Hopefully someone can help with this. I may be working ahead as I just started this program. Since I identified my anxiety a long time ago and the introduction book said it was ok, I jumped to Session 2 today. I won't jump ahead again as I understand this was a one time deal. Anyway, I heard the six steps and understand all of them, however the 5th step say to "Distract" yourself. Well, two of my biggest anxious scenarios are freeway driving and the dentist chair. How do I distract myself while driving when my biggest fear is losing control of my car? The radio only helps a little. And the dentist? How do I distract myself then when I am almost "strapped" to that chair?
I can see keeping busy working for other situations, but for these I am at a loss. Is this dealt with later and the program?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Chuck
P.S. I have a dentist appointment in a couple of weeks....and yes I have to drive on the freeway to get there!!! I am actually laughing to myself after typing that.
5th step in stopping a Panic Attack
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Guest
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Jamika,
I hope you have a headset
As for you Chuck, those are two tough things to have anxiety over. What's even worse you have to experience both at the same time.
For me driving seems to be a relief. I get behind the wheel, no one can see me, etc, but, sometimes I wonder if it is the right thing to do when I am anxious (a la Tony Soporano during Season 1 or 2 and he passes out).
I have never been that close or that bad, but there is the what if factor.
I try and turn the radio up, find a favorite song and move forward!
Good luck Chuck, I hope you can find a mechanism to beat this thing!
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I hope you have a headset
As for you Chuck, those are two tough things to have anxiety over. What's even worse you have to experience both at the same time.
For me driving seems to be a relief. I get behind the wheel, no one can see me, etc, but, sometimes I wonder if it is the right thing to do when I am anxious (a la Tony Soporano during Season 1 or 2 and he passes out).
I have never been that close or that bad, but there is the what if factor.
I try and turn the radio up, find a favorite song and move forward!
Good luck Chuck, I hope you can find a mechanism to beat this thing!
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Guest
Definitely, highway driving (and traffic) and the dentist are trouble!
I deal with highway driving by playing Disco music in the CD or on my Ipod. Now not everyone likes disco, but I love to dance and it makes me really think of dancing and makes me want to dance! I sing and party by myself!
As for the dentist, I told the dentist that I was really scared and had a lot of anxiety about seeing him because of childhood memories of NO FREEZING. We talked about it, and he said the best thing to do is to obviously not have cavities so he gave me lots of tips to help me look after my teeth. He also asks me several times if I feel OK, and if he thinks I don't he stops and just chats with me until I relax again. My body is like a board in that dentist's chair - I am so tense. I tell myself over and over to RELAX! I think the best thing is I say to myself - "My appointment is one hour, so in one hour it will be all over!" It will just be a memory, so suck it up, and do it!
Try these ideas and see if they help you. Good luck, I'm rooting for you!
Jackie
I deal with highway driving by playing Disco music in the CD or on my Ipod. Now not everyone likes disco, but I love to dance and it makes me really think of dancing and makes me want to dance! I sing and party by myself!
As for the dentist, I told the dentist that I was really scared and had a lot of anxiety about seeing him because of childhood memories of NO FREEZING. We talked about it, and he said the best thing to do is to obviously not have cavities so he gave me lots of tips to help me look after my teeth. He also asks me several times if I feel OK, and if he thinks I don't he stops and just chats with me until I relax again. My body is like a board in that dentist's chair - I am so tense. I tell myself over and over to RELAX! I think the best thing is I say to myself - "My appointment is one hour, so in one hour it will be all over!" It will just be a memory, so suck it up, and do it!
Try these ideas and see if they help you. Good luck, I'm rooting for you!
Jackie
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spedteacher
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:50 pm
You people rock!!Thanks for all the tips. I don't know about Disco music, but I could mentally put myself at a Led Zeppelin concert and I will talk to my dentist. Thanks again.
