Could anyone advise me?

I'm going to a convention later this month, I am terrified. I've heard there will be thousands of people there, this is something I haven't dealt with in over 2 years. I'm constantly worrying 'what if ____ happens?' or 'what if someone verbally attacks me?'. I've struggled with my self confidence ever since I can remember. I also am unable to do things unless someone agrees to do them with me, luckily my sister and my dad will be there with me but this doesn't make things any easier. I have panic attacks so severe that I can barely see or stand during them and this also frightens me incase I attract attention from others.

The thing is I'll probably get there and everything will be fine but the worry is still there. I thought I would be ready for this but due to a recent relapse mental health wise, I'm not so sure now. Does anyone have any tips that could help before and on the day?

Thanks in advance!

Dear worryrock:

My suggestion is Mindfulness, that is paying attention to your immediate environment: sounds, sights, and the other five senses, but I like the first two. Practice it now and during the convention. Instead of going straight to your head, focus on what you see, what you hear. Do you know about Mindfulness? It has a Buddhist origin, this skill and it is very much integrated into Western psychotherapy.

atina

Hi atina,
thank you for your reply. Being honest I've never heard of Mindfulness, but I'm not one who isn't willing to try something new.

I did actually have CBT for anxiety a few years ago but all tips I learnt have gone right to the back of my head. I'm sure i could benefit from some new techniques

Dear worryrock:

There are books and lots of online sources about Mindfulness. Basically, you can try it right now: close your eyes and just listen to the sounds you can hear, just hear the sounds. You can focus on something to see in front of you, just look at it. Or you can touch some item in your hand, and just feel it in your hand... same with eating and paying attention to how the food feels in the mouth and how it tastes and smells. Basically you have your brain focus on one of your five senses and as you do that, the thinking, thinking (obsessing) part of the brain gets a break. While you focus on sounds, at one point, your brain will wonder... then you gently bring your focus back to the sounds.

This is done a lot in guided meditation but Mindfulness can be done not only when sitting a certain way, but while you walk or work... anything, you just pay attention, focus on sensations.. how it feels to wash dishes, the warm water on your hands, the feel of the soap, etc etc.

If you try this, read about it more, if you'd like.. and want to communicate with me more about this, please do. I was introduced to Mindfulness in 2011 only. It is a skill I improved over time with practice.

atina

atina,

Thank you so much for this. I'm currently unable to sleep due to high anxiety levels so I will try these methods out now and research more about it when I'm more awake. I feel as though I could benefit from something so simple and calming.

Thanks again

Dear worryrock:

You are welcome and I am very hopeful that you will, indeed, benefit from practicing Mindfulness. I see no way of not benefiting as you develop this skill, as I have done. At first all was foreign to me: meditating, paying attention to my body (I was a ... floating giant head of worries, fears, didn't even ...feel I was attached to a body... and I was so spaced out, living in my head, that I didn't pay attention to what was around me)

Please do get back to me after reading and experimenting with it. Don't give up if you feel a difficulty at first: I did too! Over time of practice, this is amazing, what it can and will do for you! And it has scientific basis to it. It is all scientific really.

atina