All kinds of anxiety

I suffer from anxiety about EVERYTHING. A couple years ago it just hit me and now I don’t know what to do. For a while I was completely fine with no attacks, but recently, they come almost every night.


When I have one of my attacks I only want my mom, and this has been making my dad and brother upset because she always has to be with me. My dad even says he thinks about leaving us because of me. How do I ease my anxiety and help keep the family together?


Hey girl,

Sorry to hear about the tough sitch. Panic attacks can be scary, but they should def not interfere with your life. They're often triggered by something that stresses you out or makes you feel nervous. If you can figure out what that is, you can start to face your fears with the help of your fam, friends, and even a counselor.


I know when you start to have an attack you only want your mom, but there are ways you can try to calm yourself down. When you start to feel an attack coming on, lay down and close your eyes.  Place your hands on your stomach to help feel and control your breath and breathe deeply and slowly through pursed lips (like you're blowing out a b-day candle).  Tell yourself things will be all right, and think of something that relaxes or comforts you. It can be anything from palm trees and a beachy breeze to the smell of homemade chocolate chip cookies. For me, listening to my breathing tends to calm me. If you discover anything else that helps you calm down, go ahead and try it out.


When you're panicking, it's hard to remember that things are OK. When you work to slow things, you will have a clearer head.  Also, since your attacks are affecting your fam, it's a good idea to try seeing a counselor. This way, a pro can help you try to stop these attacks while also helping the rest of your family understand how to help you through the process and deal with it themselves. And don't be afraid to let your dad and bro in on what you're feeling. If you vent to them, they'll know how hard this is for you.


It's def a scary thing, and it may not be easy to stop, but with some help you can stop these anxiety attacks once and for all.  And don't forget: things will be OK. Good luck and stay strong. I hope this helps!


xoxo
-Kristen Y.

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POSTED IN ,

8/24/2009 7:00:00 AM
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