Anxiety – Lifey

Here’s a free collection of resources about Anxiety- Anxiety blogs, support groups, first-hand experiences and advice from people who have anxiety, etc.

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Anxiety Blogs

Here’s a list of anxiety blogs.

****Email alexbalinski@gmail.com to submit your blog to this list.***

Positively Positive	positivelypositive.com	2017
Anxiety Slayer	anxietyslayer.com	2017
The Anxiety Guy	anxietyexit.com	2017
Time to Change	time-to-change.org.uk	2017
Healthy Place	healthyplace.com	2017
The Worry Games	theworrygames.com	2017
Anxious Lass	anxiouslass.com	2017
Blue Light Blue	bluelightblue.com	2017
Zoella	zoella.co.uk	2016
Very Well	verywell.com	2016

Anxiety Support Groups

Anxiety Support Groups On Facebook

Other Anxiety Support Groups And Forums

Daily Strength Anxiety Support Group (8,452 members, 35,716 posts)

Anxiety Survey

We’re surveying people about their experiences with anxiety. Here will be a collection of their responses.

*This information is not meant to replace medical advice, and the information gathered via surveys may or may not be correct. Hopefully it will be helpful to you!

*Response format = Answer (Name, Age)

**Click here to share your experience with anxiety**

Anxiety Symptoms

What symptoms have you experienced?

Nervousness, close to panic, hard time socializing, eating difficulties, panic attacks, anxious about being late as well as other things. (Dorothy, 21 years old)
Sickness, dizzy, cold shivers, hot sweats, irrational thoughts, loss of breath, rapid heartbeat and blurry vision. (Chloe, 21 years old)
Heart Palpitations, Chest Pain, Depersonalization, OD, Depression, Panic Attacks, Insomnia, Hypochondriac. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
Stress, depression, nausea, GI disturbance, fear, panic/panic attacks. (Zoë, 24 Years old.)
Panic attacks, nauseous, headaches, sweating (night & day), crying, insomnia, body aches. (Julie, 24 years old)
Lightheadness, racing heart, feeling scared. (Jessica, 27 years old)
Major anxiety, vomiting, sleeplessness, lack of motivation. (Maria, 28 years old)
Uncomfortable in groups, strong desire to be alone, nervous when people are paying attention to me. (Steven, 28 years old)
Heightened awareness, panic attacks, irritability, nausea/vomiting, trembling. (Caitlin, 28 years old)
Tachycardia. Headaches. Body aches. Dizziness. The list goes on. (Erin, 28 years old)
Fast hear rate, slow heart rate, chest pain, headache, diarrhea, nausea, shaking, palpitations, dizziness, insomnia, irritability. (Lyndzi R., 29 years old)
Unsociable, tired, moody, worry what people are thinking, judging me, socially awkward. (Cheryl, 32 years old)
Shortness of breathe feeling faint light headed dizzy when standing racing heart. (Mary, 32 years old)
Feeling sick, dizziness, lightheadedness, feeling drunk, vertigo, off balance, tunnel vision, headaches, distorted vision, tingling face, lips, tight throat, feeling like I can’t swallow properly, tingling and sweating hands and feet, muscles tensing and unable to relax them, aches and pains, sweating, shivering, heart palpitations, tight chest, feeling like I can’t breathe, racing heart, feeling strange, being petrified and certain I am about to stop breathing and/or die. Confusion, struggling to speak, strange sensations in different areas of my body, upset stomach, diarrhea, insomnia, tinnitus, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, weight loss, loss of appetite, lump in throat sensation, pins and needles. (Chantelle H., 33 years old)
Mostly heart palpitations, but I also get nausea, shakes, hot flashes (like sunburn feeling) tingles. (Tanya, 33 years old)
Panic attacks, tachycardia, inability to breathe, irrational. (Anonymous, 33 years old)
Can’t breath, pains in my chest, dizzy tingling/numbness in face, arm and leg. (Marie H., 34 years old)
Restlessness, lack of sleep, fear of crowds, difficulty in group situations. (Rick, 35 years old)
Fast heart rate, tingling in hands and arms, shortness of breath, non-epileptic seizures. (MB, 36 years old)
Panic attacks and social anxiety. (Vicky, 37 years old)
Fear, dizziness, hard to breathe, rapid heart rate, unbalanced. (Adam, 40 years old)
Fast heartbeat, feeling like there is crushing in my chest, unable to concentrate, unable to breathe, hyperventilation, having to pace, not being able to move. (Amber, 42 years old)
Shaking, dizziness, nausea, fainting, breathlessness, chest tightening, insomnia. (Millie, 44 years old)
Severe anxiety and depression. (Stacy, 44 years old)
Heart palpitations, tight chest, breathing problems, pins n needles in hands and lips. (Kylie, 44 years old)
Panic disorder, anxiety disorder, severe depression. (Christine, 50 years old)
Can’t catch my breath, so I’m continually looking for that deep breath/yawn. Jittery feeling inside, sore tummy butterflies, diarrhea, feeling dizzy, nauseous, faint, panic attacks, social anxiety. (Sheena, 50 years old)
Panic. (Karen, 52 years old)
Depression…Racing heart..sweaty palms… shortness of breath..knot in stomach. (Mark M., 53 years old)
Heart pounding, feeling of doom and death, uncontrollable shaking, pain in shoulders and neck, panic attacks. (Kathy, 53 years old)
Shaking, sweats, heart palpitations, fear. (Tracy H., 53 years old)
Panic attacks, low self esteem, wanting to stay home all the time, getting overwhelmed easy. (Pam H., 55 years old)
Shortness of breath, over thinking, social anxiety, agoraphobia, trembling, panic attacks, insomnia, fear, depression. (Karen, 59 years old)
Anxiety. Tightness in chest. Depression. Fear. Panic attacks. Tears. Lack of sleep. Isolation. Etc., could go on. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
Nausea, worry, shaking, insomnia, fatigue, stuttering, phobias. (Ana)

