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14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

Pledge for the week

Well, I got up this morning and didn't eat anything, so that I could go and get my blood tests (I had to fast for 10 hrs). I tried to get there at a time that it wouldn't be too busy (I didn't want to wait forever and it has a small waiting area, with weird lighting, so with a lot of people crammed in there, it can be a trigger - not really needing an extra trigger, as the needle is enough! Haha).

But, sure enough when I got there, it was packed. There were some people even standing to wait. I did find a seat in a corner and as I took it all in, I started to feel the panic want to creep in. It was annoying because I was actually looking for it. I was feeling pretty positive when I headed to the clinic, despite being draggy from not eating. So, when I keep checking how I was feeling on purpose, I started up the panic! I actually contemplated convincing myself that "it's too busy here, I'll come back next week sometime."

Instead, I reminded myself that the lights were weird, I was light-headed from not eating for almost 12 hours, I was apprehensive about the needle. Most importantly, I am NOT going to leave and I am going to ride it out. I tried to make a point of smiling at some of the other people waiting. When they smile back, it helps me realize that they are not scary and judgemental. They are nice.

Well, I did get the blood test (they let me lie down and in fact she joked around with me about it). It really was nothing, a total breeze and even though I felt fine when I left, I made myself stop for my reward (a hamburger!)

The key points that I'll take from this:

(1) tackling the panic, rather than escaping is not easy at first, but it's necessary

(2) don't go out of your way to wonder if you'll have an attack or not!

(3) challenge those thoughts. Again, it seems really hard at first, but gets sooooo much easier over time and it seems to almost become second-nature after a while.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

New to CBT

That IS the sweetest dog ever! She is a cutie!

It's nice that you have such great support from your husband. It makes such a difference. I am lucky with that too, as my husband is always very patient with me, yet he also encourages me to try hard to face the panic. When I want to back down from something, he gives me that mental push that I need.

But, yeah...it is very important to be able to talk to people who can truly understand what it's like to have anxiety. My husband, for all of his support, admits that he can't relate to how I feel. Trying to explain to someone that it's different from "just being nervous" is hard if they have never felt how debilitating a panic attack can be. Luckily, I also have two best friends, both who have anxiety, too! We all have different triggers, but when one of us is having an attack, we just say we are and the other person helps.

The people on here "get it" and can relate. It's so helpful to build off of each other's techniques and attitudes.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

Feeling negative.

I'm glad that you are already looking forward to a "better day tomorrow".

Please please remember that no one is perfect and we all do things that we either regret or feel embarrassed about. Anyone that you think you bugged has done the same thing in front of other people, so you are not out-of-the-ordinary. I'm sure your family understands. And if not, I'll bet everyone on here understands!!

As for the family friend - it's sad that she has to tell others how to live their lives through lectures and criticism. I've always believed that it's those kind of people who have the problem, not the people they're criticizing. I don't understand how people can think they're being helpful in that manner.

Good luck with the situation if she does visit and if you can, try and take what she says as empty advice. Just because she says certain things doesn't mean that they're true.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

Pledge for the week

I admire your attitude, Davit. I think that finding a way to laugh when in a difficult situation is a good idea.

I also totally agree that when you have a success, it carries over into other situations. I think I had felt pretty positive about going in the first place because I was telling myself: "Hey, I was on a plane for almost 3 hours and handled it well. I think I can handle a short trip to the clinic! It'll seem like nothing in comparison!"

Good luck with your appointment on the 6th. Look at it this way: You might meet some new, fun people at that hospital!

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

Hard to say what´s normal and what´s not now

Vent away!

That is indeed a really ugly turn of events. I am so glad that things are positive with your husband in this situation. That is indeed a good thing to focus on.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

Topic:Consequences of Stress

I've always found it interesting how cyclical it all is. I get stressed, it makes me tired, I cope less when I'm tired, I get stressed because of it, etc.

Breaking that cycle is so important. I know that when I feel more able to cope with anxiety, I feel better overall. And that helps me cope further.

So, as you said, shadowkins, it's about using the relaxation to help yourself break the stress.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

Pledge for the week

Wow, Davit! That is an incredible step! I can see where you'd be stressed, but you can work through it - you know you can do it! That is awesome that you two are compatible and that can indeed be the positive factor in this!

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

New to CBT

Yeah, I have to admit that I am lucky that my friends understand first hand what I feel sometimes. It's funny, but we all didn't really share our feelings for years, even though we are so close. Now that we broke the ice with it, it's easy to go "no, I don't want to go to a movie tonight because I think I might have a hard time with it".

But, remember that there are TONS of people here who totally get what you're going through. I know that having anxiety can make you feel alone in the fight, but you're not alone. In fact, it's amazing how many people actually suffer from anxiety and keep it to themselves. I found out recently that two of my co-workers have anxiety struggles, too! I think that we never want to share our struggles with others because it makes us feel vulnerable, but when you do share it, it's interesting to see that there are those that CAN relate! And those that can't relate will at least sympathize and try to understand.

So, that said, make sure you spend some time venting on here! We'll listen and if you wish, we'll give you that mental push to "face" that pesky, good-for-nothing panic. And as far as that goes, I found that taking those baby steps are so helpful. Finding a situation that gives you a some anxiety (not lots, but makes you 'uncomfortable') is a good place to practice. Jump into the situation with a positive attitude and if the anxious feelings arise, breathe, relax as much as you can, distract yourself, challenge those thoughts, etc. When you leave the situation, reflect on it. What was easy? What worked? What can you take away from it that you can use next time?

Also, I find that sometimes doing exposure training for the same situation over and over every day helps. For example, there are certain intersections that I couldn't drive through. But, on days that I felt really upbeat and positive, I decided to give one of them a go. It wasn't that bad and I found that soon I could try it again. With one intersection, I ended up driving it every morning and each time I felt less and less anxious and so I focused on that and now I go that way without even thinking about it sometimes.

When we take certain situations and prove to ourselves that nothing bad will really happen, we eventually start to believe that! Then, we can transfer those accomplishments to other areas!

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm new

Welcome!

Yes you CAN beat that anxiety! Take those little steps and soon you will be feeling more and more confident. It takes a bit of time, so be patient with yourself and remember that with each successful moment, no matter how small it may seem at the time, you will be moving forward.

Just coming here and posting means that you are already working on it! Hey, that counts as a success! :-)

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

You can do it! I have proof!

YIPPEE!! If you pass that road again, I'll bet it will soon be a 40, then a 30 and one day, it will be a big, fat 0!! :-)

WOW! Three exposures in one day. Yes, indeed, you are on a roll! That's incredible. Keep up the great job!

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