Tony
Tony
"Forget regret or life is yours to miss. No other road, no other way, no day but today!"~Jonathan Larson
www.myspace.com/erinberens
www.myspace.com/erinberens
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Tony -
Luckily I am pretty at ease on the freeway, but I can get really frustrated and upset in traffic. So one thing that REALLY helps me is listening to audiobooks. I get invovled and wrapped up in the story and so I don't mind the traffic so much. You can get just about any book you can think of on audio in a CD or cassette. You can borrow them from the library, buy them new and used on EBay for cheap, and also find good deals through amazon.com . Both my husband and I loved listening to the Harry Potter books on audio. We also liked to two Eragon books. My husband listens to all the Clive Cussler books and other similar authors too. I am currently listening to the entire Narnia series. You will find yourself looking forward to driving so you can listen to your book! You can also take your book with you and listen whil eat the dentist.
Hope that helps!
Luckily I am pretty at ease on the freeway, but I can get really frustrated and upset in traffic. So one thing that REALLY helps me is listening to audiobooks. I get invovled and wrapped up in the story and so I don't mind the traffic so much. You can get just about any book you can think of on audio in a CD or cassette. You can borrow them from the library, buy them new and used on EBay for cheap, and also find good deals through amazon.com . Both my husband and I loved listening to the Harry Potter books on audio. We also liked to two Eragon books. My husband listens to all the Clive Cussler books and other similar authors too. I am currently listening to the entire Narnia series. You will find yourself looking forward to driving so you can listen to your book! You can also take your book with you and listen whil eat the dentist.
Hope that helps!
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Guest
The dentist is one of my biggest challenges. I have told my dentist very frankly about my fears, and he could not have been more understanding. Then, I noticed that of the two treatment rooms which he uses, I definitely feel more nervous in one of them. This is because one room is totally enclosed, while the other room has a large window which overlooks a busy street. I feel much more at ease in the latter, because I can look out and "see the world," and it helps to distract me. I don't feel so hemmed-in.
Again Thanks. Some great ideas. I just ordered a headset for my cel and I am going shopping for audio books tomorrow. I am so glad I now have not only Lucinda's program but all of you as a great source of information and support.
Just asking these questions and "talking" about this problem we have is such a weight off my back.
Thanks again.
Tony / Chuck / whatever
Just asking these questions and "talking" about this problem we have is such a weight off my back.
Thanks again.
Tony / Chuck / whatever
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Guest
hey chuckie,
i can relate. about a week and a half ago i had to have minor surgery to remove some skin cancer. i don't go to the doctor that often and was full of anxiety. the night before i listened to the relaxation tape and during it i imagined i was in the doctors office. i kept imagining everything was going well, and i was doing fine through the whole process. on the day of the surgery i started to feel a panic attack coming on. i told myself i was fine ,it was just anxiety and kept reassuring myself. i refused to let the anxiety interfere. i did pretty good,and was feeling pretty good about myself when i left the doctor's office. you will be fine. don't let the anxiety rule your life! hope this helps. take care . tom
i can relate. about a week and a half ago i had to have minor surgery to remove some skin cancer. i don't go to the doctor that often and was full of anxiety. the night before i listened to the relaxation tape and during it i imagined i was in the doctors office. i kept imagining everything was going well, and i was doing fine through the whole process. on the day of the surgery i started to feel a panic attack coming on. i told myself i was fine ,it was just anxiety and kept reassuring myself. i refused to let the anxiety interfere. i did pretty good,and was feeling pretty good about myself when i left the doctor's office. you will be fine. don't let the anxiety rule your life! hope this helps. take care . tom
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Success!!! I actually drove on the freeway today for about a 1/2 hr each way with no panicky feelings for the 1st time in months. I felt some anxiety as I was waiting to get on the on ramp(anticipation is another doosey for me) but I remembered the steps and it hardly amounted to anything. I was so elated from this that on my way home I almost forgot about anxiety. I know I have a lot of work left as I only started the program, but this feels like a big step in the right direction. I didn't have any audio books yet, but "car talk" distracted my thoughts for a while.