Anxiety Facts

What interesting facts have you learned about anxiety?

That it can cause a range of physical problems as well. (Dorothy, 21 years old)
That it is a fight or flight mechanism that was effective in cave men times when fighting predators, but there is not much use to it in the modern day. (Chloe, 21 years old)
It isn’t just bad, it’s a gift too. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
None. (Zoë, 24 years old)
That it’s all in the mind, and half the time you don’t know what your panicking about. (Jessica, 27 years old)
That’s it’s ok not to be ok. (Maria, 28 years old)
That in comes in a variety of forms, that it can affect anyone for a period of time or can be a very long term condition. (Steven, 28 years old)
The physical affects are crazy and scary. (Erin, 28 years old)
That you can have actual pain symptoms from anxiety. (Lyndzi R., 29 years old)
That it can cause you to not want to go outside. (Mary, 32 years old)
There is nothing interesting about living with anxiety. (Chantelle H., 33 years old)
That it’s not yet killed me. (Tanya, 33 years old)
How it affects so many, and the little signs you can have that you might not realize is anxiety. (Rick, 35 years old)
Anxiety can cause seizures. (MB, 36 years old)
Different ways anxiety can effect your body like sleep, eating habits, moods and how much energy it takes out of you, especially a big panic attack. (Michelle, 40 years old)
It’s not going to kill you, and many people feel the same way. (Adam, 40 years old)
None. I don’t understand it. (Millie, 44 years old)
I’m not the only one. (Stacy, 44 years old)
None. (Kylie, 44 years old)
That anxiety can rule your life. (Christine, 50 years old)
That it rules! (Sheena, 50 years old)
It tracks back to the Amygdala and our basic fight or flight response. It’s always rooted in the past and is linked to past emotional experiences. (Mark M., 53 years old)
It totally sucks. (Kathy, 53 years old)
That I can calm them somewhat by breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth (doesn’t always. work, but it helps!). (Tracy H., 53 years old)
That it’s unrelenting. (Karen, 59 years old)
It is a horrible illness that does its utmost to scare you. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
It makes you stronger. (Ana)

Anxiety Relief

What are effective ways to relieve your anxiety?

