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...
Week One....INTRODUCTION
I have had several people from this site interested in learning the tools that I used to overcome anxiety and depression. I feel the best way to do so is to make posts here, once a week.
I remember years ago a psychiatrist telling me that the only reason we have anxiety and depression is because of the way we think....unfortunately, she never trained me or gave me any tools on how to change my thoughts. Therefore, nothing changed.
Through several different programs I was fortunate to learns these tools. I also learned that the process of learning them needs to be done slowly (hence the weekly postings). This give our brains time to absorb new ways of thinking. I suppose I can relate it to trying to learn a new language. It is virtually impossible to do so in a day, a week or even a month. It takes time for your brain to change from a language that it has always known to a new language. The same goes for retraining our anxious brains.
When I had anxiety and depression I felt I would never overcome this condition. I promised myself that if I ever found a way out that I would help others to find their way also.
I have been free from the anxiety habit for over five years now and I am looking forward to these tools helping you too!
My best to you!
WEEK ONE...SYMPTOMS
This weeks post will be simple.......BUT, I want you to realize that it is one of the MOST IMPORTANT posts I will do. Over the next week, I want you to do nothing but note what your particular symptoms of anxiety are. In order to do so, I want you to REALLY SLOW DOWN and notice every body sensation that you experience. What I am looking for are actual physical body sensations. (We will discuss the thoughts we have in week three)
Once you have your list.....please e-mail it back to me under this heading so I can see them. Also, separate and put the body sensation that you feel first when presented with a stressful situation.
Example:
For me, when I was in a stressful or anxiety provoking situation, I would first notice that my heart would pick up the pace, then the muscles in my arms and legs would begin to feel weak. I would get the sensation that I couldn't get enough oxygen. I would loose complete track of my thoughts. I would become light headed. My whole body would shake. If I was talking to someone, I would feel my bottom jaw quiver. I would have chest pains and heart palpitations. I wouldn't be able to swallow or eat anything. I would experience bouts of diarrhea and stomach upset. Racing thoughts plagued me.
Therefore, I would post the following:
My first symptom that I notice when stressed or anxious is.......Racing Heart
Muscle Fatigue
Breathing Issues
Memory Lapses
Body Tremors
Facial Tics
Chest Pains
Palpitations
Loss of Appetite
Digestive Disorders
Racing Thoughts....(I know this one is not a body symptom....but so many of us experience this sensation when anxious).
Remember to make a conscious effort to slow down this week so you notice all of your body symptoms. When we slow down we notice more of what is going on around us and within us. Breath slower, talk slower, walk slower and react slower. This may feel awkward at first, but, it will help you center on this weeks concept, which is very important,.....noticing and learning your body symptoms! We will be building on this next week when we discuss...Panic Attacks.
My best to you!!!
I have had several people from this site interested in learning the tools that I used to overcome anxiety and depression. I feel the best way to do so is to make posts here, once a week.
I remember years ago a psychiatrist telling me that the only reason we have anxiety and depression is because of the way we think....unfortunately, she never trained me or gave me any tools on how to change my thoughts. Therefore, nothing changed.
Through several different programs I was fortunate to learns these tools. I also learned that the process of learning them needs to be done slowly (hence the weekly postings). This give our brains time to absorb new ways of thinking. I suppose I can relate it to trying to learn a new language. It is virtually impossible to do so in a day, a week or even a month. It takes time for your brain to change from a language that it has always known to a new language. The same goes for retraining our anxious brains.
When I had anxiety and depression I felt I would never overcome this condition. I promised myself that if I ever found a way out that I would help others to find their way also.
I have been free from the anxiety habit for over five years now and I am looking forward to these tools helping you too!
My best to you!
WEEK ONE...SYMPTOMS
This weeks post will be simple.......BUT, I want you to realize that it is one of the MOST IMPORTANT posts I will do. Over the next week, I want you to do nothing but note what your particular symptoms of anxiety are. In order to do so, I want you to REALLY SLOW DOWN and notice every body sensation that you experience. What I am looking for are actual physical body sensations. (We will discuss the thoughts we have in week three)
Once you have your list.....please e-mail it back to me under this heading so I can see them. Also, separate and put the body sensation that you feel first when presented with a stressful situation.
