anxiety

PANIC ATTACK

Your heart is racing, you can't breathe, everything around you appears to be spiraling out of control. You believe bad things are about to happen, you feel like you are going to die...

What do you do?

Take a deep breath in, hold for few seconds and push all the air out. Do this several times until breathing becomes slow and more regular.

Try and focus on just this moment, find a focal point. Maybe a picture on the wall or a spot on the floor.

Recite the alphabet focusing on one letter at a time naming an animal with each letter.

Go to a happy place, a fun vacation memory, time spent with a best friend. Focus on the fun times.

FEAR

I fear I will never amount to anything. If I go to that party people will be looking at me and make fun of me. I can't fall asleep, what if I don't wake up? I don't know why I should study, I am going to fail anyway.

OCD

I have to save everything, I will need it eventually.  I can't use public restrooms I might get germs and then get sick and die.  My kids can't go outside and play they might get hurt. I can't remember if I locked the door, I have to go back and check over and over again.

ADHD

I can't seem to focus, I have so many things to do. Nothing is interesting enough to keep my attention so I can't stay on task. I did my homework but I lost it or just forgot to turn it in, I really don't know. I was going to clean my room, but I got bored and forgot what I was doing.

PTSD

Post traumatic stress can come in many forms including being a victim to a crime, witnessing an assault, being exposed to combat, hearing of a loved ones unexpected death, being involved in a natural disaster, being in or witnessing an accident, experiencing a life threating illness to name a few.  These traumatic events can cause us to have flashbacks, nightmares where we actually relive the experience as if it is happening right now in the present.