I am not really sure yet. (Dorothy, 21 years old)
Writing lists Meditation Reading Watching a film Baking Breathing Coloring. (Chloe, 21 years old)
Breathing. Keeping busy. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
Grounding techniques, over the counter supplements, exercise as distraction, journaling/writing. (Zoë, 24 years old)
Smoking cannabis, time outside, being with friends (but I don’t have many), my cat, crying, writing down thoughts. (Julie, 24 years old)
Watching my favorite comedian always takes my mind off my anxiety. (Jessica, 27 years old)
Just trying to stay positive, walks, family and friends. (Maria, 28 years old)
Doing jigsaw puzzles, getting out of crowds, listening to music alone. (Steven, 28 years old)
Medicine, breathing, therapy. (Caitlin, 28 years old)
Haven’t really found anything. (Erin, 28 years old)
Know it’s not going to kill you. Breathing in through your nose and out your mouth. (Lyndzi R., 29 years old)
Genuinely just do my best to tell myself I’m fine and block out any thoughts. (Cheryl, 32 years old)
Deep breathes telling myself it’s ok thinking of my husband. (Mary, 32 years old)
Medication, relaxing music, meditation, exercise, distraction. (Chantelle H., 33 years old)
Resting on my kitchen table, ativan, my fan, Weightless by Marconi Union. (Tanya, 33 years old)
Purposeful breathing, medication, taking time for myself. (Anonymous, 33 years old)
Haven’t really found any, only the breathing technique. (Marie H., 34 years old)
Trying to keep my mind busy. (Rick, 35 years old)
Deep breathing, meditation, medication. (MB, 36 years old)
Talking with like-minded people. (Vicky, 37 years old)
Listening to my mp3 made by my hypnotherapist, and thinking positive and not trying and worrying about what I need to do tomorrow or next week. If I get anxious about things I have written them down in a letter so I know I won’t forget them, which has helped me sleep better. (Michelle, 40 years old)
Breathing, watching funny movies, and rubbing icy hot on my neck and temples…lol. (Adam, 40 years old)
Music, taking medication. (Amber, 42 years old)
Distractions, writing, meditation, exercise, music, reading, tv, socializing. (Millie, 44 years old)
Breathing exercises, positive thinking. (Stacy, 44 years old)
Breathing exercises. (Kylie, 44 years old)
Take a diazapan. (Christine, 50 years old)
Hmmmm?? Trying to find a way! Only one I am able to do nowadays is talk to myself by saying I didn’t die before, so I ain’t going to now, and to try and get busy! (Sheena, 50 years old)
First getting those hooks lifted! Then 7/11 breathing… Mindfulness.. anchoring…EFT… Havening/self Havening are all tools that work…avoiding caffeine after noon and fish oils omega 3/6, and cod liver oil also help IMHO. (Mark M., 53 years old)
Ice sometimes helps, and walking. (Kathy, 53 years old)
Being still and trying to clear my mind…and sometimes I stick my head in the freezer! (Tracy H., 53 years old)
Medicine, taking time for myself. (Pam H., 55 years old)
Breathing. Drugs. (Karen, 59 years old)
Breathing exercise helps a little, but never goes away. Drink plenty of water. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
Distractions. (Ana)

Anxiety Difficulties

What are the most difficult aspects of living with anxiety?

