Easier said than done, I realize ( referring to title ).

But I am just now making little victories with my anxiety as I’ve struggled with it over the years. The most significant victory for me thus far, is identifying signs an episode is looming / exact symptoms. And they are as follows, with no real order:

Pre- episode signs / symptoms :

* very, very intense appetite. Eating rampage level 
* listening to certain songs repeatedly, with certain points of said songs repeated on higher volumes 
* mildly shaky hands , inability to focus / concentrate 
* repeatedly touching my hair, beard , leg , face 
* sensitivity to tone-of-voice 
* insomnia 
* racing thoughts 
* fight or flight reaction on standby 
* ringy ears 
* zoning out 

Actual episode symptoms :

* unusual amount of energy, drive and focus 
* little to no verbal communication desired ( exceptions are text, sign language and body expressions) 
* appetite can go from heavy to dead in a matter of seconds 
* heightened sensitivity to tone of voice, changes in weather and surroundings 
* staring off into the distance to the point of unawareness 
* constant need to touch something ( table, handrail, etc etc )
* OCD is hyper 
* heavy focus on white noise ( fan, things like that) 
* delayed responses to texts / calls 

Post- episode :

Just general feeling of tired , little to no motivation and minimal energy level. 




My anxiety level has been on a dormant streak since last week around Saturday evening , and it’s been simmering ( like a crock pot ) since this morning. Current level is probably a 6, manageable and not crippling. Buttttttt I feel by the evening or even tomorrow it may shoot to at least a 8 , 9
Being the worst and 10 just unmanageable with a default to hermit mode. 


However, however... I did spend a few good days with a wonderful woman, and I felt pretty good up until she left to go back home. She was my focus for that period of time, but now I’m back to being alone. Either way, that was a major positive having her in company. 


How do you narrow things down, and how do you handle your episodes?