i'm back :-(

[elanna]

hey all,
i joined here about a year ago when i was going thru panic attacks after a 15 year break. they soon abated but are back now with avengence with the exception that my anxiety is much more general.

i used to be just anxious in small confined spaces and cars. but now i'm anxious driving to work which is about an hour away, being stuck in traffic etc.

i have made an appointment to go see a CBT specialist but it'll be another 2 weeks before she can see me.

so thats 2 more weeks driving to work getting chest pains etc. my partner doesn't understand it at all. which is making it even more stressful. i've explained it over and over and he tries his best but really doesn't get it

[emma1976]

Hello Elana,

I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I find it helps to calm your body down first by breathing. (breathe in in 4 secs, hold for 5 secs, breathe out in 8 secs). Then you are able to think a bit more clearly about the situation because your body feels calmer.

Try to think back to when you felt well and how you conquered your anxiety last time around - you know that you are capable of feeling well again because you've done it before.

But you do need to go back and check in detail, the steps to feeling better so that you relearn it.