You only need to look within yourself.
If that sounds a little odd, let me explain.
I suffered with anxiety disorder for about 10 years.
The instant the fears began, I could think of nothing else.
Questions that arose included:
- What is happening to me?
- What is this feeling?
- Why do I suddenly feel so strange?
- Am I losing my mind?
- Am I going to collapse?
- Will I pass out?
- What is wrong with me?
- What do I have to do to make this stop?
- I am so afraid.
They do not elicit answers that would help me.
They only exaggerated the attack and made the feelings worse.
At that point, I was overwhelmed with fear and wanted only to be at my therapist's office because he was the only one who could help me.
Or so I thought.
Yes, he provided support and guided me in the right direction, but in the end it was up to me.
You can do the same.
Do these three things if you want to stop anxiety.
1.
Learn about anxiety and specifically, how it works.
Knowing where it comes from will help tremendously.
You will discover connections that you hadn't imagined.
For instance, you might find out that you aren't quite as confident as you think.
Certain things might be bothering you that you have pushed into the background.
By not dealing with those issues, you are setting yourself up for an anxiety attack.
There are many excellent web sites and books that can provide you with a wealth of information.
A good place to start is the Anxiety Disorders Association of America at http://www.
adaa.
org/.
2.
From your readings, determine how serious is your condition.
If you truly feel you cannot cope with it on your own, you might want to find a therapist to guide you as I did.
It's best if the therapist specializes in this condition because he or she will have the latest treatment options and research data to reference when treating you.
Start with your own physician and ask for a referral to an anxiety professional.
The above organization can help you to locate one in your area.
Be sure to interview several before deciding on one.
It's important that you and the therapist have a connection.
You must believe in him, otherwise you are wasting your time.
3.
Find a supporter, someone you trust who understands your concerns.
This might be a close friend, a relative, a spouse, or just someone you connect with at work or in your leisure activities.
An alternative might be to find a support group in your region.
These are made up of people who have and are suffering with anxiety.
You support one another.
You share your feelings, your fears and what works.