Before getting sober, I numbed my anxiety with alcohol and other substances. When I was stressed, I drank. When I was anxious, I drank. I escaped those difficult feelings, like so many of us do. Now, it’s life on life’s terms. Sober, dealing with the anxiety and the stress and all that comes with this beautiful life. I do live with anxiety and am practicing a variety of tools to help when it hits hard.
What do you do when you have severe anxiety?
Actually can’t think of last time I had this happen. Well, maybe sitting in a cell 2+ years ago looking at time. Buckled down. Hit my knees. Reconnected with the power that rules. Since then, wake up, say hello. Let him rule the day. When I eat, say hello again. When I sleep, say good night. No mankind prayers. Just hi, turn my worries over. Bless those who I care about. Then another day with someone, something, in control. Works for me. Not a religious nut. Just practical knowing I’m not in control. Just connecting with that power never fails my soul. Also, surrounding with others like you. Constantly. Reaching out here is a great start. Good luck.
Turn my worries over. Thank you. Powerful.
Thanks to those who shared before me. Typically I pray and then talk to my sponsor or someone I think can identify with my thinking. And most importantly…I make a meeting. There I can share or just be quiet and listen.
God, take my “will” (my thinking) and my “life” (my actions) and show me how to live.
That’s a great tool! Thank you.
I call my sponsor or another real live person and go get coffee or dinner, or ride my bike, it take a hike. Meetings are especially helpful, since I consider the people in those rooms, their stories and their experience, to be a higher power than myself. They (you) make all the difference. If I was in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and there were two tools and I was only allowed one, one being "god" and one being "you people", I would choose you people any day. You all have made the difference for me.
Thank you. Love what you shared.
Great question!
Grounding techniques.
It puts you in the moment and promotes mindfulness. It involves observing your surroundings and all sensory input available to you.
Stop whatever you're doing. Breathe evenly. Look around you. Observe the color and size of the trees, the color or texture of the paint on the walls. Count the ceiling tiles. What do your feet feel like in your shoes? Rub your hands on your thighs, and appreciate the texture of your pants on your fingers and thighs as well as the sound it creates. Observe any smells or tastes available to you (some people carry small candies for this).
Whatever works best for you. The tactile/touching stuff works best for me.
They say that depression lives in the past, and anxiety in the future, so grounding yourself in the present is best. For me, it acts as an interruption/distraction.
I start doing this as soon as I start to feel that tightness in my chest that signals an oncoming panic attack. I am medicated as well, but grounding techniques have been a real game-changer.
This is what my therapist recommends so thank you for bringing this up again. Good tool and reminder!
Thank you so much!
I meditate and pray and hold my energy stones and my comfort item which is my blanket. 29 years old and I still have my baby blanket but I am unashamed! It brings me the comfort I need during panic attacks and severe anxiety or ptsd. Cry it out, breathe and try to find a way to change your thoughts or distract your mind and that may mean calling a support person. I feel your pain though some moments are much worse than others and feel at the time like there is no making it better and it will be that way forever. Remind yourself that this too shall pass. The feelings will go away. You won’t die and it won’t last forever. Repeat it to yourself as you breath and try to relax.
Meditation is huge for my anxiety. It allows me to kinda pinpoint what the issue is. Now that I know the source, I can do some inventory around it and take further action by sharing that with another person the pray that God remove these shortcomings. 
Energy stones! Thank you for the post. Really very helpful.
Yes meditation! I need to do more of that. How often do you meditate?
What energy stones/chrystals would you recommend to use during meditation? I have a very small collection, I'm looking for suggestions to add more.
I meditate every morning. It's gets my day started on the right foot. On days where I find that I am struggling, I find time to meditate in the evening, so I separate from all that before I rest. My brothers and I do a transcendental meditation over Zoom on Sunday mornings. My sponsor has a zoom group specifically for meditation on Mondays where different people lead different types of meditations with some explanations too, I can give you the info if you'd like for that meeting?
I have non-addicting medicine but mostly zone on with either iPad reading or television sometimes just chatting with another person in recovery helps also. I have had anxiety for a long time. Thank god I am strong enough not to drink.
I very regularly have panic attacks at night. When I feel it on setting, I’ll actually get up and go for a run. Doesn’t matter what time it is- running’s been such a huge help for my sobriety.
I burn sage and meditate! There's this app called better sleep also. I work or exercise helps too 
you can do it! I believe in you