How do you prevent anxiety spikes. Overreactions? (For those who suffer from anxiety related issues)
One of my big problems is my immediate reaction when faced with something new or challenging is that I get this huge anxiety spike. I get this not just with social situations, where I'm worst, but with anything where I don't feel confident or where something new comes up that I'm not expecting. The really annoying thing is that more often than not the solution is very simple and afterwards I get this HUGE sense of relief that the problem is solved.
I'll give you an example. I'm studying for final exams now and I run into something that I feel I should know but don't know quite well enough. My immediate feeling is one of panic and hopelessness. "I'm going to fail this, how can I not even know this right now!?" But, pushing through that and sitting down to look at the issue for 20-30 mins I realize I know all of it, I was just a bit rusty. Or I didn't know it but was able to work it out fine in that 20 mins. And again, I get this HUGE sense of relief.
The question is how do you prevent that spike of anxiety in the first place. Because truth be told I can't continue living like this. The constant anxiety and relief roller coaster, not to mention my horrible depression, is tearing me apart emotionally.
= new reply since forum marked as read
1) Focus on breathing normally and relaxing tense muscles.
2) Step back and become your own best friend to bring yourself back to reality, "I have done this I can do this, everything will be OK"
3) Know, even though you are not feeling it, that even if something does not go right the only way it will ruin anything is if you let it.
4)Take a break.watch a cartoon or try to make wastebasket baskets. take a walk, a shower, play with your pet, call a friend.
5) You can only do what you can and that is enough.
6) Life allows a lot of do-overs. Take them and move on.
I read about a famous coach who said he wished he could pass on his experience to a young second baseman that he had to cut. He said something like. He thinks he failed at life when all he did was fail this opportunity at second base.
