Stress Center Peer Support

Yesterday I was listerning to Lucinda's tape from The Solution and she was speaking with Shad Helmstetter about self-talk. I made a real effort to engage in positive self talk. As I was going to sleep, I repeated positive statements about my health, finances, etc. What is weird is that I woke up in the a.m. with a very high degree of anxiety. I mean, much more than I have had in a few years. I was able to get through my day and accomplished all I wanted to do, but I am wondering if the anxiety is in some way "fighting back?" Is the part of my psyche where the anxiety originates reacting to a barrage of positive thoughts? Just wondering.

That's interesting for sure... I don't know the answer but I'd like to know if us negative thinkers dream negatively?? I wonder if our state of mind at the exact time we fall asleep is directly related to bad dreams? Do you remember dreaming last night?

Interesting point, Island Boy. I don't recall dreaming, but I wonder how my subconscious reacted to all the positive thinking.

Since starting the program in mid November 2010...I have gone through more in my life than I have since 2004. I have hit a bottom so low that its hard for me to function at work, drive, sleep etc. I did great for a few weeks...then all of a sudden the high anxiety had come back. The depression is worse this go round. I have not missed a day of work since 2004. Last week I could not drive myself in. I stayed home. Went in the next day and stayed until 3pm. Sunday was really rough. I made myself get out of the house. Went out with my mom. I am glad I did. As to the "fighting back" and "bad dreams" I do believe that our subconscious mind is fighting back with us. This really sucks. Maybe its change. You know people like us hate change. But I keep on trucking...hoping and praying that I have chosen the right way to deal with this. Good luck. I hope this helps you.

I am absolutely convinced that we negative thinkers are prone to being negative dreamers. My dreams are almost all negative - failing a class, screwing up a work project, being late for something, embarrassing myself, etc. They usually disrupt my sleep, which is how I know I'm having them. My wife says that since I've started the program, I sometimes draw very deep diaphragmatic breaths and exhale loudly through my mouth during my sleep. I wake up in the morning very anxious just about every day, but 90% of the anxiety is gone by the time I finish my morning shower.

I think that the positive thought here (see, I'm trying to put Session 3 to good practice!) is that if the practice of deep breathing can take root at the subconscious level, then hopefully the retraining of negative to positive thoughts will follow suit!

Thanks, Bill, for you imput. You make a lot of sense.

Jill, how are you doing today? I hope you had a good week.

Oops! Sorry, I meant Lisa. I was just looking at another post. Anyway, I hope you are well. How's it going?