Please help with my anxiety!?!

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* Lower the lights, bright fluorescents are harsh and not soothing.
* Light candles
* Go to the park, lake or beach to view the beauty of nature
* Clean house or organize a messy area. Restoring a sense of order can be calming.
* Create art (paint, draw, color a mandala) If you are intimidated by art, try a coloring book. Many of my clients find that simple coloring is very, very calming.
* Sit at an outdoor cafe or the hotel of a beautiful old hotel and watch people
* Go to an art gallery
* Watch a favorite movie or television series that always makes you laugh
* Watch a favorite comedian that always makes you laugh
* Go for a car ride in the country or some other beautiful scenery
* Polish your furniture. The sight of it gleaming combined with the lemony smell of the polish can be very pleasing.
* Play nature sounds (ocean waves, whale songs, rain forests)
* Play soothing music
* Sing
* Meditate
* Call a friend or family member. The sound of another voice can often be calming.
* Go someplace quiet, like a library or a bookstore
* Get quiet and read a really good book that totally ingrosses you. Keep such a book handy for times when you need to calm yourself.
* Buy yourself flowers
* Light a scented candle
* Work in your herb garden. Take time to smell the thyme, and the rosemary.
* Lavishly bathe yourself in scented bath oil, perfume and scented lotions
* Buy yourself flowers which fill the room with their aroma (roses or stargazer lillies for instance)
* Bake bread or cook some food that fills the house with a wonderful aroma
* Boil cinnamon or other spices to fill the house with scent.
* Eat an orange. You have to peel it (touch), the scent is heavenly (smell), and the taste is divine. Oranges are also good for you!
* Bake cookies, cake or bread. The more elaborate the process the better.
* Put whipped cream on your coffee
* Make hot tea or hot chocolate
* Make sushi or other foods which are very complex, ritualistic or require a lot of assembly
* Eat foods which are very spicy or rich.
* You may want to avoid using foods as a soothing agent if you have issues with an eating disorder, if such foods would compromise a healthy diet or if such foods would exacerbate a medical problem like diabetes or gastric reflux. Soothing techniques should not compromise your overall physical or mental health.
* Get a massage
* Do yoga. It will strengthen and stretch taut muscles and slow your breathing. It may also work out your body so you will be physically tired and can sleep better.
* Soak in a warm bath. If it is very hot outside (it can be 110 degrees here) take a cool bath!
* Take a bubble bath
* Take a nap
* Go for a walk
* Go for a run
* Stand in the rain or under a waterfall
* Go swimming in the ocean or a lake
* Change the sheets on your bed
* Put on clothing that is very soft, silky or cuddly
* Walk your dog
* Play with your children
* Work in the garden
* Brush your hair for a long time
* Pet your cat or dog
* Sit in a very comfortable chair
* Wrap yourself in a very comfortable blanket
* Soak your feet or give yourself a pedicure
* Apply lotion that feels really good on your skin
* Apply heat or cold. If you are tense, a hot compress at the back of your neck may help you relax. A cool compress on your head may help you cool off.
* Have a good cry
* Breathe. Concentrate on slowing and calming your breath.
* Sit in the sun and let it warm you
* Lay in the snow and let it cool you
* Write in your journal. Something about slowing down your thoughts in order to write them with your hand, then having to organize them into sentences can be very calming. You get the emotions out and possibly learn something about yourself. The feel of the paper and the pen in your hand can also be very calming.
Breathing exercises, do yoga or some kind of exercise, seeing a good therapist to talk to... writing in a journal
# Let your feelings out. Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger when you need to. Talking with friends, family, a counselor, or a member of the clergy about your feelings is a healthy way to relieve stress.
# Do something you enjoy. This can be:
* A hobby, such as gardening.
* A creative activity, such as writing, crafts, or art.
* Playing with and caring for pets.
* Volunteer work.
Doing meditation, using guided imagery
Take a look at this websites: http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-mana… http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/posit…

Cpht.. medical coding student...I am a certified pharmacy technician and medical coding student.. I am 21 years old by the way.. I suffer from generalized anxiety disorder.. i would love to talk to you.. my email is sparklegirl2345@yahoo.com...

counseling is better than pills. also, there are self help books. many find the lucinda bassett program to help, but it's expensive. try getting it used on ebay but make sure it comes with the workbooks. the anxiety and phobia workbook is good.

do you really want to take ssni's or ssri's long term? withdrawal can be hell for some, and so long to an intimate relationship should you find a special someone-most get severe sexual dysfunction from the pills.

You may or may not like this suggestion but... Cannabis (aka Marijuana). It has been proven to treat anxiety and it probably has less health risks than lexapro. If you have any concerns such as, "OMG weed is terrible so many people die!" I highly recommend watching a documentary called "The Union". It will answer all your questions.

Cannabis Expert, Certified Pharmacist

find something you love to do like running, reading, or playing a sport. I get very stressed out very easily and also worry about things that are typically out of my hands and I also love playing soccer. It's something i can turn to when i need an outlet. Running also helps me focus on one thing- myself. sometimes we can't fix everything and we need to just be happy with what we are blessed with. pick up a hobby that allows you to just focus on one individual thing, and turn to it when you feel anxious or nervous or uneasy.