Comments on: Off Topic Chat http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/ Anxiety no more Helping sufferers overcome anxiety and panic issues Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:30:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Helz Belz http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2812 Helz Belz Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:31:11 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2812 Hi John, am glad i could help :) am so glad i can help others, even though helping myself seems a lot harder to achieve! lack of confidence is tough, and anxiety seems to really knock all confidence hard. my confidence really went when the bad anxiety hit (have always had mild anxiety and low-ish confidence, but the last 2 years it has all gone). didnt help that i had an overbearing boyfriend at the time who thought that he was always right and any thoughts i had that were different from his were wrong. but anyway... it seems to take a lot of confidence to even start on the recovery road, and to let thoughts go takes a lot of confidence in yourself too. we are in the same boat here John, but if others can do it (like Paul, Scarlet and Candie) then we can recover too. I realised that i wasnt quite doing it right, i am still instinctively fighting, i still havent got the hang of just accepting, which is probably the first hurdle. on a postitive look, today i managed a few moments of not noticing my anxiety and feeling the calmest in months! see, it can be done! talking to real people can help too, even if its not about anxiety. but if you need to talk, everyone is here for you. john, you are doing great. you have support here to help you! -x- Hi John,
am glad i could help :) am so glad i can help others, even though helping myself seems a lot harder to achieve! lack of confidence is tough, and anxiety seems to really knock all confidence hard. my confidence really went when the bad anxiety hit (have always had mild anxiety and low-ish confidence, but the last 2 years it has all gone). didnt help that i had an overbearing boyfriend at the time who thought that he was always right and any thoughts i had that were different from his were wrong. but anyway…
it seems to take a lot of confidence to even start on the recovery road, and to let thoughts go takes a lot of confidence in yourself too. we are in the same boat here John, but if others can do it (like Paul, Scarlet and Candie) then we can recover too. I realised that i wasnt quite doing it right, i am still instinctively fighting, i still havent got the hang of just accepting, which is probably the first hurdle.
on a postitive look, today i managed a few moments of not noticing my anxiety and feeling the calmest in months! see, it can be done!
talking to real people can help too, even if its not about anxiety. but if you need to talk, everyone is here for you.
john, you are doing great. you have support here to help you! -x-

]]> By: John http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2794 John Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:20:18 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2794 Thanks Helz, I appreciate the advice. I just wish there was actual people I could meet in person to talk to that actually recovered from it. I mean to actualy talk to someone and hear that they did. I mean i guess alot of this all came up becuase a girl in school had an anxiety problem and that seems to be the only thing she talks about. I been noticing too lately I been putting guess in my posts. The lack of confidence in myself to getg better is really difficult. I really just need that assurance that I will be okay and that i will get over this. Thats probably why I come on here. Helz it did help. I appreciate ir very much! Thanks Helz,
I appreciate the advice. I just wish there was actual people I could meet in person to talk to that actually recovered from it. I mean to actualy talk to someone and hear that they did. I mean i guess alot of this all came up becuase a girl in school had an anxiety problem and that seems to be the only thing she talks about. I been noticing too lately I been putting guess in my posts. The lack of confidence in myself to getg better is really difficult. I really just need that assurance that I will be okay and that i will get over this. Thats probably why I come on here. Helz it did help. I appreciate ir very much!

]]> By: Helz Belz http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2783 Helz Belz Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:58:20 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2783 John, as a fellow sci-fi fan, dont stop watching sci-fi! just take it as fiction and a bit of fun, otherwise you are just denying yourself some escapism. if you are scared that something in the sci-fi will set off your anxiety and so not watching it, then the anxiety is winning. it can be hard sometimes (B5 gave me a mild irrational fear of telepaths, but its still great sci-fi ;) ). use the sci-fi as a way of taking a break like the other thread said, to get way from thinking about anxiety for a bit. trouble with decision making is hard too, i get that too, but avoiding decisions is difficult, even though ive gotten into the habit of avoiding making any decision, because the process of decision making brings up all sorts of little questions that build up into panic (its happening to me now...and all i'm doing is picking which book to read next...its crazy!). unfortunately, life isnt about definitive answers. i've chased my own circular thought patterns too much the last few years trying to answer the unanswerable. sometimes its best to admit defeat, that some questions cant be answered, and leave them to the powers that be. its tough, but it can be a great weight off the mind. i hope that has helped at all! -x- John, as a fellow sci-fi fan, dont stop watching sci-fi! just take it as fiction and a bit of fun, otherwise you are just denying yourself some escapism. if you are scared that something in the sci-fi will set off your anxiety and so not watching it, then the anxiety is winning. it can be hard sometimes (B5 gave me a mild irrational fear of telepaths, but its still great sci-fi ;) ). use the sci-fi as a way of taking a break like the other thread said, to get way from thinking about anxiety for a bit. trouble with decision making is hard too, i get that too, but avoiding decisions is difficult, even though ive gotten into the habit of avoiding making any decision, because the process of decision making brings up all sorts of little questions that build up into panic (its happening to me now…and all i’m doing is picking which book to read next…its crazy!). unfortunately, life isnt about definitive answers. i’ve chased my own circular thought patterns too much the last few years trying to answer the unanswerable. sometimes its best to admit defeat, that some questions cant be answered, and leave them to the powers that be. its tough, but it can be a great weight off the mind.
i hope that has helped at all! -x-