Not being able to make friends as it is hard to socialize when you are feeling judged the whole time. (Dorothy, 21 years old)
Being in feat of small things such as vomiting and not being able to do the things you want to. (Chloe, 21 years old)
The pain, and people not understanding. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
Unpredictability – feeling you’re capable of doing something and the onset of anxiety suddenly making it impossible. (Zoë, 24 years old)
The exhaustion and the paralyzing fear that has gotten me into situations that I hate but feel as if I have no control over. (Julie, 24 years old)
Being scared to go out most days. (Jessica, 27 years old)
Feeling so low and sad. (Maria, 28 years old)
Knowing I can’t get rid of it, that it will stop me doing the things I want to do like pursue someone for a relationship. (Steven, 28 years old)
Being high strung constantly. (Caitlin, 28 years old)
Living every day life. (Erin, 28 years old)
People not understanding anxiety. (Lyndzi R., 29 years old)
Worrying, not being comfortable in social situations and the fatigue. (Cheryl, 32 years old)
Being in large groups being outside in public. (Mary, 32 years old)
It effects everything. The way you look, the way you act, it has a massive impact on your mental and physical health. Being terrified you’re going to stop breathing, pass out or die is hard to live with, and it’s like you’re constantly fighting a battle you can not win. (Chantelle H., 33 years old)
It coming out of no where. (Tanya, 33 years old)
It isn’t a visible disability, and people like to brush it off as nothing. Or say to stop worrying. (Anonymous, 33 years old)
The physical symptoms that make you think you are dying. (Marie H., 34 years old)
Never knowing how bad it’s going to be from one hour to the next. (Rick, 35 years old)
For me, it is the seizures – and trying to explain to my family that I am exhausted all the time. (MB, 36 years old)
Every day is a battle. (Vicky, 37 years old)
How it can affect my every day normal routine with my family, not being able to plan things in advance to do with my family as I panic about going, or doing things. Not being able to to think about simple tasks without having a panic attack. (Michelle, 40 years old)
Not going where I want to. (Adam, 40 years old)
It hits when it wants, I usually don’t get a warning. (Amber, 42 years old)
Unpredictability. (Millie, 44 years old)
Getting through the day. (Stacy, 44 years old)
Everything. (Kylie, 44 years old)
Not being able to control the symptoms, try. (Christine, 50 years old)
It just ruling my every decision! I can decide and it changes things on the day! Social anxiety! Breathing and jittery dizzy and nauseous! (Sheena, 50 years old)
All day. (Karen, 52 years old)
Irrational fear..fear of fear- it stops you connecting with life and yourself…your authentic self. (Mark M., 53 years old)
Not being able to get out, and enjoy life. (Kathy, 53 years old)
People not understanding. (Tracy H., 53 years old)
Getting through each hour of each day. (Pam H., 55 years old)
Everything is very difficult. (Karen, 59 years old)
Fear of fear. Not being able to have confidence to go out, and stay out for long. Do try to rush out, do what I need to do, and then go home again asap. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
Talking to people. (Ana)

Anxiety Advice

What words of encouragement/advice can you share with others who have anxiety?

That you should seek help. Also there is nothing wrong with having a mental illness. (Dorothy, 21 years old)
Stay strong and keep fighting. (Chloe, 21 years old)
We can get through it together. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
Distracting the mind is key, your anxiety doesn’t define you as a person. Allow yourself, where appropriate, time. (Zoë, 24 years old)
You’ve overcome all the bad days before, just breath through this one too. (Julie, 24 years old)
Talking about it I find is the best thing. (Jessica, 27 years old)
To be strong- it doesn’t last. Seek help early on. (Maria, 28 years old)
Whenever it starts to take hold, when you feel it building up inside you, lock your mind on something about you that makes you feel proud and happy, something you can’t convince yourself is a lie or isn’t important. I’m constantly beset by my own mind and it constantly reminds me of everything I do wrong and every mistake I have ever made but I can put a stop to those thoughts by focusing on the fact I’m a good uncle. I make my nephews nieces laughter and smile every time I’m with them, they come to me when they are scared and need comfort, all 4 of them have fallen asleep in my arms and all of them rush to see me and all try hard to get my attention. It doesn’t always works but it does sometimes derail my negative thinking and prevents my anxiety escalating. (Steven, 28 years old)
You don’t have to let this beat you. You can get help and your life can improve. (Caitlin, 28 years old)
Hold on. (Erin, 28 years old)
Know you’re not alone, and that you will get through it. (Lyndzi R., 29 years old)
Think positive. (Mary, 32 years old)
It’s hard, it’s so different yet so much the same with everyone..just keep strong. (Tanya, 33 years old)
Things will get better. See your doctor. Find a support group. Talk to people. Make a plan. (Anonymous, 33 years old)
Don’t let it upset if you’re not able to do something. Just keep trying. (Rick, 35 years old)
Keep sharing your thoughts with people- it helps to talk. I found apps and books help. (Vicky, 37 years old)
Go and seek help. There are people who can help, don’t be scared to ask for help and advice, don’t see it a sign of weakness, or letting your self down because it takes a strong person to ask for help. (Michelle, 40 years old)
You’ll always be ok. (Adam, 40 years old)
Just breathe. (Amber, 42 years old)
Anxiety is hard to live with because it is so unpredictable. Recognize triggers and have a plan in place when you feel an attack on the rise. Isolation is the worst. (Millie, 44 years old)
The power of prayer and positive thinking will help with your anxious thoughts. (Stacy, 44 years old)
This too shall pass. (Kylie, 44 years old)
Get help asap, talk about it. (Christine, 50 years old)
That we are anxious because we learned it as it turned up, and we now fear it so we almost search for it, so we in a round about way make ourself anxious so if we can learn to turn that around then happy days! (Sheena, 50 years old)
Seek professional help to track back on your timeline where your anxiety started…key sensitizing events and get them removed…this will have a massive impact in itself..then learn the tools I have posted above which will help keep you on top of any future dips, and they’re simply great tools for a balanced connected life! (Mark M., 53 years old)
Never give up hope, we can beat this. (Kathy, 53 years old)
Be brave…. forge ahead and ignore people. (Tracy H., 53 years old)
You can beat this, try to stay positive. Talk to yourself. (Pam H., 55 years old)
Don’t take benzos. (Karen, 59 years old)
I know it’s hard, but try not to believe it can hurt you. It won’t. It’s the feelings that are the most scary. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
Be strong, you’re not alone, and breathe. (Ana)

