how can you handle very high anxiety levels

my anxiety is so high often that little things make me nervous,i live in a 3rd floor apartment, so if i hear noises outside my apartment in the communal stairwell, i panic because i wonder who it is or who could be causing the noise............. same thing with mail or answering telephone calls....i have a fear of opening my mail for fear of what's inside? might it be worrying news.....and the same thing with phone calls...i worry who it could be phoning me and i panic and let it go onto the answer machine.

anyone got any advice for anxiety when it is that high and you're a nervous wreck?

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tiltawhirl · 36-40, F

Do you see a therapist? It would be really beneficial for you to seek something called ERP therapy (exposure and response prevention). The things that scare you, you would be slowly exposed to at a level that you would be comfortable enough with. Working with a therapist is a must with this. It’s not easy work but it really works wonders and helps you to not be so scared anymore. Also practicing mindfulness. So one mindfulness trick is called “54321” 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, 1 thing you can taste. This puts you in the moment and out of the fear. There are also several different mindfulness tricks. Google them because there are a lot so you can find ones you like best.