]]> By: John http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2769 John Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:34:28 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2769 Hi everyone I was wondering how do I know if I am forcing the issue with anxiety. I mean its like before anxiety I didnt see my thoughts as irrational or scary. I read a post about someone saying they thought what if I were a vampire. I mean I thought what if I were superman. I mean its like I always had a thing for sci fi and one of my fears was that I wouldnt be able to tell what was real or not. So my Dr recommended not watching them. I mean do I have to change myself to make myself free of anxiety. i feel like I lost my self and my confidence. I miss loving electronics and computers. I miss the happy feeling. I miss the confidence feeling. I miss having complete control over my thoughts in the sense of not getting scared of my thoughts. Does this come back. The problem is that I read what can happen to people with anxiety and then got scared. Like the reason I lost my confidence was that I saw that people can lose it and I read that people not make decisions because of it and then I started doing that. I mean is it anxiety or is it because I am a hypochondriac. Iguess the biggest thing will I feel happy like I did before this all happened. I mean the only way I got over things was getting a definitive answer. I guess thats why we have anxiety in the first place.Any help and any advice would be greatly apreciated. I really just want to have kids and be a happy father and husband Hi everyone I was wondering how do I know if I am forcing the issue with anxiety. I mean its like before anxiety I didnt see my thoughts as irrational or scary. I read a post about someone saying they thought what if I were a vampire. I mean I thought what if I were superman. I mean its like I always had a thing for sci fi and one of my fears was that I wouldnt be able to tell what was real or not. So my Dr recommended not watching them. I mean do I have to change myself to make myself free of anxiety. i feel like I lost my self and my confidence. I miss loving electronics and computers. I miss the happy feeling. I miss the confidence feeling. I miss having complete control over my thoughts in the sense of not getting scared of my thoughts. Does this come back. The problem is that I read what can happen to people with anxiety and then got scared. Like the reason I lost my confidence was that I saw that people can lose it and I read that people not make decisions because of it and then I started doing that. I mean is it anxiety or is it because I am a hypochondriac. Iguess the biggest thing will I feel happy like I did before this all happened. I mean the only way I got over things was getting a definitive answer. I guess thats why we have anxiety in the first place.Any help and any advice would be greatly apreciated. I really just want to have kids and be a happy father and husband

]]> By: James http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2739 James Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:01:39 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2739 Thanks again Scarlet, i thought i was past dp but seem to have gone back in. I am also now becoming obsessed that i have mental health problems due to smoking cannabis in my teens and that my problems are far more worse than anxiety and this is just the beginning, even tho i started with a panic attack Thanks again Scarlet, i thought i was past dp but seem to have gone back in. I am also now becoming obsessed that i have mental health problems due to smoking cannabis in my teens and that my problems are far more worse than anxiety and this is just the beginning, even tho i started with a panic attack