Anxiety Diet and Exercise

What’s been your experience with diet and exercise?

I lose weight. (Dorothy, 21 years old)
Diet and exercise help. I think exercise helps better. (Chloe, 21 years old)
My diet doesn’t change it. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
Exercise has certainly helped at times but it’s not a fix for every episode of severe anxiety – sometimes you will need to think on the spot for what you can do to alleviate symptoms – trial and error until you find what works for you personally. (Zoë, 24 years old)
I’ve changed both things within last 2 years and overall have reaped benefits from eating a heavily plant based diet and performing 20-30 minutes of exercise every few days, but honestly it’s easy to get away not doing those things. (Julie, 24 years old)
I have lost appetite, so I don’t eat much- I do try, and go walking every day. (Maria, 28 years old)
Pretty poor for both. Recently I have started doing a exercise called the couch to 5k from the NHS that helps you go from doing no exercise to running a 5k in 9 weeks. My diet is poor as I can’t eat most food due to its taste and texture but I have been cutting down my snacking and trying to only eat a big meal for tea instead of a big meal for lunch as well. (Steven, 28 years old)
Eating poorly and not exercising makes my anxiety worse. (Caitlin, 28 years old)
Doesn’t seem to change anything. (Erin, 28 years old)
Caffeine is a trigger for me. (Lyndzi R., 29 years old)
Bad diet, basic exercise. (Cheryl, 32 years old)
Not good. (Mary, 32 years old)
Loss of appetite, no energy, depression, weight loss, exercise can help to relieve some anxiety though this can be hard to do for one experiencing severe or extremely high anxiety. (Chantelle H., 33 years old)
Exercise definitely causes it. Maybe it’s my subconscious thinking my heart will explode, I don’t know. I do what I can for diet-no molasses, brown sugar, caffeine. Certain foods trigger it. (Tanya, 33 years old)
Eating less sugar, and avoiding caffeine helps tremendously. Being in nature for walks and meditation is very helpful. (Anonymous, 33 years old)
Low motivation and lack of appetite. (Rick, 35 years old)
I either go one way or the other. I can eat non-stop or hardly eat at all- it depends what has set my anxiety off. Again, some days I don’t want to do anything and it’s a real slog to get up and get on, then sometimes I can’t sit still and relax and just up about doing what ever I can. (Michelle, 40 years old)
Can’t eat as much and excessive exercise can cause some symptoms. (Adam, 40 years old)
Exercise helps, it does not seem to matter what I eat though. (Amber, 42 years old)
I changed my diet and exercise every day. I lost 60lbs in less than 6 months. (Millie, 44 years old)
It helps with anxiety, if you can get out of bed. (Kylie, 44 years old)
Exercise….I adore walking! Haven’t considered diet as being of a benefit, though I have blamed particular things for my anxiety like cappuccinos, and I stopped taking them! (Sheena, 50 years old)
Both play a key role in keeping us connected… anything that takes you outside every day… walking.. gardening…running etc. is great.. we need fresh air and natural light in our lives…also eating clean has massive benefits, eating unnatural foods has now been proven to poison our bodies and minds…eating clean has a massive impact on mood and self esteem. (Mark M., 53 years old)
Seems to help symptoms most days. (Kathy, 53 years old)
Eat something small for every meal! It helps. (Tracy H., 53 years old)
No exercise, I only want to eat once a day or not at all. (Pam H., 55 years old)
No sugar. No caffeine. (Karen, 59 years old)
I can’t really eat when I know I have to. Exercise almost nil. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
Increased anxiety. (Ana)

