Help with some anxiety issues.

[lilb09]

I'm going through one of my anxiety days... actually when they start they last for about a week. I've had a sinus infection for almost a month and it finally went away.. just coughing a little still but the mucus isn't green or colored. So everything is fine. Well- thats what I thought.. til my mind started wonderng. I started thinking that maybe the infection spread to like my brain or something because my head started to hurt slightly. THEN I was feeling out of breath at night... when magically I feel better when I talk on the phone. So obviously it's all in my head. THEN my leg started hurting a little by my ankle and I think i'm going to die of a blood clot. I thought I finally felt better when all the sudden I had a hot flash and got so worked up I made myself sick and thought for sure something was wrong. I know I'll get through this it just really ***** going through this when I have something as small as a sinus infection. It's just irritating and it's always the same thing I am freaked out about. Does anybody else go through this; where you have anxiety attacks for a week and then they go away?

[emcee223]

The mind is a strange thing sometimes.  Anxiety can feed on itself and grow to proportions that seem unmanageable.  The best way to manage it is to break it down to three simple steps:
1. Understand and accept that you are suffering from anxiety without trying to fight it off--simply recognize it for what it is.
  2. Know that anxiety comes from fearful thoughts of what happened in the past or what might happen in the future, and have no power in the present moment.
3. Practice being in the present moment by doing something that takes all of your attention.  When anxious thoughts arise recognize them for what they are and let them go.  One well known activity to relieve anxiety is conscious breathing--simply pay attention to your breathe as you inhale and exhale (I am breathing out, I am breathing in, I am alive and well).  Guided visualization can help too--imagine walking down a path thru the woods to a beautiful waterfall where you can float in the water at its base.  These activities help to calm the mind and take it away from thinking about the past or future.  Hope you feel better soon.  I do know all about anxiety and panic and have had and continue to have my fair share so I empathize.  Take some comfort in the fact that I have seen far worse than yours.  You will be fine.  You might enjoy reading, "The Power of Now" by Echart Tolle or "Journey to Peace" by Peg Crompton--available at amazon.com

[remar]

Try not to be worried about your sinuses. My mom and daughter went through the same thing where it lasted more than a month and they're both fine.
It sounds like you have some health anxiety going on. Have you ever been in counseling about this?
Yes, I've been through times of little to no anxiety and then it comes back for awhile.