Anxiety advice?!
Question: this week has been full of exams that count as 20% of my grade and i've been sick all week from stress and now that the week is finally over and Christmas break is here and im still feeling this way. my stomach is really bothering me and my heart races so fast and its hard to sleep or even relax. i am starting at a new school in january so i guess its nerves from that (ive been at the same school for my entire life so ive never experienced this kind of change. im a sophmore) but i really dont want to be having these effects through out my whole time off! I dont know what to do...if you know anything that might help please share.
o and deep breathing and stuff doesnt work at all. it doesnt affect the rate of my heart.
Answers: this week has been full of exams that count as 20% of my grade and i've been sick all week from stress and now that the week is finally over and Christmas break is here and im still feeling this way. my stomach is really bothering me and my heart races so fast and its hard to sleep or even relax. i am starting at a new school in january so i guess its nerves from that (ive been at the same school for my entire life so ive never experienced this kind of change. im a sophmore) but i really dont want to be having these effects through out my whole time off! I dont know what to do...if you know anything that might help please share.
o and deep breathing and stuff doesnt work at all. it doesnt affect the rate of my heart.
Yeah totally understand what you mean, all that stress for a few pathetic exams... and just how important are examinations in this world anyway?
I don't know about your personal situation, medical history, etc but I recommend taking beta blockers - although normally prescribed for patients with heart blockers, beta blockers reduce the physical symptoms of stress (fast H.R, etc). The olympic commission has banned them, putting them into the category of performancing enhancing drugs. They are very effective drugs when it comes to controlling the nerves because they block out, or inhibit, the physical affects of adrenalin, the culprit behind your problems.
I know you mentioned that deep breathing doesn't work, and in the short term, you are probably right, it doesn't but you have to work at it, the results from breathing can take many weeks to be seen but I know that by entering a mediative state for about 40 minutes a day is highly recommended by Harvard researchers, who have studied fMRI photos of the brains of monks. The results were startling - the cerebral cortex was thicker in their buddah subjects compared to the normal person. This meant that monks had much lower levels of anxiety and enhanced concentration and mental clarity. It is quite logical when you think about it, they were able to filter out intrusive negative thoughts, which is why we become stressed in the first place.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which passes all understanding, will keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6,7
If your stomach is bothering you, you might have developed an ulcer from the stress, which would explain the racing burning feeling you have in your chest. if this is the case. Speak to your doctor. You may need a short term ulcer med to relieve the problem.
In the mean time try and find something soothing that works for you. I'm not a fan of the breathing myself. For me lighting candles and listening to music helps....