Anxiety Treatments

What’s been your experience with treatments (medication, etc.)?

I haven’t taken medication for anxiety, just depression. I am still being treated by a psychologist for my anxiety. (Dorothy, 21 years old)
Never used it. (Chloe, 21)
I have not tried treatments yet but I am seeing a doctor July 11th. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
Have not seemed professional help regarding my anxiety. (Zoë, 24 years old)
I don’t trust the medical community to help me. The doctors love to label me and then not listen to me as they prescribe me drugs I either don’t want or have expressed fear about. Therapy has been both helpful and utter bad. (Julie, 24 years old)
I haven’t been on any. (Jessica, 27 years old)
I’m on cipramil- I find it ok only taking a few weeks. (Maria, 28 years old)
Bad. I have been on antidepressants but they didn’t help or actually made me worst so they took me off them. I was on diazepam which I loved, it made me feel so much better, so much calmer but since I left the mental health hospital they decided I didn’t need it anymore but I wish they would. (Steven, 28 years old)
Correctly regulated medication and counseling have literally saved my life. (Caitlin, 28 years old)
Certain meds work for small time periods like an hour at a time. Haven’t had any luck with any of them giving long term relief. (Erin, 28 years old)
Helpful but doesn’t always work. (Mary, 32 years old)
I have been taking Citalopram for seven years and have recently started taking Diazapam. Medication can be a great help, but does not resolve anxiety issues completely. (Chantelle H., 33 years old)
Herbals, ativan, zoloft barely keeps it in line. (Tanya, 33 years old)
I couldn’t cope with side effects. (Marie H., 34 years old)
It can help, but you still need to push yourself. (Rick, 35 years old)
I feel as though medication is the only thing holding me together right now. (MB, 36 years old)
I’m on beta blockers for the panic attacks. (Vicky, 37 years old)
I’ve tried all the medication a general practitioner can give out, and I’ve had an allergic reaction to them all one way or another. (Michelle, 40 years old)
I don’t like to take pills. (Adam, 40 years old)
Therapy and medication helps keep me grounded. (Amber, 42 years old)
Only therapy thus far, but I want medication. (Millie, 44 years old)
Clonazepam helps with my anxiety because it lasts so long. Paxil helps with my depression, because it doesn’t make me feel sleepy or foggy. (Stacy, 44 years old)
Medication and Therapy. (Kylie, 44 years old)
All five horrible side effects. (Christine, 50 years old)
Spent way too many years on antidepressants, anxiety and sleeping pills to know they do nothing! They can’t cure us, so no point to them! I stopped taking them in 2002 and will never take again! (Sheena, 50 years old)
Absolute waste of time…ok for a few weeks, but months, years, a lifetime! It’s disgusting how pills are handed out which only mask the problems…how do you prescribe for internalized emotions? Manifesting in so many ways…sex… gambling…self harming…drugs…anger…Brief solution therapy is the only way to treat these symptoms…not Counseling or CBT … remove the triggers! (Mark M., 53 years old)
So far Klonopin is all that’s helped, Verapamil for my heart stops the pounding and fluttering. (Kathy, 53 years old)
So for a low low dose of xanax .5 three times a day has worked wonders! Go to a doctor …get diagnosed- it is amazing. (Tracy H., 53 years old)
I have had very good luck with meds. (Pam H., 55 years old)
Was addicted to benzos. Very bad experience. (Karen, 59 years old)
Medication can be really scary, as I’ve been put on different ones, and then having to ween off them again. But support from the team has been second to none. I can’t thank them enough. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
Works well for me. (Ana)

Anxiety Recommendations

Anything you would recommend for someone with anxiety?

