Anxiety! Panic! Depression! Helping Yourself Part 4

If you have a nervous disorder it's hard to know where to turn to for help. What I found was that I needed to learn ways to help myself. This post is about things that helped me - and other people - to feel better.
The first important thing I learned was that taking my mind off my symptoms of anxiety or panic was a huge help. When concentrating on something that I enjoyed, I felt better, and the symptoms were diminished, or non existent, at least for awhile.

Taking up a new hobby was a huge help for me. You need to be involved in something you enjoy. Learning about something new, working on something new, shopping for supplies for your new hobby, reading about it, thinking about it; this replaces the time spent fearing a possible panic attack or constantly monitoring your anxiety symptoms. It's also great for depression. I found that hours could go by when working on a craft project without a hint of anxiety or panic. I also didn't feel depressed.

Movies were, and continue to be, helpful also. I have never had a Panic Attack while watching a good movie. My anxiety levels go way down, too.

Relaxation is vital. Try Meditation, or relaxation tapes. Read. Listen to a soothing tape of the ocean while reading. Watching a fish tank has been proven to lower your blood pressure. Why? Because it is relaxing. Sitting before a fire will relax you, too.

Try Reiki! A Reiki treatment is very relaxing and not too expensive. You can get distance treatments at Ebay for $20 or less. Easy! All you have to do is make the appointment for the specified time and lie down in the privacy of your own home. The practioner connects with you no matter how far away you live. Yes, it really works.
You might consider getting an attunement after a few treatments. This can also be done through the internet and can cost $15 or less. There is nothing to study, just a small manual to read, and the attunement won't really be any different than a treatment is. After the attunement, you can not only give yourself treatments to relax daily, you will be also able to give hands on treatments to others. You will be considered a practioner. You won't, however, be able to give long distance treatments.
My first Reiki teacher told me that she had suffered from anxiety and panic disorders and that focusing on Reiki saved her.

Exercise! This helps a lot as it releases endorphins in your brain that make you feel good. Walking, jogging, going to the gym, using a treadmill, taking up Yoga - whatever appeals to you.

Try to include as many of these things into your life as possible; the more you can do for yourself the better you will feel.
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