I convinced myself that I was cured

[alexthegreat98]

It's been about two months since a really bad anxiety attack. I thought they want away for good. Then it started again on Saturday, and then another one tonight. It so sad that I continue to deal with 0103. It's so disruptive to my day to day life...

[Fireraiser]

Coping every day can be really difficult.  Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on which way you look at it, so do the people here on this forum.  So, what I am saying is you can get comfort and support here.

All I can say to help you is try and focus on the now (a tip from my psychologist).  It seems to help me and the best way I find to do that is focusing on my breathing.

[MistaVega]

Anxiety never goes away, it just gets better for awhile and then comes back. What gives anxiety power is how much energy you put into it. The more you ponder about it the more it manifest in your mind and makes you miserable.

Learn acceptance and then you can begin to cope. When you learn acceptance, there's no more need to fight it. No more need to think about it. Imagine, how much better a life without worrying about anxiety can be! When you truly accept it, you become a whole different type of person. The anxiety no longer shackles you, you just go about your daily affairs.

[the happy planner]

After being "clean" (lol) for 2.5 years I was wondering if maybe I was cured, but then, two weeks ago it hit me again.  I don't think it'll ever be "cured" as such, but it can be understood, managed and conquered.  It's a lot of work, and it doesn't feel that way when you're in the midst of an anxiety attack, but you can and will improve.  Someone else posted about acceptance.... I think that's a huge part of it and I'm working on that myself.

[groovy]

Once you have anxiety, you will have anxiety...but this doesnt mean you wont live a normal life anymore. Its all about how you COPE with it. Ive been anxiety free for 5 years now and before I was convinced I will have it every other year (started my full blown anxiety in 2001) but really its how you deal with it. I still have random panic attacks like out of nowhere, but you know what the body is not perfect itself. The best thing you could do is simply ignore these attacks. Sometimes random panic attacks are just your body's outlet or way of releasing some stress, dont put anymore meaning to it...cuz the more you think its bad or going to get worse at this point, the most likely you are going fear them again and will result into coming back at ya. Just let it go, don't fear it. Accept the fact it happens, and just move on without analyzing it.

[Jlo1019]

<--------- never cured either,  only learned better coping skills. Also I found as life naturally improved, and life's stressors improved so did my anxiety. Mark my words, once life gets tough again, my anxiety will get worse. I just have to be ready and use my skills to try and get through.

Take care and hope your anxiety improves.

[excusemydust]

I think that most of us have felt "cured" at one point or another, only to have the anxiety rear its hideous head once more. While I know that doesn't sound very comforting, it can actually be helpful to acknowledge (but not obsess over). Like another poster stated, mindfulness and deep breathing are wonderful coping techniques.

[Squeemy]

I have also been ' cured' before then bam! Palpitations & headaches. I have since learned ( & accepted) that anxiety is with me forever, we can only learn to say " hey anxiety, i know its you & please leave  "

Accepting it in my case has made the symptoms less severe then getting more anxious about being anxious. Anxiety is a good thing as it is our brains natural way of telling us theres a danger, it's only that in our brains theres no real danger & our brain is playing with us.

Deep breathing works for me, unless its a full panic attack in which sitting still in silence is impossible. In that case getting outside with air & walking really fast ( even for 5 kms) helps me. Although like I said since accepting my symptoms they have became manageable. I still have my days when I freak out & don't think rational but I'm hoping that will change over time....

Take care

[Hijita]

I hear you, man! Yesterday my weekly therapy visits turned into monthly because I was doing so well and she didn't think she had anything I needed help with. Then today, I'm at work, and THERE IT GOES! Adrenaline, trembling, heart rate, breathing... mhmm. Yeah. I guess it's not over yet.

[the happy planner]

Excellent comment by excusemydust.... acknowledge that the anxiety may return, but don't obsess over it.  Know that if/when it does, that it will also eventually pass and you will go back to feeling normal.  That really is powerful knowledge and once you've been through a few anxious episodes you will know it to be true, even though your heart will try to convince you that it isn't true.