Stress less, live more

After being on anti depressants and anti anxiety meds for over 5 years and never really feeling better I decided to get off of all meds since I've been dealing with the root cause of my anxiety. I'm stronger than I gave myself credit for and happy to not be dealing with the medication side effects. The withdrawl was horrible and I am grateful everyday that I am not chained to that stuff anymore.

I pay attention to when I start to feel out of sorts. Instead of panic feelings that I try to shove down, I acknowledge my feelings more. Everyone wants to be heard, I listen to myself and don't treat myself bad the way I used to.

I try to put things in perspective. In the end, none of us "have" to do anything. I try to think of what I really want out of a situation (usually experience wise) without being set on an outcome. Telling myself I have to do something used to make me feel trapped. 

Pilates and Yoga have helped me relax in my every day life. I try to do a class at least once a week and also relax with meditation before bed. Someone else can be super woman. I only do what I know I can do without hurting myself.

I eat right and exercise. I've always done this but now I do it with purpose. I've always avoided caffeine. If I really don't want to exercise because I am feeling anxious, it's my signal to go to the gym even if it is to walk for 30 minutes. I start out by telling myself I will only walk for 20 minutes. If I want to, I go for more. If not, 20 minutes has gotten me up and out and I feel better.  

 

Listen to your gut. If you are feeling stressed and burned out, you know what you need to feel better. Do it!

When I was coming off the anti depressant I was throwing up and had vertigo along with other symptoms. Luckily I had made a list of the reactions which included nausea and dizziness. I wasn't anxious because I knew what to expect. The symptoms and emotions came and went. I kept telling myself, it is only an emotion when I felt overwhelmed. Realizing that the feeling and emotion would pass and that it wouldn't last forever helped me. I now use this in my every day life too. Instead of panic feelings when I feel stressed or sad or any number of emotions I used to freak out about, I ask myself what I need to do to get through a rough moment even if it is to just breathe. I notice I have more happy emotions naturally and the bad ones aren't nearly as bad as they used to be.

I avoid nasty people like the plague. I used to listen to people that told me how I wasn't doing things right because it wasn't the way they would do it. I try to only be around people that I want to be around. When I have to be around nasty people, I put up an invisible wall and remind myself not to take everything they say so seriously.   

Group therapy helped where one on one counceling did nothing for me. Feed back from other people who understand what you are saying is so important. I was scared to go and now smile when ever a new person comes in and then says, Wow, I wish I would have come sooner!

Gym membership.  No, you don't have to belong to a gym, just try to move to get rid of the stress hormones and take care of yourself.