Anxiety and POSITIVE CHOICES Community Group
Learn the skills to conquer overwhelming anxiety from physical to emotional coping. We can choose how we feel and think, you just have to be willing to make those changes and commit to them.
What we do and work on today might not work until next month!
When I am at my worst...in a panic as many of you understand, I try just about anything and everything. I walk, I eat right, I listen to audios, etc.
Then, I can become really frustrated when it doesn't "seem" to be working ASAP.
But here I sit knowing and feeling like I am so much better than I was 4 weeks ago and realize that it doesn't happen overnight.
I think many people with anxiety/depression, etc., give up and say things don't work when we don't see a change within a few days.
So, today, I still feel aprehensive but I must remind myself where I was a month ago...crying in the shrink's office trying to get my xanax increased (a little bit) and yesterday I was able to drive there on the Interstate. Maybe next time I can do it without having to use coping self-talk.
Betsy
When I am at my worst...in a panic as many of you understand, I try just about anything and everything. I walk, I eat right, I listen to audios, etc.
Then, I can become really frustrated when it doesn't "seem" to be working ASAP.
But here I sit knowing and feeling like I am so much better than I was 4 weeks ago and realize that it doesn't happen overnight.
I think many people with anxiety/depression, etc., give up and say things don't work when we don't see a change within a few days.
So, today, I still feel aprehensive but I must remind myself where I was a month ago...crying in the shrink's office trying to get my xanax increased (a little bit) and yesterday I was able to drive there on the Interstate. Maybe next time I can do it without having to use coping self-talk.
Betsy
next time, it will be ols news to bear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we all ahve our bad days!
i know i do anyway, sometimes thats just how it goes..
just let go, and live!!!!!!!
your doing great!!
bren
It can be like throwing pebbles into a well. You don't see how its building up until later, when the pile breaks the surface and you get an idea of the foundation you've been building over time.
We need to put in the effort and have faith that we'll reach our goal, particularly when it seems not to be working.
I love that phrase, "...throwing pebbles into a well..."
Thanks!
Betsy
Well i think it is a natural response for people to do anyways..but to repeat it is when we need to regroup and stop the cycle.
Snoooze
Your comment reminds me of something I heard many years ago on a talk show.
If you put a rat into a maze looking for food they will only try the same (unsuccessful) route 3 times and then they try something else.
Unlike humans who never seem to (or have a hard time to) learn to move on to another route that just might find the prize!
Recently, my counselor pointed that out to me when I told her that sometimes after listening to a "relaxation/self-hypnosis" tape I startle awake and actually feel worse. I was expecting her to say to press through the feelings until they go away. Instead, she just matter of factly said, "so don't do them anymore,". Her point was that some things don't work for everyone and why do something that doesn't feel good.
I did one yesterday for the first time in several weeks and was startled awake by the phone, started over and had the same sort of anxiety for several hours later. I had a hard time forcing myself from waking up when it was over...and that made me groggy and anxious.
Guess I am over that for a while.
Betsy
Betsy
Very good topic to raise ~ and I totally agree with you.
Good advice given to by everyone too.
I have tried many many statagies, and like you said, when we are anxious and frustrated, we want it to work instantly .... but it doesnt work that way.
I think when you realise that it is a thing you have to work on, bit by bit, slowely, day by day ~ you have began to understand and accept it .... you will have good and bad days, but you will not instantly become calm if you, say, did a meditation tape ~ it takes time.
I am only speaking from my personal experience, and I have been ready to throw in the towel loads of times, but, whats the alternative ............. misery.
You are right when you say that "everyone is different is what works for them". Even the meds are the same, just like the statagies ~ different things work for different people. I just keep trying, and going from one thing to another, to see what works for me best.
This is why I think it isgood to keep a journal of how you feel .... you may notice a pattern. Sometimes, you dont even notice that you have moved on, until you look at a previous journal entry, and it makes you realise ~ hey ~ I am making headway!!!
Good Luck
Angel xx
You know how easy it is to stop what's helping/working when we feel better. And, now today I am anxious. I am going to go get my worry/success journal and take a look and remind myself of how far I have come.
I have a hard time in that I am not worry-free enough to make commitments in the future without worrying about them and this keeps me in the house sometimes paralyzed. I don't know what to do with myself.
We are taking my mother in-law out with us for Valentine's Day at 4PM. I have that stinging tight feeling in my chest now for several days. It just knaws at me and I don't have anything to do so I am giving it more focus than needed.
However, I took 1/2 a xanax and I also took a 30 minute walk so I expect to feel less stressed by the time we leave.
I want to enjoy a day out in the world!
Betsy
I know how you feel. I have social phobia and rarely socialise, I even shop out of town for fear of meeting someone I know.
When I have something arranged, that I have to go to, say an appointment, I continually think about it before hand, and blow everything out of proportion, by imagining I will look awful and have a panic attack, wont be able to talk, and will talk rubbish, because I am nervous ~ so I know I am basically causing my own anxiety.
I am moving slowely, but surely ~ very little steps. I have made arragements to have lunch with a friend on 7th March ~ we havent met up for 3 years, but I am DETERMINED I am going to do this.
What I have been told is, I am "conditioning myself" and "anticipating the worst". So I am now "re-conditioning myself" to think the opposite ~ I will work on relaxing all week before it, put on something nice, constant reassurance that I will be calm, do my statagies, write in my journal, talk to my hubby when/if I start to get panicky, rather than bottle it up .... a few words of reassurance can work wonders to change your thinking pattern.
I know what you mean by feeling paralyzed in the house. I sometimes feel like a prisoner in my own home, and feel the walls coming in on me ~ not a pleasant feeling.
Going out for a walk is a great thing to do ~ I couldnt do that ~ it will also help with SAD ~ even when it is dull, the daylight rays still filter through your eyes and skin ~ so it is beneficial in both exercising, getting out of the house and fresh air and daylight ~ win win situation.
Having 1/2 a xanax is also a good idea, its not as if you are taking loads, and it just takes the edge off your anxiety enough to cope with the day ~ I do that also ~ there is no shame in giving ourselves a little helping hand to deal with things.
Hope your day went well, and give yourself a pat on the back for actually doing it ~ log it in your journal, and when you look back, it makes you feel good that you actually defeated the anxiety and went out.
Angel xx