Page 1 of 1
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:25 am
by KDlady
face your fears.
I don't avoid anything like driving, etc. My anxiety and feelings of depression come directly from what I think. I tend to always wonder if I'm feeling "right" or "normal" and assume I'm not. I then get anxious as a result and then that is followed by feelings of depression that I don't have a better grip on my emotions and reactions. Throughout the program it talks about facing your fears, but I don't know how to do that when all my fears are in my head. If I could attack this by going and doing something, I think it would be easier.
Anyone have any advice?
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:21 am
by Guest
All fears are "in our heads" so to speak. And while you are right that it may be easier to go physically and face a fear, you still have to fight your fears in their "battleground"...your mind!
Why do you assume you're not normal? And what is normal anyhow? I think if you spend some time reading the posts on these boards you'll probably find lots and lots of "not normal" normal people just like you and me!
If it were me I'd work on positive self-talk and re-listen/read the parts on the sessions about "Shoulds" - as in "I should be feeling" or "I should be doing" whatever. Don't should on yourself!!!
Maybe you could set a goal to hold up that mental "stop sign" everytime you have a thought that you are not normal or don't feel "right"...and after a day (or an hour - whatever) of dealing with that positively and successfully reward yourself with something you enjoy! Reading, a bubble bath, a walk, buy a treat...something like that.
You can do this. You are normal in your fears...and you can overcome them!
Blessings,
Dawn
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:02 am
by Guest
Maybe you could set a goal to hold up that mental "stop sign" everytime you have a thought that you are not normal or don't feel "right"...and after a day (or an hour - whatever) of dealing with that positively and successfully reward yourself with something you enjoy! Reading, a bubble bath, a walk, buy a treat...something like that.
This is good. I feel "something's wrong with me" so much because it's a big automatic that I do. How many times do you think putting up the stop sign and replacing will it take before it stops bothering me?
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:57 am
by Guest
You could also try setting aside a time of day/amount of time to worry about these things. I haven't tried it yet myself (I have alot of anticipatory anxiety) but I've heard it works.
The other imagery I've heard Lucinda describe is to imagine closing a gate on the thoughts. I like that one. It works when my thoughts get scary or obsessive.
Your thoughts about yourself may be obsessive, getting your mind off of other things?
Just a thought. Hope that helps. Good luck.
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:26 pm
by Guest
I've never felt normal in how I am and it's painfully obvious to me sometimes. but am I the only one who feels the way I do? Not hardly, so even though the way I feel may not be with the majority, there is someone else out there that can relate.
AS far as worry, one thing that works for me is writing it down. when I'm really stressed, I'm too stressed to "journal" so I just make a list of how I feel, what is going on and what the symtoms I feel are. I call it my "worry book".
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:10 am
by Guest
Kdlady,
It may take a LOT of times of holding up that stop sign before you re-train your brain
...but I bet the more you do it, the less frequently you'll find that you have to! Just keep with it - try not to get discouraged...you deserve a happy, healthy life and you are making progress in that direction every day!
Oh yeah - and come on here and share your progress with us so that we can help you CELEBRATE!
Blessings,
Dawn