Meditation and a therapist. (Chloe, 21 years old)
Keep calm. Breath. Talk to someone. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
Cannot recommend, everyone reacts differently to different treatments. Talking treatment, therapy, medication, lifestyle changes. (Zoë, 24 years old)
Talking to somebody who knows and understands what you’re going through, making friends who also have anxiety and finding something that takes your mind off it when you’re having an anxiety attack, or feel you have one coming on. (Jessica, 27 years old)
Talking to someone. (Maria, 28 years old)
Find someone who can support you but don’t rely on them, they have their own lives to lead and shouldn’t drop everything just to help you. It sounds harsh but its only fair. (Steven, 28 years old)
Breathe. (Caitlin, 28 years old)
Breathe through the hard days to enjoy the good moments. (Erin, 28 years old)
Talk to others with anxiety, and know anxiety can’t and won’t kill you. (Lyndzi R., 29 years old)
Just take it day by day. (Mary, 32 years old)
Treasure the good days. (Chantelle H., 33 years old)
Do whatever you need to do to stop it. For me it’s my head on my pillows on my table, for some it’s a cool/cold bath, some use electric blankets. Don’t feel guilty for doing what you need to do. (Tanya, 33 years old)
Try to occupy your mind as much as possible. (Rick, 35 years old)
Don’t hesitate to seek professional help. (MB, 36 years old)
Join groups, read books, and talk to friends. (Vicky, 37 years old)
Evening primrose oil tablets, try herbal before medication from the docs, as some just mask the problem more instead of dealing with it head on. I found hypnotherapy very useful and CBT. (Michelle, 40 years old)
Relax, educate yourself about remedies. (Adam, 40 years old)
Therapy and meds, not allowing your anxiety to make you withdraw from people who love you. (Amber, 42 years old)
Try different strategies to keep yourself from feeling stuck. (Millie, 44 years old)
A good doctor and definitely positive thoughts, and of course praying. (Stacy, 44 years old)
Seek help. (Kylie, 44 years old)
Talk to people you trust, be with loved ones as much as possible. (Christine, 50 years old)
To get out and walk! To consider hypnotherapy to see if may just help! Otherwise, I am not sure as I have problems with my anxiety, so I haven’t got advice for myself, let alone anyone else! (Sheena, 50 years old)
Yes the rewind Technique…Time Traveller Technique and Havening followed up with Emotional Freedom Technique and Mindfulness. (Mark M., 53 years old)
Find a good doctor who listens, and doesn’t blow you off just because you have anxiety. (Kathy, 53 years old)
Just breathe! (Tracy H., 53 years old)
When things are too much, take time out for yourself or sleep! (Pam H., 55 years old)
Breathe. (Karen, 59 years old)
Talk to someone. Family support. Anyone. Don’t suffer alone. Isolation makes it all worse, so please tell someone. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
Watching a comedy movie to distract yourself. (Ana)

Anxiety Resources

What specific resources have you found most helpful?