]]> By: Nicole http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2726 Nicole Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:17:47 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2726 Hi everyone, Having a little set back and I am embracing this opportunity to put into practice all that I have learned, not easy, but this is what has helped me make strides forward in the past. I have a question for anyone a few steps ahead of me on this journey - what initialized this particular set back was a strong wave of doubt and mental/emotional fatigue when I would try to view my thoughts and symptoms as meaningless or not harmful. I have just recently come to a new level of understanding with anxiety and was truly feeling stronger and on top of this. These new feelings have thrown me for a loop and I am little confused with how to handle them. Do I let them be there and try not to react to the doubt or do I try and cut off the thoughts that go along with it, which leads to more scary thoughts etc.? I don't know if that makes any sense at all! It is hard to put into words what I am feeling at times. All of this knowledge is a little jumbled at the moment which doesn't help. I am looking forward to gaining some new insight when this passes though. Thanks, Nic Hi everyone,
Having a little set back and I am embracing this opportunity to put into practice all that I have learned, not easy, but this is what has helped me make strides forward in the past.
I have a question for anyone a few steps ahead of me on this journey – what initialized this particular set back was a strong wave of doubt and mental/emotional fatigue when I would try to view my thoughts and symptoms as meaningless or not harmful. I have just recently come to a new level of understanding with anxiety and was truly feeling stronger and on top of this. These new feelings have thrown me for a loop and I am little confused with how to handle them. Do I let them be there and try not to react to the doubt or do I try and cut off the thoughts that go along with it, which leads to more scary thoughts etc.? I don’t know if that makes any sense at all! It is hard to put into words what I am feeling at times.
All of this knowledge is a little jumbled at the moment which doesn’t help. I am looking forward to gaining some new insight when this passes though. Thanks, Nic

]]> By: Scarlet http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2721 Scarlet Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:14:13 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2721 Hi James, an excerpt from Wills book 'If you suffer from repetitive panic or anxiety - you CAN recover' "it is possible to make headway with this illness when you 'understand' that panic is all about our reaction to very 'normal' thoughts and feelings (or shall we say 'OK' thoughts and feelings)........ When you also understand that our minds play 'a little trick' on us and, inadvertently, send us in to 'the panic temptation', we can soon realise that we need to 'do' completely the 'opposite' of what we think we have to do' 'Ultimately, this should also bring you to the point where you understand yourself and reach the height of true self-confidence' Please check out Wills website, I think there you will find all the information you need (it has lots of the book chapters on the site anyways and is very helpful). If you do buy this book, I think it's useful for those plagued by obsessive thoughts... and gives a good explanation, as to why we suffer them and fear them, and what to do to recover from them. I found it very interesting in parts... and it put to bed lots of unanswered questions I had. http://www.doyoupanic.co.uk/32.html 'Its just the weird thoughts and feeling like i am someone else, or at least not myself or as somebody recently put, like a zombie. Or even a character in an arcade game, going through day to day on auto pilot.' James what you describe sounds like dp, your mind is tired from all the analysing you have been doing.... Please don't worry about feeling like this, it goes when the thoughts subside and turns to a wee bit of numbness until it disappears altogether. It is NOT permanent, nor will it do you any damage, it is one of the symptoms of anxiety and a very common one. I remember being on Planet Zog a while back as well for what seemed like an eternity, and I am glad to say I managed to escape now, & I won't be visiting there again anytime soon ;-) You'll be off soon as well. Take care Am off for a few days hol, will be back Sun/Mon Lovely weekend all x Hi James, an excerpt from Wills book

‘If you suffer from repetitive panic or anxiety – you CAN recover’

“it is possible to make headway with this illness when you ‘understand’ that panic is all about our reaction to very ‘normal’ thoughts and feelings (or shall we say ‘OK’ thoughts and feelings)…….. When you also understand that our minds play ‘a little trick’ on us and, inadvertently, send us in to ‘the panic temptation’, we can soon realise that we need to ‘do’ completely the ‘opposite’ of what we think we have to do’
‘Ultimately, this should also bring you to the point where you understand yourself and reach the height of true self-confidence’

Please check out Wills website, I think there you will find all the information you need (it has lots of the book chapters on the site anyways and is very helpful). If you do buy this book, I think it’s useful for those plagued by obsessive thoughts… and gives a good explanation, as to why we suffer them and fear them, and what to do to recover from them. I found it very interesting in parts… and it put to bed lots of unanswered questions I had.

http://www.doyoupanic.co.uk/32.html

‘Its just the weird thoughts and feeling like i am someone else, or at least not myself or as somebody recently put, like a zombie. Or even a character in an arcade game, going through day to day on auto pilot.’

James what you describe sounds like dp, your mind is tired from all the analysing you have been doing…. Please don’t worry about feeling like this, it goes when the thoughts subside and turns to a wee bit of numbness until it disappears altogether. It is NOT permanent, nor will it do you any damage, it is one of the symptoms of anxiety and a very common one. I remember being on Planet Zog a while back as well for what seemed like an eternity, and I am glad to say I managed to escape now, & I won’t be visiting there again anytime soon ;-) You’ll be off soon as well.

