My Top 10 Anxiety Resources

I thought I would discuss what I use as my favorite tools and resources for learning about and dealing with my anxiety and phobias.

1. Reading Material- The biggest help that I have gotten has been from the book The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook Fourth Edition by Edmund J. Bourne. The guidance in this book touches on everything that I can think of on how to manage your anxiety and phobias. I highly recommend trying to find this book at your local library. I was hopeless and this book gave me the motivation to take control of my life again. Main things that helped me were learning about Self Talk, Positive Affirmations and Mistaken Beliefs.
2. Anxiety Medication- I take a daily dose of 100mg of Zoloft. At first, I was really skeptical about taking the medication because I didn’t want to be reliant on it. I fell into the stigma that most people have about mental health medicine- that you should be able to control your own thoughts. I have since learned that some brains are simply hard wired differently and need the anxiety medication to work properly. If you are diabetic, you take insulin and no one questions it. It's what you need. I also take Clonozapam when needed.
3. Spiritual Belief System- I have a firm faith in my beliefs that we are put on this earth to be tried and tested. I know that we are only given adversities that Heavenly Father knows we can handle even though it might seem so overwhelming to us. I encourage everyone to figure out their own spiritual belief system as it gives a firm foundation for when things get rocky.
4. Yoga and regular exercise- Anytime I finish a workout or a yoga session, I feel better immediately. I have found yoga to be very calming.
5. Journaling- Journaling is a great way to figure out your thoughts and feelings and mentally unwind. That’s why I started blogging. Its my journal and has been extremely therapeutic for me.
6. Vitamin B Supplement- Vitamin B is a daily pill that helps manage the nervous system. It's an herbal remedy for anxiety and stress.
7. Family and Friends- Having an anxiety support person is important. Someone that knows what's going on, so that if you have to leave suddenly or have anxiety and panic symptoms coming on, they are there to help you and be there for you. Sometimes having that support person with you in a trigger situation can be enough to help you stay calm.
8. Expressing Myself Creatively-I find it important to express myself in relaxing ways that help me define who I am. I do this with gardening, playing the piano, making jewelery, blogging, and photography. All of these hobbies give me a sense of accomplishment and let me know that I am worthwhile as a person. They give me strength to want to better myself in all areas of my life.
9. Down Time- Its vitally important to give your mind some rest. This includes getting a full night’s sleep.
10. Therapist-When things got really bad I had to face the music that I was in over my head. I went and saw a therapist who was able to help me point out my negative thoughts when I didn’t realize I was thinking that way. (How Therapy Helps Anxiety Disorders)

Some of these may work better than others for you and your situation. Whats important is finding out what it is that works best for you. I'd love to hear if anyone has other tools or resources or ideas that help them.