Self-Help

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago when I wrote about Panic Attacks I said that I would share some of the ways and techniques which I use to help myself with my anxiety.

I am in no position to tell people what to do and I am not saying these things will definitely work for everyone but they are just small things which I have picked up from different people, books and from the internet which I feel have helped me.

Firstly I don’t take any prescribed medication for my anxiety as my doctor didn't think this was the correct approach for me personally. These are just a few small things which I do for myself personally which I can do whenever I feel I need to.

Reading

I have read numerous amounts of books and internet articles and I have been given different bits of information booklets by the lady who I saw at the end of last year. I do find it easier for me personally to have a hard copy of anything which I have read and I feel it has helped me, just so then I can refer back to it whenever I need to.  One book I have was recommended to me by a lady my mum works with, (I mentioned it in a previous post and completely forgot to tell you the name of it etc ) , so it is called ‘Self-Help for your nerves’ By Dr Claire Weekes, I was a bit skeptical at the time, because it was when I was in the ‘nothing will help me’ mind set. However I sat down to read it and it was as though someone was writing about me and exactly how I felt. It helped me to start seeing things in perspective, with it being written down and by a complete stranger made me feel like it was something real. My mum also read the book and it helped her understand a bit more too. 

I liked it so much I bought the newer addition ‘Essential Help for your nerves’ By Dr Claire Weekes. These books aren’t just for people who have being diagnosed with anxiety disorder or any type of mental illness. They are helpful for anyone and can help with so many different things, from stress to someone who just has a nervous personality. So whenever I feel a bit down or ‘wobbly’ I like to read different chapters in the books which I found helpful and I have also written down some of the most important quotes and phrases to help me remember.

Breathing/ Yoga

One thing I learnt from the therapist lady I saw, was about all about breathing and teaching yourself to breathe correctly.  Through having panic attacks I got used to breathing too fast and trying to take in more oxygen than my body actually needed. One of the first things she told me to do was listen to some podcast's which are available on iTunes which teach you to be aware of how you breathe and how to do it properly. I found these podcasts very helpful and still listen to them occasionally.

Since then I have started going to a Yoga class and have been every week for about 10 weeks now. I am going to write another post about Yoga in more detail at some point so I won’t go into too much detail now. As part of the class we do breathing exercises/meditation and again we have been taught how to be aware of how you are breathing and how breathing correctly can keep you calm or calm you down.  Now, whenever I notice myself feeling slightly anxious I remember the breathing techniques I have learnt and it is a quick remedy to help me feel calmer. I sometimes use calm.com which is a great website to use to do your own meditation. 

Exercise 

In addition to doing yoga, physical exercise is something I use which helps me to fight off any anxious thoughts and feelings. If you are a worrier you waste a lot of energy in a negative way which the majority of the time is unnecessary. It is good to use this energy doing something worthwhile which will make you feel much better in the long run. Exercise can vary from a walk with the dog to a full on circuit training class, its entirely up to you. 

Take note 

I have briefly mentioned before about the therapist lady I used to see getting me in the habit of writing down and making notes whenever I felt anxious or had a panic attack. I don’t feel the need to do this as often anymore but it really did help me in getting out of the downward spiral I felt like I was in at the time. I had some work sheets which she gave me where you write down the reason, situation or thing which had made you anxious, write how it made you feel and then what the worst thing which could happen could possibly be. This allowed me to see things in black and white and it became easier for me to put things into perspective. This is a great technique to use to help you become more in control of your problem and for it not to take hold of you. 

Personal Space

I am the sort of person who likes their own space and I sometimes need to just get away and be on my own once in a while. Although being all on your own can sometimes make you feel worse and that was the case for me when my anxiety was very bad. But now I know the reasons for me feeling rubbish sometimes, I do find it very helpful to have time to myself. Everyone deserves a bit a break from things from time to time and should have some time to yourself even if its just half an hour or so.

 I like to read, so reading a magazine or book is always good, but I am not doing very well with reading books recently. However I do read other peoples blogs a lot obviously. I watch YouTube videos as something to do for ‘me time’ and keep up to date with the people whose channels I watch regularly.  

Doing anything girly like painting my nails or putting on a face mask I find can always be quite therapeutic. Those sort of little things are especially helpful if you have had an anxious or stressful day or you just want time to relax. 

Blogging
Writing this blog has been a massive help for me and given me the opportunity to share a lot of things which I have kept to myself for a very long time. I have already had positive feedback from a range of completely different people and it is so great to hear that I am actually helping people whilst helping myself!!

I saw this picture on Tumblr, I really like it and think it is relevant to everyone and fits in perfectly with this blog post!