51pegasi-b:

There should be a grindr for cuddling.

Hey folks.

There really is no need to follow me back just because I followed you. Only follow if you enjoy my content.

Avec l’amour,

Will

You make two mistakes…

1. You probably didn’t use school wisely enough to prepare for your future.

2. As a consequence, you didn’t learn in school that everyone is different and has unique experiences.

So folks, please carry on and know that life can get better.

I am about to embark on a long trip away from home. So I am a bit worried anxious terrified. Since I have suffered from panic disorder, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and OCD in the past - I’d thought I’d make a list aggregating all that I’ve learned through the years…

1. Don’t fight anxiety. This is something I’ve always had problems with. The more you try to not think about it, the more you probably will. That is why I called this “relieving anxiety.” Sometimes it has a right to be there (say, before a presentation or a major life change). You have to find ways to work with it. To reduce it. To focus on soothing yourself.
2. Progressive Muscle Relaxation. If you find yourself to be tense as well as anxious, try to focus on resting your muscles using this
3. If you really want to try something physical, try doing some Yoga postures in conjunction with breathing exercises. The point of yoga is to hold your positions and breathe through them. Never overdo though. ;)
4. If you find that you get really bad nausea or stomach discomfort - this is normal. Try buying some ginger root at the food store or ginger capsules. They have been invaluable for me when it comes to nausea. Chamomile tea is also really good for stomach distress.
5. For acute panic, remember that it is temporary. Your parasympathetic nervous system is programmed to start working after 15-20 minutes of acute panic. You will have no choice but to calm back down. There are also built-in bodily mechanisms that deal with breathing so there is no need to worry if you feel like you are not getting enough air. Read More Here.
6. Try distracting yourself. Focus on something else. Listen to music or watch some YouTube. Or both. Best yet, focus on your breath. It is something you will always have with you. You can practice that on this great site. You can probably think of other things like playing an instrument, playing a sport, or drawing.
7. Change what you are doing. Change scenery. Get off the computer if you can.
8. Some might benefit from repeating affirmative statements or mantras. Sometime you just need to give yourself that little omph of courage. YOU CAN DO IT! This is temporary. YOU’VE GOT THIS!
9. If the anxiety is more chronic, try setting breakpoints: times in the day that you can look forward to. For 15 minutes, set aside some “me time.” Do something to remind you of the time before you were anxious. This may not work on the first try. You need to do this multiple days in a row for it to build momentum.

I’ll try my best to update this list when I think of new ideas. It’s not fun grasshopper, but you will get through it. And when you do, you’ll be awesome! :)

My askbox is always open if you have questions or need to vent or talk. I promise to keep everything private.