Take care

Am off for a few days hol, will be back Sun/Mon
Lovely weekend all
x

]]> By: lisa http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2720 lisa Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:14:10 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2720 hi james,it sounds as though your trying to figure everything out,worrying why your in this state,questioning it..please dont, it does pass once you stop giving it the respect.your mind is just tired thats all let it think,ramble on but keep bringing it back on to whatever your doing whether its getting dressed,watching tv,eating its fine. scarlet just wanted to say your posts are very encouraging to those in the dark days still, a few things iv read of yours reminded me of things i used to be like and can laugh now :-) there is a light you guys ,and pauls new post is really about accepting and time which is the key. :-) hi james,it sounds as though your trying to figure everything out,worrying why your in this state,questioning it..please dont, it does pass once you stop giving it the respect.your mind is just tired thats all let it think,ramble on but keep bringing it back on to whatever your doing whether its getting dressed,watching tv,eating its fine. scarlet just wanted to say your posts are very encouraging to those in the dark days still, a few things iv read of yours reminded me of things i used to be like and can laugh now :-) there is a light you guys ,and pauls new post is really about accepting and time which is the key. :-)

]]> By: James http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2719 James Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:52:17 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2719 Scarlet, Candie (morning girls), you mention about the mental side of anxiety in the posts above, that is the stage i am at now. I have few physical symptoms, as i have learnt to accept them and they have passed, i think?. Its just the weird thoughts and feeling like i am someone else, or at least not myself or as somebody recently put, like a zombie. Or even a character in an arcade game, going through day to day on auto pilot. I guess what i am trying to ascertain is whether i can gain anything from Will's book and if so what is the full title of both book and author. As i say, when anxiety started i was in a normal state of mind with fear and physical symptoms, now the physical is not so much a concern but i have moved to Planet Zog. Any ideas/thoughts ? Scarlet, Candie (morning girls), you mention about the mental side of anxiety in the posts above, that is the stage i am at now. I have few physical symptoms, as i have learnt to accept them and they have passed, i think?. Its just the weird thoughts and feeling like i am someone else, or at least not myself or as somebody recently put, like a zombie. Or even a character in an arcade game, going through day to day on auto pilot.
I guess what i am trying to ascertain is whether i can gain anything from Will’s book and if so what is the full title of both book and author.
As i say, when anxiety started i was in a normal state of mind with fear and physical symptoms, now the physical is not so much a concern but i have moved to Planet Zog. Any ideas/thoughts ?

]]> By: Scarlet http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/2008/11/03/47/#comment-2718 Scarlet Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:32:33 +0000 http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/?p=47#comment-2718 Hi Candie, "would u say that in order to overcome your intrusive obsessive thoughts you allowed them to be there and as Will says dont go into secondary thinking of analysing them?" Yes 100%, I did this with all thoughts at one time, and it became like a daily challenge for me. Wills book just tied up all my loose ends I suppose. I think Wills book is great if you are well on the way to recovery. For those still having lots of ups and downs it can be a bit tedious to read (sorry Will) and you probably won't grasp the concept so well... but read it if you are over 75% there and especially if you are having difficulty still with obsessive thoughts. Obsessive thoughts were my main symptom really, and were the last to go. I think acceptance comes before full recovery, there are days even now that I get anxious/depressed (have a good cry, feel sorry for myself, even odd panics), but I am now the same as I was before my anxiety disorder, in that I accept them as the normal ups and downs of life...and not some part of an anxiety disorder that I am spiralling into. James, Not long to go. I think after your wedding, a lot of your anxiety symptoms will subside. You will not have a mental breakdown, just ride it out.....this time in a month it'll be Xmas and you'll be a married man... ;-) x Hi Candie,

“would u say that in order to overcome your intrusive obsessive thoughts you allowed them to be there and as Will says dont go into secondary thinking of analysing them?”

Yes 100%, I did this with all thoughts at one time, and it became like a daily challenge for me. Wills book just tied up all my loose ends I suppose. I think Wills book is great if you are well on the way to recovery. For those still having lots of ups and downs it can be a bit tedious to read (sorry Will) and you probably won’t grasp the concept so well… but read it if you are over 75% there and especially if you are having difficulty still with obsessive thoughts. Obsessive thoughts were my main symptom really, and were the last to go.

I think acceptance comes before full recovery, there are days even now that I get anxious/depressed (have a good cry, feel sorry for myself, even odd panics), but I am now the same as I was before my anxiety disorder, in that I accept them as the normal ups and downs of life…and not some part of an anxiety disorder that I am spiralling into.

James,

Not long to go. I think after your wedding, a lot of your anxiety symptoms will subside. You will not have a mental breakdown, just ride it out…..this time in a month it’ll be Xmas and you’ll be a married man… ;-)

x

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