Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Repetitive thoughts

Audere
Audere

Hello!  Thanks in advance for the support.


So my anxiety often has to do with repetitive thoughts.  I frequently think about what I ate, how much I ate, calories I've consumed, what my weight is, how often I've exercised, etc.  I remind myself that society has brainwashed me by teaching me there is only one definition of beauty - I know this to not be true and I don't judge anyone else this way according to myself.  I also objectively understand that physical appearance is such a small piece of who I am and should not define me, yet it still drags me down.  If I have downtime at my desk at work, these nasty thoughts just come up and are like, "Hey!  Let's go to the bathroom and look in the mirror and degrade your self-worth!"  So by the time I get home, sometimes I just burst out crying.  Last summer, I would get so anxious about eating at the wrong times, that I would just go very long periods of time without eating (in fear that I would eat when I was not hungry and get fat).  This played a role in setting off a hormonal imbalance, which caused me to gain 18 lbs. in 2 weeks in March.  I finally got diagnosed/started treatment for it a week and a half ago, but it definitely hit me hard.  And I feel very guilty knowing that I likely set this whole health issue in motion.  I've lost 3 lbs. since going on the med and I try to tell myself  to be happy I am losing weight because this means it is treating my illness, not yay I'm losing weight so I'm losing fat!  And I am trying to watch/read something positive body image related every day.  Yet, I still struggle. 


I really appreciate your guys' guidance/advice!

itsraining
itsraining
I'm not sure if this will be helpful to you, but I did hear a bit of advice about negative/obsessive thoughts. Basically it was to give the thoughts their own time. Spend 15 minutes or however long focusing on ONE negative thought until it becomes so old and overused that your brain is just over thinking that thought.

I haven't tried it as I can see how this strategy might backfire, but it seems sound in theory and might work for some.
Audere
Audere
Thank you, itsraining! That's a good idea - I really should set aside "worry time" so the stuff doesn't keep popping into my head.
snflwrgrl
snflwrgrl
Your self-awareness is pretty amazing! :) and I applaud you for your transparency. Thank you for sharing your story. I love that you judge others on inner beauty rather than their physical appearance. That really says something wonderful about you! Your physical appearance really is so little of who you are. <3 You truly have a beautiful depth about you. I too have had anxiety and I also have had repetitive thoughts but mine are more about things that I miss in my life and people I have lost but they still play a trick on my mind and at times make me miserable. :'( I spoke to my pastor and a Christian counselor and that helped. They gave me support and provided me with valuable resources. I also went through an anxiety workbook which helped me identify my anxiety and be able to talk myself down from it. You may want to look into something like that. My main source of help came when I realized I have no control over anything. I kind of came to my own end and it was freeing. I started reading my Bible every day and giving all my cares over to God. Things aren't always easy but I have a renewed hope. :) I am so glad! to read that you are getting treatment. That's important and awesome. I'll be praying for you as you get through this. Don't get discouraged! This too shall pass. Big hug!
subwayxkid
subwayxkid
Anxiety in and of itself is repetitive thoughts and they're always negative, add an eating disorder ontop of that and it's like two anxiety monsters on your back at all times. Being diagnosed with Anorexia when I was in junior high, still 6 years later I struggle with it. Find a muse to channel that repetitive/compulsive energy into. I like cleaning and organizing, rearranging furniture etc.
Audere
Audere
snflwgrl - Thank you! Reading that just made me smile - you are so kind. Yes, physical appearance is so little of who you really are. I objectively understand that, but my mind sometimes tells me that it's all that matters. I look back on old pictures of me and see seriously perfection - I was so beautiful and didn't even realize it. Maybe I am beautiful now and I don't realize it either. It's seriously a struggle. I used to be religious but now I identify as spiritual. I am not going to lie - sometimes I get very angry with God because he blessed me with such an amazing life, yet I often cannot enjoy it because of my mental health hurdles. I might speak with my pastor; my dad has recommended that - I'm just afraid he will upset me more and not understand; I fear my issues being trivialized. Also, I am sorry you have lost people. I do have anxiety papers - activities to do when anxious, but I've always just let them sit in a folder! Maybe I should pull them out - setting aside time to deal with anxiety is intimidating in and of itself, but I really do want to get better. I'm so glad you have a renewed hope! I'm going to be a senior in college and for the first time since my first semester freshman year, I feel like I have a chance to live - a chance to be happy, hang out with friends, love life instead of be chained to my anxiety, depression, self-harm, and body image issues. Thank you for your prayers. I will keep you in my prayers as well! I love "This too shall pass." I have a box of cards in a "Wishes Box" that reminds me of what is truly important and "this too shall pass" is on one of the cards.
subwayxkid - Thank you! You telling me their monsters makes me feel a little less crazy - a little more proud of getting through my struggle rather than mad at myself for a struggle that I did not choose. I'm so sorry you have anorexia, but I hope you are finding positive outlets as well. Sometimes winning against anxiety and eating disorders doesn't mean overcoming them; it means surviving through that day. Thank you for the muse idea - I actually have a list of activities (I know, I'm a nerd to the core haha) of stuff to do if I'm bored/anxious/depressed so I can keep my mind busy. It's really a help, especially since I'm quite scatterbrained.