Now anxious people are not psychopaths... very similar but one crucial element : people who have anxiety disorders are not crazy. The anxious feelings which are usually placed on irrational fears, usually stem from very normal fears like the big test or school presentation. But, instead of just being a little nervous, people with anxiety disorders can be up all night having attacks and thinking the world is against you. Most people pinpoint their irrational fears on specific events: meeting new people/strangers, traveling, events from past, scary movies, monsters, the dark, or for girls, their periods. Whenever something makes the person feel anxious, the fear automatically comes back, even if it was one you haven't had since you were a little girl.
Here's a rough list of anxiety symptoms:
- irrational fear
- nervous
- insomnia
- panic attacks
- mood swings
- worst-case-scenario thinker
- cautious
- perfectionists
- controlling
- paranoia
Normal people who have this condition get it maybe once a month, but not every day. Those people need some serious meds because living with this condition every day would be helllll. Everyone has their burdens to deal with in life. If you have anxiety, i have known for this to work so try it.
- Usually you feel the nagging feeling in the back of your mind all day. If you can sense it early, take measures to prevent it from latching on to anything.
- If it latches, eliminate any emotions you feel about this fear. [Cry, scream, shake whatever but after a while you cant do it anymore and that's the time to think logically] Identify the fear. Identify it as irrational.For example, the dark.
- Figure out a temporary way to eliminate the fear. Nightlight.
- When you've had time to calm down analyze where the fear came from. ACT tomorrow.
- Ponder why you're so afraid. If there is anything in control to stop it, do it. [Study more] Most of the time it isn't in your control so learn to let go and be laid-back and let life happen.
- Remind yourself of all the real problems people have to deal with everyday and how your unrealistic freak-out is nothing compared to them.
- Get angry. Anger battles fear to a pulp. Remind yourself how sick you are of being afraid and letting this thing control you. Yell at your inner subconscious til your logical side is in control again.
- Tell yourself 'Whatever i think is going to happen, is not going to happen' It may seem simple but it works. Since life is unexpected, everything you fear has barely any chance of actually happening.
- Communicate. Whether with an actual person or just in a journal. Seeing the fears in front of you makes them less frightening and puts them into perspective.
- Find some sort of safety blanket. A Dog, friend, stuffed animal or an actual blanket. Something that reminds you that you're in a safe place.
- Try not to be alone. Fears are put at ease when we are in safe places with others around us.
- Find something which calms and soothes you. Reading, watching TV, knitting, whatever.
- All in all, if none of this works take a pill to help you sleep, or wait til you have to fall asleep from exhaustion. Trust me your mind gets sooo tired of it, it just crashes at 4 am. And if it never goes to sleep whatever. Anxiety always makes you think when is this going to end and i don't know how to get through the night. The truth? Time heals all wounds, and as long as the clock keeps ticking, you can survive one more hour, minute, second until the sweet relief of morning. Trust me, the world of fear always appears smaller in the sunlight of day.
- If the anxiety is not gone by morning, or at least in a couple days, is it really irrational? If it is, contact a therapist. If you have a serious problem, still contact the therapist. Same solution, separate problems.
I think the only true cure for anxiety is therapy. I've never been to a therapist but it seems like talking it out and having an expert tell you how to cope would be the only long-lasting cure. Most important thing to remember about anxiety; it is a part of you, it is not you. You control it, it is your own mind and your own subconsciousness. It may seem like someone else is invading but it's still your thoughts. Like a lucid dream, you can control them before something really bad happens.