Keeping a journal will help you to overcome your anxiety attacks. Writing in it every day provides personal therapy sessions where you are able to get your worst fears out of your head. Once they are expressed on paper, you will feel relieved almost immediately – at least a little bit.

Over time, your anxiety attacks will become less severe, especially if you combine journal writing with talk therapy. It doesn’t have to be a doctor, but a therapist can provide professional feedback on your condition. Friends and family who you trust can be extremely supportive.

Hiding your anxiety from them is probably not going to help you. In fact, it can make you worse because in your mind, you have convinced yourself that your anxiety disorder, which is a form of mental illness, will not be acceptable to them. It’s something you keep to yourself.

That is old world thinking. It used to be that way back in the 50s and even the 60s, but today more people are recognizing anxiety in themselves and in others. They are becoming much more accepting of the condition. You might be surprised how many people you speak to can relate to some of the feelings you are experiencing.

If you’re reluctant to speak out, start with your journal. Each day, write down anything that comes to mind, especially your fears and things that bother you in your everyday life. If you’re having problems at work or at home, writing them down will make it easier for you to cope with them. It will help you come up with ideas and solutions once you can see them on paper.

And in a lot of cases, you will realize that they aren’t nearly as serious as you thought. Writing things down tends to do that – bring things into their proper perspective.

Your journal entries can be about anything that will get you writing:

• Your dreams – the wonderful (and disturbing) dreams you’ve been having
• Passing thoughts – whether it’s things you need to get done or wish others would do
• Meditations – or prayers you like to use to feed your spiritual side
• Your successes – This is great for building your self esteem and make you feel good
• Your goals – where you’d like to be in your life next week, next month or in 5 years
• Shopping lists including things you’d love to have if you could spare the money
• Family photos or pictures of your beautiful garden or last vacation
• Doodling will get your hand moving similar to writing
• Your favorite songs or those ditties that stick in your head
• poems – Limericks can be fun – you don’t even have to be good at it.
• self-portraits – if you can draw, good. If not, write about your life, who you are including likes and dislikes, special skills, how you’ve helped others, etc.
• plans – jot down things you’d like to get done and how you’ll achieve them.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. It’s just to get you started. Be sure to make it fun. Focusing all your writing on your anxiety attacks is not good, but mixing them with pleasant topics will ease your beliefs about your anxiety disorder.

Some day, you can turn all those notes into a book about how you coped, survived and recovered from your anxiety disorder. Why note use your experience to help others? You never know. Maybe that’s why you were given this challenge in your life.

The Linden Method is one of the best anxiety treatment programs around. Read my review here.

Are you as down about the financial crisis as I am? Are you worrying whether you will be affected? Or if you’ve already been affected, are you worried over how you’ll cope?

If you’re like me and become anxious rather easily, you are probably feeling quite uneasy right about now.

It is scary to think that you could lose your job or your home. It’s also terrifying to realize that you could well end up on the street, in the cold, hungry and homeless. I’ll be up front with you. I’m facing that nightmare right now. If things don’t change drastically – and for the better – in the next two months, I could well be out there looking for a place to stay.

I’ve always been able to make money, drive a car even though it was a low-end model, and have a roof over my head. But now, I’m wondering how I’ll manage. I’ve already lost my vehicle. My savings are depleted.

And after many years of being anxiety-free, I’m beginning to panic. Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that I become extremely angry for the slightest reasons. It’s not new. I’ve always had a bad temper, even when I was a young girl. My brother tormented me relentlessly. Now that I’m in my 60s, the anger only appears when I’m stressed out and scared.

I just read an article in the Poughkeepsie Journal announcing that due to the economic problems that are facing so many people, a mental health center in Dutchess County is offering screenings for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder.

It happens this Tuesday, so if you are in that area and are interested in the screening, it will probably be too late by the time you read this.

Just in case, you can find out more here:
For information, call 845-486-2896 or visit www.mhadc.com

Otherwise, you might get some relief by stopping by your local public health center or Salvation Army. They can offer comfort and in some cases, counselling to help you cope with your situation. Both of these are free services. Check your area for any other psychology or family services volunteer agencies that offer free programs.

Look for any depression self-help groups in your neighbourhood. Your local mental health association or public health center should be able to direct you to them.

It’s rough this time of year to be dealing with issues like this. I hope you find the support you need when you need it the most.

Best wishes for a better future.

Regards,

Sylvia

If you’re tired of feeling anxious, take a look at The Linden Method. It is one of the most popular anxiety relief products available and includes relaxation audios, a guide to beating your anxiety, and one year of counselling and support.