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I have anywhere between 1- 7 panic attacks a day (sometimes more). Some last a minute others up to a 30 minutes. I have severe anxiety and depression. Along with seizures when I'm stressed, sleep paralysis and insomnia.
So, to help with my anxiety I color, doodle, listen to music, cuddle with my Fox stuffie and pet it, count downwards from 1000 and take a few deep breaths (before a panic attack sets in).
I'm 26 yrs old (27 in April). I'm completely unmedicated for any of my issues because I have a hard time taking medication (due to my childhood). So I suffer day and night. It's exhausting and it's hard but I manage pretty well all things considered.
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I also use the 5,4,3,2,1 method.
The concept is focus on:
-5 things you can see
-4 things you can hear
-3 things you can touch
-2 things you can smell
-1 thing you can taste
This is good for grounding and refocusing.
Also rhythmic tapping can help with grounding.
Above all know that we will get through this one day at a time. You are not alone in this. Use hand sanitizer often, wash your hands often, only touch cards if absolutely needed, I suggest wearing gloves and change them between each customer. Ask your store if you can have a more backroom position or just be stocking shelves due to your medical concerns.
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Hang in there! We are all in this together
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Thanks for the advice, guys ❤
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I have severe anxiety.
The best advice I could give you is to focus on the things you CAN control. In this scenario, you can wear a mask, you can wash your hands more, you can use hand sanitizer, you can disinfect things. Talk to your employer about precautions. In my area they have cones up 6-10+ feet apart and make people stand next to them and have to be called over.
I have a lot of rare diseases, including blood cancer, so I understand your fears. If you have an option to not go to work, that would be ideal, but if only we were that lucky.
Another good practice is grounding. Take a minute, count back from five. Focus on the sensation in your feet, then move up to your legs, your arms, hands, etc. What energy, physical sensations, etc, do you feel? There are different grounding techniques, you can try looking them up and finding one that works for you.
Remember your health is what is more important. Mentally and physically.
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Music for me. Depending on what is causing the anxiety sometimes it helps if I write it down and then write down a plan for dealing with whatever I am worried about.
I hope you find something that works. It is such a terrible feeling :(
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When it starts to get pretty bad for me the first thing I do is take a warm/hot shower. The longer I'm in there the better. 90% of the time by I'm done I've calmed down or am ready to focus.
If that doesn't work I try to find a quick exercise to reset, lately it's been an app for learning how to do the splits in 30 days).
I hope things get better. I know how hard it can be when your anxiety takes over. *hugs*
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We found out that our town has seen it's first case of Covid-19.
I'm considered "essential personnel" and have to go to work. I work at Dollar General. We have hundreds of customers every day.
I'm a diabetic, which is an auto-immune disease and I also live with my 87 year old grandma.
I'm currently halfway through a 4 day mini vacation, but it's still causing me a ton of anxiety.
I've got someone I've been talking to about things, and it helped, but just talking about it isn't enough.
I need something to distract me, but nothing is working. *sigh*
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Doodle. Draw. Listen to music and sing along
All depends on what’s triggering my anxiety as to how it needs dealt with though.
Hope your ok
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