Thanks for sharing Brit. I guess I haven't felt anxious in a while, but I remember for a few years back there it - was fairly constant. It drew me into spiritual practice, and I started watching YouTube videos of a wise guide called Mooji. That calmed me down a lot. Stress seems to be a lot to do with thought patterns and habits for me. I have learned to pay attention to this, and then keep a little space around those thoughts. They seem to eventually run out of power without me feeding them.

A few days ago I downloaded a free audio book on manifestation, it is called Becoming Magic. Kind of synchronistic that you would mention manifestation and also gratitude. This book summed up, talks about how manifesting is largely about the space we are in now, cultivating the state of gratitude is super important. In that way we are actually energetically setting ourself up to 'recieve'.

It's a beautiful thing really, taking some time to just appreciate everything that supports us and plays out just for us each day. Sometimes on the way home I just sit on a park bench and watch the birds. Everything seems quite miraculous when we get out of the way.

I think that the intense experiences at night might be a good sign, even though it might not seem it. Often times these kind of mind attacks come when spaciousness is starting to open up inside, it's a natural process. Also I hear the 4am hour is the best time to meditate! (according to yogic science)

Thanks again for sharing, apparently I had a lot to say :P