Those are coping skills and they are good ones. I find Gardening extremly relaxing but when it rains I have to work in the greenhouse or find something else to do. This is a form of distraction to take the focus from anxious thought. Do you do this? Does reading work for a distraction?
Last night I ate too late so I was awake at 2:30 with some anxiety and had to talk myself back to sleep. I made a cup of mint tea as a distraction and took calcium to get rid of that overstuffed feeling and talked myself down by admitting I did something stupid but it wouldn't kill me. I also wrote it down but this time not in my journal. I just wrote it.
I went back to bed and slept well the rest of the night. There was a time that just waking up would have triggered a panic attack that would have lasted up to three hours and destroyed the next day and possibly more.
Keep working at it. Keep adding things that work till you do them unconsciously. And think positive, you are going to get over this. You are proving it.
I try to keep myself very busy,i walk when its not over 100 outside,i like to garden,i love to read about self improvement,decorating,fashion,cooking...finding bargins, clipping coupons, ect...
I try to inforce deep breathing everyday,gentle streching exersixing...I am also doing what i call {mind over matter}...such as when i start getting that wring your hands feeling,i get busy doing something,and sometimes,i sit down and start to talk myself through it....things like
Iam ok
I can breath
I am calm
those are a few things i am working on right now,aswell as doing my journal everyday....
I got up, with my back hurting,and my sciatica pain too...i know thats my trigger,at least one of them...ive tried to keep myself busy,and doing things to stay focused..
Its hard i admit...
I have taken one zanax today to help me just get through..going to take a nice bath later,and let my husband rub my back..
I do need to rest..i think i have maybe done to much, the last few days..
Its so hot outside, i didnt get to do any gardening today...maybe tomarrow..