Example:
For me, when I was in a stressful or anxiety provoking situation, I would first notice that my heart would pick up the pace, then the muscles in my arms and legs would begin to feel weak. I would get the sensation that I couldn't get enough oxygen. I would loose complete track of my thoughts. I would become light headed. My whole body would shake. If I was talking to someone, I would feel my bottom jaw quiver. I would have chest pains and heart palpitations. I wouldn't be able to swallow or eat anything. I would experience bouts of diarrhea and stomach upset. Racing thoughts plagued me.
Therefore, I would post the following:
My first symptom that I notice when stressed or anxious is.......Racing Heart
Muscle Fatigue
Breathing Issues
Memory Lapses
Body Tremors
Facial Tics
Chest Pains
Palpitations
Loss of Appetite
Digestive Disorders
Racing Thoughts....(I know this one is not a body symptom....but so many of us experience this sensation when anxious).
Remember to make a conscious effort to slow down this week so you notice all of your body symptoms. When we slow down we notice more of what is going on around us and within us. Breath slower, talk slower, walk slower and react slower. This may feel awkward at first, but, it will help you center on this weeks concept, which is very important,.....noticing and learning your body symptoms! We will be building on this next week when we discuss...Panic Attacks.
My best to you!!!
Thank you so much for your generosity and willingness to share.
I have only had one severe panic attack (thought I was dying) a few years ago, but stress has always been a part of my life, and I do suffer from feelings of unexplained anxiety, more or less weekly.
My symptoms are:
Headache / Pressure, sinus-type pain, back of neck tense, weird sensations
Confusion/ hard time concentrating
Butterflies in the tummy feeling/ shaky
Dizzy/ lightheaded
Muscle tightness and weakness / lame feeling in my thighs (particularly), arms
Feelings of fear/ nervousness
Racing Thoughts/ Scattered thinking
Insomnia (cannot fall asleep until the early hours)
Wake up lots from sleep
Withdrawal
Severe exhaustion
The tools that you are about to learn will actually help anyone...they are not just for folks who experience panic attacks. Everyone has stress in their life therefore everyone can benefit from learning how to keep their stress in check....these tools are a great way to do so.
My best to you you on your journey!
2) Light headedness.
3) Shaky hands and fingers.
4) Mind racing to what could be causing the above symptoms. I lose control of my thoughts
5) Clenched teeth
6) Entire body tensed up.
The best part was when I figured out how to make it stop. Keep following us to find out how to also make it stop!
We are currently on Week Four...but you can catch up. Let me know of you cant find the Weeks. They may be on the next page or the page after that.
Intrusive thoughts (the worst part)
Feeling "spaced out" or cloudy Pounding heart
Nauseous stomach
Dizzy
Dry mouth
Feeling trapped thanks for the help
Palpitations
Racing heart
Lightheaded
Very sad
Digestive issues
Feel trapped
Feel overwhelmed by things going on in my life (these things aren't going to change, I hope to learn tools to deal with them.)
Back pain
Sugar craving
I am so glad you found us. We are currently on week 5 but you can find the following weeks and catch up by going to the top of the discussions on the main anxiety page and pressing ...view all. Once you press view all you can go down to the bottom of the page and press next ... Till you find the weeks you are looking for. I believe Week Two is currently on page three. If you post a message on the feed it will bring the post forward and I will respond.
My best to you all!
My best to you!!!!
But usually it's related to my own hysteria due to something "I perceive" as anxiety-inducing, like misplacing my kid's sippy cup when I'm already running late trying to leave; etc, and with that, it's a tightening in my throat and immediate feeling like I'm going to cry. My breath and heartrate get quicker. Then there's always a blow-up and sobbing before I can get it together again, so I would like to learn to STOP myself as soon as I get the start-to-cry urge before I completely lose my cool.