"mudbum" <mb@home.org> wrote in message
news:041020070215137247%mb@home.org...
> If you would all learn deep breathing exercises and relaxation
> techniques, this newsgroup would be worthless.
>
> Otherwise, take Xanax and beer....
Troll - but I will still respond for people who are truly interested in
learning how to manage their condition.
I've had severe anxiety/agoraphobia for 20 years and for the past 3 years
have my condition under complete control that I can almost say I'm normal.
For me this has involved a combination of CBT therapy,
klonopin meds, eating
well, physical exercise and wonderful support from family and friends.
Deep breathing exercise has never worked for me as I usually end up
hyperventilating. I think it's great if you can do it but it just doesn't
work for me. Aromatherapy and meditation have sometimes helped me feel less
anxious but once again this doesn't work in every situation but it's a great
tool for low level anxiety.
To deal with situational anticipatory anxiety the best strategy that I've
found is distraction. This has helped me fly interstate when I've never
thought I'd be able to minutes before take-off. Doing puzzles such as
sodoku, crosswords, word finds helps me focus on something other than my
anxiety.
I don't take Xanax but I know many people who's lives have been saved by
this medication. Klonopin has been wonderful for me and I was once on 5mg
per day when I couldn't even get out of the house. I have now managed to get
down to just over 1mg per day. Life is wonderful and simplistic advice is
not the answer.
Vanessa