Dear LPG,

I have to admit to getting myself in a bit of a state from time to time.  I live alone and find that, for me, the evenings are most stressful.  I try my best to get out every day and have a weekday routine which includes three days of meeting with friends at day centres and one when I concentrate on shopping, leaving one day a week for meeting up with family members and one for a serious rest. 

I have always thought that, because I live alone, I really need to get out and interact with others on a  daily basis but, as I said, once I return home and have my evening meal I am aware of just a hint of negativity rising to the surface in my thoughts.   I know that this can be a common problem,  because it is a subject that I have discussed with my friends. 

Until we talked about it we each thought that we were the only people affected.  I know that, to me it always felt as if I was experiencing something which was a result of my getting myself a bit upset about nothing really, but talking to others, and understanding that I am not the only person has got me to thinking that there is more to it.

I get thinking about an empty future and the aches and pains that I experience and it always seems to be worse at this time in the day, while I am also aware of the anxiety and tightness that I can physically feel.  I am also aware of my pulse racing and slight palpitations which happen quite regularly.  I was surprised to learn that I am not the only one of my friends who experiences similar periods of anxiety.

While browsing on the internet recently I came across the video that I hope LPG will be able to add at the bottom of this post.  It is a five minute breathing exercise which really made a difference.  We all had a go together and three out of four of us have agreed that we feel better for having tried it.  

For some reason, if you can persuade yourself to concentrate on just breathing, rather than all the other  thoughts  that invade the mind when you get this feeling it really does calm you down, or at least work for some of us. 

VB, Blackheath

VB has found one of many different breathing exercises that are available on You Tube and we have added a link to it below this paragraph.  LPG would suggest that It will only be really effective if you let it, and also that when trying it for the first time, it would be best to have one other person try it or at least be present,  so that you learn of any adverse effect it may have on you.

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