My significant other. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
Having plans for the worst anxiety attacks – bullet journaling to discover triggers and what has worked to alleviate in the past etc. (Zoë, 24 years old)
Having a routine was helpful. (Julie, 24 years old)
Support groups. (Jessica, 27 years old)
I like some forums online hearing from other people who suffer. (Maria, 28 years old)
Online forums and Facebook groups. (Lyndzi R., 29 years old)
My friends. (Mary, 32 years old)
Weightless by Marconi Union helps regulate breathing. (Tanya, 33 years old)
A neurologist that was able to diagnose the cause of my seizures and was compassionate in explaining the cause. My psychiatrist has been Heaven-sent. (MB, 36 years old)
A fantastic GP, hypnotherapy and CBT, getting rid of negative friends. (Michelle, 40 years old)
Therapy, writing, music and calm.com. (Millie, 44 years old)
Therapy. (Kylie, 44 years old)
Therapist. (Kathy, 53 years old)
Reading blogs and knowing I am not alone helps. (Tracy H., 53 years old)
Therapy. Love. Empathy. (Karen, 59 years old)
Support from family and the mental health support workers. Been so good to me. Been a great help to me and still are. Don’t know what I would do without them. Angels, all of them. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
Stress ball. (Ana)

Anxiety Panic Attacks

What’s been your experience with panic attacks?

I have only had a few in extremely stressful situations. I feel tingly from lack of oxygen. I can’t feel my hands, lips, etc. (Dorothy, 21 years old)
They are terrifying and I have been in the hospital four times. (Stephanie K., 22 years old)
Lucky to have had few and far between in panic attacks. Didn’t recognize them to be what they were for a long time. More awareness about this should be available to younger people as anxieties get worse and health related when you’re not aware of the full symptoms that can relate to anxiety.(Zoë, 24 years old)
Miserable, I work my breathing up so hard that I have to sit down or I’ll collapse. I cry and can feel my heart pumping more viciously than ever before. All the problems flood to me during these attacks and I take on everything that’s upsetting me. (Julie, 24 years old)
They started almost five years ago and they have caused me nothing but issues, and being scared resulting in being afraid to go out. (Jessica, 27 years old)
I get them very bad sometimes. I try to breath through them. (Maria, 28 years old)
I haven’t had any yet, fortunately but I have helped someone through them several times. As someone who supports someone having a panic attack its important to keep talking to them by telling them to focus on breathing (in through the mouth, out through the nose), to tell them you’re there for them, that they’ll be OK and that it will pass. (Steven, 28 years old)
They are terrible and take a twice as long at least to recover from them. (Caitlin, 28 years old)
Have them all the time. I feel like I’m dying every time. (Erin, 28 years old)
I have multiple attacks daily. (Lyndzi R., 29 years old)
Terrifying. I’m convinced I’m bipolar when this happens, I kick off and run or escape. (Cheryl, 32 years old)
Scary. (Mary, 32 years old)
Hell. Feeling like ‘This is it’. Feeling completely out of control. Not being able to control them. Feeling suicidal, feeling like there is no help available. (Chantelle H., 33 years old)
HELL. (Tanya, 33 years old)
Mine come out as seizures, which I didn’t know was possible until I began experiencing them last fall. And I’m in the medical profession! (MB, 36 years old)
Severe. Hospital trips many times. (Vicky, 37 years old)
Before hypnotherapy I was having lots a day, and not being able to breath and thinking I was going to die- it’s very exhausting having panic attacks. (Michelle, 40 years old)
Holds me back from experiencing life. (Adam, 40 years old)
They are like fire…swift, hot. (Amber, 42 years old)
I can’t breathe. They are debilitating. My body shakes. (Millie, 44 years old)
Fight and flight. (Stacy, 44 years old)
Feels like I’m going to die. (Kylie, 44 years old)
It’s made me agoraphobic. (Christine, 50 years old)
Just awful experiences. Breathing erratically, shaking uncontrollably, shooting pains in my stomach, thinking I am going to die, thinking I am having a heart attack, etc. (Sheena, 50 years old)
As answered in the first question, and it always tracks back on a timeline..the person was not born that way. (Mark M., 53 years old)
These are the worst, and they scare me to death sometimes. (Kathy, 53 years old)
Scary. (Tracy H., 53 years old)
Terrible…racing heart, crying, needing to get away from where I am at. (Pam H., 55 years old)
Hospital. (Karen, 59 years old)
After many years, I try now to talk it away as I now know they can’t kiĺl me. Will have to learn to go with the scary feelings. (Geraldine, 69 years old)
Four a week, trembling, sweating, lightheadedness and weak limbs. (Ana)