Stress Center Peer Support

I just started the program 3 days ago. I almost feel a little more stressed since I have started the program. I get a crazy pressure in my head. I can't stop thinking about all day! I know its just anxiety but am having trouble convincing myself the program can help me. I am already on medication, and it only helps a little. Has anyone else had this problem?

Hi-

When you mention headaches and pressure in the head, and the StressCenter.com program, I think of a couple of things.

1. The items you are choosing to eat and also the timing of your eating.

2. Practice the relaxation CD and get your breathing deep, not shallow.

3. Tight muscles in your neck and back from chronic tension.

I bet you will find relief as you progress.

Just started program too and realized I was having nauseness, knotted stomach while doing it. Felt stupid having anxiety over an anxiety program, but think some of us do each in our own ways. I have high expectations of this program and will really be depressed if it does
not work. Does the relaxation tape help the headaches?

Relaxing will certain help tension headaches. A good tool that my therapist taught me is to close your eyes and envision a clock in front of you. Then gently move your eyes up to the 12, down to the 6, over to the 11, down to the 5, and so on. You will feel some discomfort as you stretch the muscles behind your eyes. If you do this gently for a minute or so, it will greatly relive the tension.

In the short time I've been a member of this site, I've read many posts about people feeling more anxiety after starting the program. First, you're clearly not alone. Second, I was told by my therapist that it's not uncommon for anxiety to increase when you start to face it. You have to realize that now you are starting to fight back, not just going back to old habits and your body is adjusting accordingly. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your feedback. The relaxation tape does help a bit. I think maybe I will try the advice I am getting and breathe deeper. Its VERY hard for me to relax! My shoulders stay tensed up and the back of my head and neck do hurt. I have to literally tell myself to relax my shoulders. Everything I have been thinking is negative. Didn't realize I was doing. I've always been outgoing in others eyes. I just hid the real me.

About relaxing muscles, you can use your body's own mechanism to help relieve some tension. Muscles often come in pairs. For example, in your upper arm, the top muscle is the bicep and the bottom muscle are the triceps. They work in opposite directions and in general, only one is working at a time. When you activate one of the muscles in a pair, the other one naturally relaxes. So in my example, if your bicep is tense, activate your triceps. You don't have to flex hard or tense the opposite muscle, just start to move it. In your case, if the back of your neck is tense, use the muscles in the front of your neck to pull your head down (gently and slightly). Finding the right muscles in your shoulders is a bit more challenging, but just move them around a bit and see what feels good.

Thanks for the reply. Does anyone have a suggestion on how I can get my mind to stop worrying about the pressure in my head? I know when I am having a good time doing something, it gets better. When I am totally relaxed,it gets better. Its when I am alone or anticipating something (like going back to work in August) that it gets pretty bad. I do the relaxation tape and my breathing. I try to think positive thoughts.

Hi there-

I was recommended a book that I LOVE! Called "Freedom from Fear by Dr. Howard Leibgold". In the book, he gives concrete ideas for the questions you have. In fact, about 2 weeks ago my family and my in-laws went hard core camping (where you carry all your stuff with you and carry the canoes between lakes) for 5 days. I could feel myself spooling up inside, and I used one of his tips to get my brain from the feeling, imagine-ing side to the thinking, analytical side. I did math as I was portaging thru the woods. And it worked like a charm. In fact, it calmed me so well that I kept expecting the anxiety feelings to come back and I kept being amazed that they were 100% shut down, and I mean for DAYS, not just seconds.

I did the StressCenter.com program and found that trying to make myself "think positive" didn't work for me. What has worked is having concrete plans of what to do when I feel crummy, and knowing why and how I am doing this to myself, and knowing that the more I ram thru the wall and live thru the feelings without fearing them or tensing up, the more familiar I get with those feelings and the less I seem to care whether they are there or not. Feelings and thoughts come and go. My actions are where the rubber meets the road.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to supplement the StressCenter.com stuff. When I combined the info from the two, I have grown by leaps and bounds.

He also has a website where you can buy CDs of his lectures (he used to teach classes in this in San Francisco). He is calm and funny and really makes sense. www.angelnet.com

Thanks a bunch! I will definetly try this book. I did have a better day yesterday. My daughter had a birthday party and I had a lot of people were at my house. I tried to stop and breathe every time I started getting overwhelmed. I seem to get a lot worse when I have a lot to do in a short amount of time. It was a weared feeling to do this, but I know it was helping. I have been off work since Feb. and plan on going back in Aug.(I'm a teacher). It is a very demanding job. I don't want to get there and have to take a leave again. I am trying to prepare myself for that. Hopefully this book will give me more ideas as I also go thru the StressCenter.com program. You are a very helpful and positive person and it means a lot to get helpful advice from someone who understands. Thanks once again. I'm not sure if I am just replying to you or to everyone in general. I have ever been on anything like this before. Thanks a Million!