Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor or any sort of medical expert. This is simply a firsthand account that has worked for me, and many others that I’ve spoken with.
Some believe that a toothache is perhaps the most agonizing pain that can happen to the body short of a violent attack. However, in my experience, that has nothing on anxiety. The feeling of your lungs closing up, vision becoming distorted, and hands turning into icicles is a feeling second to none.
When faced with Anxiety, most turn to a doctor for a “magic pill” that will fix them forever. In some cases, this works, and in others, it can drastically alter your personality.
I spent most of my teenage and early adult life on those pills. I contracted a severe illness at the start of high school that caused me to miss out on my so-called “formative” years. This morphed me from someone who got along with everyone to an angry kid who couldn’t talk to a soul. I developed a massive case of anxiety as a result.
It took the loss of health insurance and inability to pay for refills to realize my anger had been increased ten-fold by the very drugs I was prescribed. With the loss of my medication, my anxiety had returned, but I learned how to deal with it.
The main cause of anxiety is typically stress and/or fear. This obviously varies by person. These methods to cure anxiety however can be used by all.
Don’t Panic!
It should sound like common sense, but it’s not human instinct to relax when our bodies begin to turn on us. Anxiety is like quicksand. If you’re trapped, don’t freak out, that does nothing but cause you to sink. A calm mind is a strong mind.
Listen to Music
There’s a reason why music has been around for a thousand generations. Its calming nature has always soothed people during their darkest times.
During my worst episodes of anxiety, I would find myself glued to my iPod listening to everything from Nirvana to Bob Seger. Sometimes it’s not even about the lyrics, listening to the beat of the music is a great way to escape the world. This is perhaps the single greatest method to take your mind away from whatever is bothering you except for…
Confront Your Fears
Why are you fearful? What has caused you so much trouble that you cannot function correctly? Could it be:
- Family?
- Work?
- A spouse?
- A potential spouse?
- Crowds of strangers?
It may sound counterproductive, but the only way to stop a bully is to confront it head on.
If it’s anxiety over asking someone out, clear your mind and get it over with. Even if that person rejects you, you still are able to say you got an answer. Why sit back and wonder “what if?” That will do nothing but cause you greater harm.
Social Anxiety can be beyond stressful. I know of some people who couldn’t even enter a coffee shop without looking like they went for a swim by the time they exited. If this is you then I recommend taking yourself out of your comfort zone little by little. Nothing drastic at first. Parks are a great way to be around people without needing to interact. Baby steps and repetition are the key to success.
As for family-related anxiety, if you voice your feelings to them, and they dismiss you, then that’s their loss and not yours. Blood is not always thicker than water, remember that.
Again, these methods are not for everyone. If you’ve suffered from anxiety and don’t want to be on medication, then these steps could be for you.
Good luck everyone.