George_E_Hale
insufferable blowhard
The things you lean on / are things that don't last
User ID: 107
George_E_Hale
insufferable blowhard
16hr ago
Not so useful in the wee hours of the morning, but you can dunk your head in a bucket of ice water for 15 or more seconds and pretty much stymie such attacks. This is the dive reflex, which stimulates the vagus nerve. My youngest son used to have concerning anxiety right before going to elementary school, and he'd spend minutes in the toilet, sometimes making his classmates who were waiting for him late. I'd rig up a tub of ice water for him to dunk his face in, and he'd calm down, dry off, and be fine. Although my wife thought this was coddling it worked, and eventually he didn't need it.
Problem is it will also probably wake you up pretty effectively, and that may not be what you want at 5:30 a.m.
George_E_Hale
insufferable blowhard
16hr ago
You seem savvy to the usual advice on hydration, fiber, etc. so let me insert the idea that sudden changes in bowel habits, in particular if persistent, bear checking out medically. In particular if you have worsening discomfort, an inability to pass gas, rigidity, etc.
George_E_Hale
insufferable blowhard
16hr ago
I'd generally advise against anything that feeds jealousy, even light-heartedly, though maybe I'm overcautious.
You mention here that a year or so ago you were on propranolol, with encouraging results. To what degree (not much?) have medications aided you?
I've traveled solo quite often, but I'm not particularly good at it. Unless you're approached by someone else, would you be the type to initiate an interaction? Nor am I all that social most of the time, though I can fake it. But I don't have the type of anxiety you're describing. You also mentioned before having hobbies and interacting with people in those hobbies--has this not been an effective strategy? If you're an introvert that's one thing, but if you're an extravert trapped in a situation where being extraverted is stressful, that's another.
More options
Context Copy link