as for the meditation, when i'm uber-anxious i find meditation to be absolutely unbearable. there is just too much going on when my system is spazzing like that for me to be able to get to a meditative space.
when i'm having a panic attack, or just a day of much anxiety there are two visualizations i like to do. (and i realize you didn't ask for me to blabber about this, so feel free to skip)
one is breathing in calming colors. i picture a color that seems to represent calm and peace for me and i see myself as surrounded by a mist of that color. then i see myself inhaling the color, see it spreading throughout my body bringing calm and peace to all parts of me. it's not a perfect exercise and it doesn't always work, but it tends to make things bearable for me.
the other thing i do is a sort of basic grounding exercise. when i have a panic attack, as opposed to my baseline high anxiety, i often start to feel disconnected from the world. all that exists is me and my anxiety and i feel like i'm spiralling in on myself until i'll never exist as anything but a ball of crazy. so i try to ground myself. ideally i go outside to do this and put my feet directly onto the earth, but that isn't always an option. basically i put my feet on the ground and try to really feel that connection. and i touch whatever else i can that is solid and try to feel those connections. i picture myself growing roots into the ground so that i am fully connected to something and not in danger of disappearing. sometimes i also picture all my anxiety flowing down through the roots into the earth where it will be rendered harmless.
again, not perfect, not a complete fix-it dealie, but it often takes me out of crisis enough that i can manage.
now ends the unsolicited advice portion of the evening.
oh wait, one other bit, remember that things will get better, if it's not paxil you'll find something else, you are strong and you will get through this. and remember to keep breathing. *hugs you tight* *wishes you much peace*
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-08-15 07:29 pm (UTC)as for the meditation, when i'm uber-anxious i find meditation to be absolutely unbearable. there is just too much going on when my system is spazzing like that for me to be able to get to a meditative space.
when i'm having a panic attack, or just a day of much anxiety there are two visualizations i like to do. (and i realize you didn't ask for me to blabber about this, so feel free to skip)
one is breathing in calming colors. i picture a color that seems to represent calm and peace for me and i see myself as surrounded by a mist of that color. then i see myself inhaling the color, see it spreading throughout my body bringing calm and peace to all parts of me. it's not a perfect exercise and it doesn't always work, but it tends to make things bearable for me.
the other thing i do is a sort of basic grounding exercise. when i have a panic attack, as opposed to my baseline high anxiety, i often start to feel disconnected from the world. all that exists is me and my anxiety and i feel like i'm spiralling in on myself until i'll never exist as anything but a ball of crazy. so i try to ground myself. ideally i go outside to do this and put my feet directly onto the earth, but that isn't always an option. basically i put my feet on the ground and try to really feel that connection. and i touch whatever else i can that is solid and try to feel those connections. i picture myself growing roots into the ground so that i am fully connected to something and not in danger of disappearing. sometimes i also picture all my anxiety flowing down through the roots into the earth where it will be rendered harmless.
again, not perfect, not a complete fix-it dealie, but it often takes me out of crisis enough that i can manage.
now ends the unsolicited advice portion of the evening.
oh wait, one other bit, remember that things will get better, if it's not paxil you'll find something else, you are strong and you will get through this. and remember to keep breathing. *hugs you tight* *wishes you much peace*