Anxiety is a very misunderstood word.  

For those who don't suffer from it, even the idea is ludacris as it doesn't have any outward physical symptoms like a cold or flu.  It does however manifest itself in a very physical way. 

People will tell you, oh your ok, just get over it.   Quit worrying about things you can't change etc. 

What they don't often know is that  anxiety by definition  is the mind and body's reaction to stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations. It's the sense of uneasiness, distress, or dread you feel before a significant event. 

From personal experience I can tell you this definition is extremely accurate.  Other terms I would use would be debilitating,  unwanted and the like.

Personally my levels of anxiety are more often than not self triggered rather than a specific event as noted in the previous example.

Let me provide you with a example from my own life and how it affects me and a couple of ways I use to cope with the anxiety attacks.

I am a self employed gardener/landscaper by trade.  I run a very small business specializing in garden reclamations and trash removal.  Because of this I have to work very hard to both maintain and generate new business on a regular basis.

My work is also very seasonal which means during winter my business all but closes down.  The result:  Loss of income.

Now, if you have ever lost your job or been in a situation where you didn't know where your next paycheck was coming from you know a bit of the stress I go through everyday.

Now imagine waking up in the morning knowing that your not working that day and your mortgage/rent payment is due.  You are almost out of groceries and no fuel in your car to go to work even if you could go to work.

With these ideas in mind, most people would say, oh well,  and move on through the day.  A person who suffers with anxiety, such as I do, instead of just saying "oh well" will go into a deep dive on every detail of how they got there,  how are they going to survive, what will their families/kids/friends etc think and on and on.

At this point the stress begins to build up in your mind where you now just want to find a hole and hide.   You don't want to talk to anyone.  You don't want to try and find a solution or do anything other than simply not exist.

These feelings can go for minutes to days depending on your level of control.  And to be honest, unless you've been through it, you can't even begin to understand the level of physical and mental pain it creates.

So, now you have some idea of what a person with anxiety goes through.  Now  here is a few of the simple steps that use to help maintain by balance during one of these periods

• I start with a mantra of " I will learn from yesterday.  I will prepare for tomorrow.  I will live in the present.
  • Each of these statements is designed to help me reduce the negative thoughts that pervade my mind as I go through my day trying to stay calm and reasonable.
• I focus on the idea of "LIVING IN THE PRESENT".
  • I do this by repeating to myself that just because I may not be working today or tomorrow that I can use that time to figure out what steps I can take today to assist with resolving whatever issue is bothering me.  For example,  If I know I can't pay the mortgage, can I call the bank and explain my situation to see what help they can provide.  The bank then might say,  "We can delay your payment this month or give you a couple weeks extension."  This simple response would then take away some of the financial sting and allow me to look forward to the next day of work and adjust a budget accordingly.
• I speak up to my live in family and alert them that I am having a hard time and request patience from them and ask for additional assistance around the house to tidy up or not argue, which may enhance the feelings of failure.
• I find a piece of music that will take my mind off of things and provide me with a feeling of positivity and relaxation.  The genre is completely up to the individual and can vary from mood to mood.
• Finally, I find a place I find safe and away from life or people to sit and focus on something I want to do or a game I want to play. 
  • This may just be a corner in your home, your bedroom with a tv, or a long walk somewhere.  

Every person will find their own way to work through the trials, whether that be through a doctor prescribed medication or simple self help tools such as I have described above.

I will honestly say, if you suffer from anxiety, please seek medical help and don't ignore it.

Good Luck