I have only had a couple of anxiety/panic attacks in my life, but I´m anxious 24/7. I have no problem seeing or accepting that it´s my thoughts that are the cause of it. I also understand how to use the six steps that we learn in session two to end a panic attack. My question is what about general anxiety? Is it possible to use the six steps to calm that down as well? I find it harder to do that because I´m constantly anxious, it´s not something that suddenly appears out of the blue and that I can trace back to one specific thought. I think constantly so I can´t tell what thought started the anxiety... Anyone have any suggestions that may help me?

I also have more of a generalized anxiety than actual panic attacks. I found that using the 6 steps when I see my anxiety escalating is a great help. It doesn't have to be a full on panic attack for the steps to be beneficial. If you are having trouble with pin pointing any thoughts that are causing the general anxiety I would suggest journaling your thoughts through out the day. I will bet after doing this for at least a week you will see how and what you are telling yourself that is causing a lot of your day to day anxiety. Also what you are eating has a huge effect on some of this anxiety. Sugar and caffeine can be detrimental to your day to day anxiety. Lack of consistent exercise also contributes. Those of us with generalized anxiety need to burn some of this excess adrenaline off. Even a long meditative walk will help calm this brain chatter.

Hi A-New-Day!

Although I do suffer from panic attacks...or, at least very frustrating and scary anxiety attacks, they don't always have to be full blown panic...I DEFINITELY suffer from a hell of a lot of generalized anxiety.

Mary Wargo had some great advice for you. Pinpointing our thoughts is the key to calming the constant anxiety. All anxiety stems from the negative thoughts we have - even when we may not realize we're even having negative thoughts, or realize we're even thinking anything at all at the moment!

I've noticed with myself that my anxiety attacks or panic attacks hit me when I'm stewing away in negative thoughts and I'm chasing them down, seeing how scary they can get, seeing how much I can handle, analyzing my negative thoughts to see why I'm thinking them, etc. Just goofy, completely pointless stuff that I know isn't helping but can't seem to stop it.

However, when I'm in a state of just uncomfortable anxiety - that feeling of something bad happening, that state of constant worry, feeling really uneasy and uncomfortable yet not yet knowing why - it's because my negative thoughts aren't really at the forefront of my mind. Almost like they're subconscious - yet still within grasp. Just kinda sitting back in there lingering without me actively dwelling on them. If that makes sense?

When I'm feeling anxious, I have to really catch myself and say, "Hmm, well you're feeling pretty tense and crappy. What's going on? Are you worrying about something?" and just sort've dig a bit deeper to see what may be making me feel that way. I've noticed with me, a lot of the time it's just lingering "crap residue" (as I like to call it) from things that happened earlier in the day that stressed me out or got me upset.

Once you identify what's buggin' your brain, you can switch to the positive mode: positive self talk, positive logics/reasoning, just telling your partner/friend/family member about your day, whatever it takes.

I think it's great that you can catch how your anxiety affects you...that you have anxious feelings but not any "in your face" negative thoughts. That's really great!

Hello A New Day!
I know exactly what you mean. I have generalized anxiety and it is very difficult to live with. I do believe in this program and I know it works. I bought the program a year ago and it helped me get off Paxil. Problem was I stopped the program after session 4. I am now back on medication and starting this program over. The good news is that it really did help me with my anxiety. It is very difficult for me to think positively when I am so scared all the time. But I am working on it!

The six steps are helpful to me. But today for instance I was extremely anxious because I had to go to a church workshop for 7 hours. I get even more anxious in crowed, enclosed places. So there I was in church wanting to get up and leave but I kept thinking how Lucinda says not to run away from the fear. So i stated to use the six steps. I accepted the anxiety, granted permission and all of that, but when it got to step 5 about doing something to get rid of the adrenalin I couldn't do anything because I was in church. So all I did was tap my toes.

It was VERY difficult, but I DID IT! and believe it or not the six steps helped me to get through it and I know I gained more confidence in myself. So just stick with the program and give it your all and we'll get through this.

Nice to hear I am not alone. I have severe generalized anxiety, and I am confused also how to approach it. I try not to over analyze it, but I start to feel I cannot overcome it. How do the 6 steps apply? I am on sess 2 and I am getting overly anxious over it. Deeply bothered and worried over my stress. I hope to take and use some of your suggestions.

hello everyone same thing here for me the general anxiety is with me all day as well. i think i get more stressed out over how to remember what to do when the anxiety starts that ipanic because i dont want to panic funny huh. anyway im trying to memorize the steps and seeif that will help i dont want to move on in the program till i feel more in control of the panics anyone have any other sugg?