Anxiety Attacks.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

I've been peppered by anxiety attacks this week (unusual for me) because I've given my roommate notice and will be moving into my own place this November. Without going into detail, we're friends, but we have to part ways as roommates.

Anyhoo, I've managed to overlap the time I must move with the time I'll be away back east on vacation. The timing stinks all around. On top of all of this, I need to save quite a lot of money over the next couple of months in order to cover first mont's rent, deposit, etc., and still have a little spending case for my trip.

I'm not asking for solutions to the problem, so much as I'm wondering what y'all do to calm yourself down if ever you've suffered from similar attacks of anxiety. Tea? Naps? Cry? Exercise? Therapy? I know it's temporary, but I'm certain I'll experience this on and off until I'm settled into my own place. I need to figure out a way to keep the anxiety at bay. I'm sure that a game plan will help, but I can't really sit down to work out the logistics until the weekend.

In the meantime, I feel it bubbling up again. Friggin' A, I don't know how people who get anxiety attacks all the time can function at all. It's completely freaking me out.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

I wish I could give you a good answer. The only things that seem to help me are time, and being distracted by something else (i.e. staying busy). Hang in there.

[Scrooge McSam]

Lately, I've been doing everything I can NOT to take another Klonopin.

Strangely enough, holding my breath has been giving me some relief.

Why? I have no idea.

[BarTopDancer]

I plan. And create solutions for my problem. Even if there is nothing I can do about it now, planning helps me. X amount away for this and put x amount away for that. I need to get wxy and z taken care of. I need to call these people and change these addresses. Etc...

Then I exercise. And zone out. Watching brain numbing TV or some mindless movie really helps me relax too.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Writing as a release is one of my ways. I think we've experianced anxiety in one way or another and I think if we're creative people, doing what we like to do helps alot. There are days when I just sit in my chair and listen to classical music or a film soundtrack and just ride the wave. Sometimes a good cry helps.

Plus you can always talk to someone. You've got lots o pals here. Give me a shout if you need to.

[Prudence]

It depends on the particular variety of anxiety. For something sharp and intense and more panic-like sometimes a particular fidget item (like a rubber band) or repetitive motion of some sort helps get through the acute stage. For frustration-based anxiety, I like the treadmill because it combines the soothing repetitive motion with the endorphins. Blasting peppy music through the headphones while on the treadmill is particularly effective if you're trying to get your brain to stop thinking already. For more depression-based anxiety - hot shower. As hot as I can stand. Until there's no more hot water. Baths are okay, but the percussion of the shower on my back is more soothing. And for coping and actually doing what needs to be done I make lists. Lots of lists. With entries like "eat lunch" so that I know some things will get crossed off and it's not just a list full of hard stuff.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Bleh.

You know, as our proposed move date creeps ever closer, I think back to the last time we moved. We too managed to overlap moving and travel times. The result was a maddening sequence of events: I graduated, we had a week to pack everything, then we went to Italy for 2 weeks, came back, had 2 days to move, and I started a new job on day 3.

Here I am 5 years later...and I have absolutely no frigging clue how we did it. I must have blocked the horror from my mind, because I have no recollection of the events leading up to move day. I recall the actual move going relatively smoothly, so that must mean we worked our butts off in that preceding week and go everything ready to go...but I sure as hell don't remember it.

So, um, I guess I'm saying that I deal with the anxiety by completely forgetting about it afterwards. I suppose that doesn't help when it's still in front of you, as I'm learning myself right now as I feel totally unprepared for this move.

[Strangler Lewis]

I know you didn't ask for solutions, but as a man and an attorney, that's really all I know how to give. The solution is that unless you are going to forfeit a lot of money by doing so, postpone/cancel your vacation. Why, I have many pleasant memories of vacations/weekends that I've put off due to unexpected work explosions, the not-quite-so-unexpected death of my father, etc. You need time, and you need to save money to have a roof over your head (or so it seems from your tone). It's rare that one can actually remove a cause of anxiety. Here you can.

[Jughead P. Jones]

There's been a lot of great responses so far, so I don't really have anything else to add.

But, one thing I usually do when I feel anxious, or angry, or just plain stressed out, is put on some of the most upbeat music that I can find (it could be anything from The Killers to...ahem...Jessica Simpson), and just jump around, work up a sweat and let the music drown out your anxiety. It works for me, because I usually move so much, I flop down on a nearby chair or bed and veg out in a calm state.

[katiesue]

I drive and listen to fun upbeat music. Treadmill helps as well. And lists, even thought I hate them it does somehow seem to make it all more manageable if you write it all down. Long bath with the latest edition of People.