How do you cope with anxiety?

I have a slight case of agoraphobia, so I rate my anxiety at about 8. I've managed to cope by putting myself in the other persons shoes. If I were them, looking at me, what would I think? How would I react? And, would I dwell on their embarrassing remark or action? Would I lose sleep over them? I also think of the worst case scenario, and the likely hood of that happening. I'm not sure if you've ever seen the Cicis Pizza Pasta and Desert buffet commercial. A guy is standing in line at the buffet and a lady in front of him is taking to long. He wants to move in front of her, but he's not sure what will happen. He imagines the worst case scenario. In his scenario, the lady yells at him about 'cutting in line', the people in the restaurant stand up and surround him, even his own grandma shows up to the restaurant and chews him out. When he snaps out of this thought, he decides to cuts in front her her anyways, ignoring his 'what if'. Nothing happens. The lady looks up at him, smiles, and continues filling her plate. It's a perfect example of how a person with anxiety may feel or think. I don't know, that commercial just got to me. I mean, really, what are the chances of something that extreme happening? And if something like that does happen, you go to sleep that night, wake up the next morning, and go on with your life.

Well you summarized my answer beautifully. Anxiety, either a perceived situation or a real one can literally paralyze a person. I hate the pills, especially at night, but I take them. Dare I suggest the love of a pet or animal? My sustaining force in times of anxiety is my dog but I must include my supports of the humankind as well. Spirituality can comfort but you are indeed right when you say to breathe. That can make or break fate for certain. Have you tried creating a safe place in your mind? That, too, can ease so very much and I thank heartedly the people who have taught me that.

I do have anxiety and I think that meditating is a good idea. Getting some rest and relaxation just to get your head together could also calm things down. I believe that I have rated at about the number 8 on a scale of 1-10 on the anxiety level. How does that klonopin work for you. I haven't heard of that one. Take care.

Some years ago I went to a school that was supposed to help people cope with their anxiety and phobias. They taught us a lot about cognitive therapy, and we were told how to change anxiety provoking thoughts and focus on alternative thoughts instead. I sometimes use those technics to cope with my anxiety and in some situations it is a help, but not always. Sometimes it is very hard for me to identify my anxiety provoking thoughts, because I have had them for so long that they are "natural" to me and I can't change my thoughts when I don't know exactly what I am thinking. I have some medicine against anxiety, but I don't use it very often, as I don't like the sideeffects. I usually try to cope without medicin, and sometimes it helps me to write down my feelings and thoughts. I have often done that when I have had a lot of anxiety.

Laughter is best medicine to all disease so as the anxiety. It will through the pressure in mind and lightens it and feel happy.