My anxiety manifests as a weight on my chest, but responds very quickly to self-care efforts. I always tried to deflect the idea that my problems were my own fault, and whenever I could I've attacked my real-world demons -- when I prevailed, the pressure eased. I once did something mean (but harmless) to push away a cheating fiancee, and had instant relief. An employer tried to dismiss me based on a false rumor, but I fought and won, ending the anxiety. Having to beg for help from doctors who say I'm imagining things is depressing and anxiety-provoking ... I argued for years against a "migraine" diagnosis (it was neuralgia) and had to finally fix my useless wrist on my own (cystic bone deformities), as well as the vertigo, and then rehab the spinal fracture that wasn't a benign arthritic spur. I'm angry way too much, but the choice is between that or anxiety & depression. I choose angry, which helps me maintain the fight. I don't know if this would work for a lot of people, but it does for me and I'm not backing down or giving in. I cannot recall a time when anxiety was organic and spontaneous, although when everything in my life was at the very worst, I had what seemed like unprovoked panic attacks that were relatively brief, and which stopped after a couple of years. They were much different from anxiety, and my depression didn't resemble either of those. My mantra is "First take charge, then take action."