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\*DISCLAIMER I AM NOT A PSYCHOLOGIST/THERAPIST IM JUST GIVING MY EXPERIENCE WITH ANXIETY AND HOW I RECOVERED\*

Hi everyone, I'm a 19 y/o male, and 4 months ago in college I had a full blown panic attack, My chest started hurting and I started to ask myself, "What if I'm having a heart attack?, What if I'm going to die?" This triggered a spiral of death thoughts and I started having a panic attack. I got through it and I went home after and went to bed, very bad idea. As soon as I woke up at night, I had severe anxiety, from heart palpitations constantly, depersonalisation and extreme scaredness. I honestly thought this was how my life is going to be forever. I couldn't even go downstairs without having a panic attack, I couldn't eat it felt like my stomach was turning against me. The scariest experience of my life. But also a lesson.

Note to all, I am not bashing therapy/medication in anyway in this post I am just giving my recovery and how I dealt, with it. I will continue on :

Luckily I remembered I had bought a book called " Dare: The New Way to End Anxiety and Stop Panic Attacks By Barry McDonagh" I can honestly put my hands down and say this book saved my life. The dare response consist of 4 stages :

D : Defuse, In this step the Barry the author teaches you to defuse the anxious thoughts/sensations, As you know all anxious have these "What If" thoughts, "What if I have a panic attack?" "What if I lose control of my brain?" "What if I cant provide for family and go homeless?" Its endless. However the book teaches you to say instead of "What if" say "So what?" like this : "So what If I have a panic attack I've encountered many before and I've lived through all of them." "So what If I lose control at least I wont have to go to work etc... You can make your own up.

A : Is for Accepting and allowing the anxiety, this may be hard in the beginning but as time goes on it gets easier and easier, instead of constantly pushing anxiety away sit with it welcome it in drop the resistance and fully embrace and allow it.

R : The first two steps are crucial for recovery, this step is also very handy if it gets too intense, basically R stands for "RUN TOWARDS" if the sensations start getting too intense tell yourself your getting excited and try to make them worse mentally, your body physically cannot do that and they will lesson.

E : Now this step is also crucial "Engage" the last and final step. Engage back with whatever you were doing and try your best not to check in with your body. Try and find an activity that takes up your fully attention like running, reading, playing computer games whatever you like doing just do it.

I know anxiety feels like a major threat to you, well it may seem like but its now, its you trying to protect you. Its your flight or fight response being activated constantly as it keeps thinking your in danger but your completely safe and protected. I PROMISE YOU.

Its been 4 months now and instead of fearing my anxiety I love it, I smile when its hear because I know anxiety is going to make me into a beautiful person, There is a saying "You must suffer to grow" I'm not forcing anything, but if your tired of being a slave to anxiety, please just try this book and give it a good read. I promise if you do a week or two from now your anxiety will lessen as your not fighting or fearing it anymore. Just please try it.

Last month I made a major breakthrough, I started to forgive myself for what happened, and I see the panic attack as a lesson, I am grateful that anxiety is here. You may seem like I'm mad but promise me, just trust me ok?

Its my goal to help others with their anxiety, I have a full perspective what its like the nights I was so scared and felt so broken, I know what it feels like but I promise you it always gets better. You're the cure to your anxiety, and its only you. Please just believe. Thankyou

I'm open to any questions in the comments so feel free to leave them! :D