now I just say a key phrase and think for a moment and my heart rate and thinking immediately returns to a very relaxed state.

It's pretty weird. If I'm having a stressy day I feel everyone wants to attack me and some verbally do. If I do the quick meditation thing I'm very relaxed and (weirdly) I have a whole lot of cute females smiling and saying hello. They can sense bad vibes/good vibes. and life is a lot easier on yourself if you can give off good vibes.

And good luck with sorting this issue.

Exercise, eating healthy and meditation work very well for me.

Whoa... I said whoa there son!!!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1393634441.jpg

+1 to the T

Cardio really helps that built up blood pressure and power to go somewhere. You have those body reactions because your body back in the old days was ready to run, fight, hunt or whatever, if it sensed stress. Go for it!

G

Works for me.

I take one when I can't manage with my normal stress relievers.

My doc wanted me taking 3 a day.

I can make a 30 count script last 3 years.

Seems to have a reboot effect for me, clears the cache so to speak.

cardio.
a different perspective.
eckhart tolle gave me a valued perspective. a fall back position, if nothing else.

You may have some Post Traumatic Stress. It can crop up in various ways.

imho best to talk to a psychiatrist about your options. You can use a psychologist to work through issues, but if you need meds on the short term, you'll need the MD.

Exercise is a good thing - tai chi is kind of the best of both worlds as it is essentially moving meditation.

Meds can be the right answer for some, the wrong answer for others. Only you and your doc can work through that. Remember that the suggestions here worked (or didn't) for that individual - not you. Don't accept or dismiss any solution out of hand.

Don't know that one, but I highly recommend anything by Pemo Chodron. In particular,

The Places that Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics): Pema Chodron: 9781570629211: Amazon.com: Books

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics): Pema Chodron: 9781570623448: Amazon.com: Books

Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living (Shambhala Classics): Pema Chodron: 9781570628399: Amazon.com: Books

BLAH BLAH BLAH...

U fking control nothing, and eventually not even when you have to take a dump...

Exercises will help a lot.

Having gone through something similar, my advice is:
Talk to a psychiatrist and then find a psychologist.

After almost 1 1/2 years since my worst crisis that led me to seek treatment, I think I learned how to deal with mental stress, but my body has not yet returned to normal.

In some common situations (such as hunger, for example) my body still seems to feel some kind of threat and starts making signs like sweating and tremors.

Last week, under the supervision of my psychiatrist, I stopped taking my daily dose of sertraline (Zoloft). At the beginning took together with Bromazepam (Somalium).

During treatment, for most adverse situations, he pointed me Clonazepam (Rivotril/Klonopin), but I found its effects VERY strong. Even with small doses I was unusable for hours.

I am also not a fan of medication, but in my case I do not think have gotten through all this without them.

But, first of all, talk to a psychiatrist.

These books have changed my life for the better. Big time.

Very true. And if you can accept that without judgement, a lot of the fear that drives us goes away. Not all for sure. But a lot of the negative 'what ifs' that haunt us dissolve.

I suffered from anxiety on and off from the age of 30-40. It reached a climax at about age 40 and I decided I had to do something.

Saw a therapist specializing in anxiety, my doc put me on anxiety drugs...nothing worked.

I finally figured out my testosterone was low, and have been supplementing that for the last couplet years. Now I seem to have much more resilience for dealing with adversity. Anxiety is a thing of the past (knock on wood).

I recommend having your doc do a full blood workup just to see if everything checks out. You never know.