W.I.F.T.S.
05-06-06, 11:26
I'm reading a book at the moment called something like 'The Cure for anxiety: an 8 step programme'. It is quite interesting and mentions Claire Weekes quite a lot.
I've only just started reading it, but I've learned already that I don't have Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as I previously thought, but Agorophobia/Panic Disorder. I am able to leave the house, but I hate going far and I need people around me that I trust quite a lot. The problem that I have with it is that I don't even feel especially safe when I'm at home.
The book says that the way to beat fear is to act like a normal person, don't avoid things and to go towards the fear rather than run away from it. I know that this is true because I've felt so elated and free when I've gone towards things that scare me and sailed through them easily. It's just so frustrating for me that I can do that and then the next time it's like I'd never done it at all. I guess the point is to just keep going for it. Things are very rarely as bad as you think that they are going to be.
I think the symptoms are much worse than the thing that causes them. I get worked up about driving or whatever and the sweating palms, shallow breath, racing heart and feeling of nausea is horrendous, but the actual driving itself isn't really too bad.
Most of the time by body is really tense and achy. I'm learning (very slowly) to make time to proactively relax with candles, music, swimming, sauna, jacuzzi and it's making a difference already. It is difficult because you start to relax and it feels so alien to you and you worry about letting your guard down and it causes you to be anxious again, but i think that you just have to perservere.
It also says that people with anxiety disorder actually cope really well in a crisis because they are the only people that are always ready for it!!
Another important thing is to accept how things are and to go with the flow. That doesn't necessarily mean to be passive, but to not be so resistant to things. To look for the positive spin, to let go of needing to be in control.
I'll keep you up to date with how I get on with the book.
Ships in harbour are safe..but that's not what ships were built for.
I've only just started reading it, but I've learned already that I don't have Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as I previously thought, but Agorophobia/Panic Disorder. I am able to leave the house, but I hate going far and I need people around me that I trust quite a lot. The problem that I have with it is that I don't even feel especially safe when I'm at home.
The book says that the way to beat fear is to act like a normal person, don't avoid things and to go towards the fear rather than run away from it. I know that this is true because I've felt so elated and free when I've gone towards things that scare me and sailed through them easily. It's just so frustrating for me that I can do that and then the next time it's like I'd never done it at all. I guess the point is to just keep going for it. Things are very rarely as bad as you think that they are going to be.
I think the symptoms are much worse than the thing that causes them. I get worked up about driving or whatever and the sweating palms, shallow breath, racing heart and feeling of nausea is horrendous, but the actual driving itself isn't really too bad.
Most of the time by body is really tense and achy. I'm learning (very slowly) to make time to proactively relax with candles, music, swimming, sauna, jacuzzi and it's making a difference already. It is difficult because you start to relax and it feels so alien to you and you worry about letting your guard down and it causes you to be anxious again, but i think that you just have to perservere.
It also says that people with anxiety disorder actually cope really well in a crisis because they are the only people that are always ready for it!!
Another important thing is to accept how things are and to go with the flow. That doesn't necessarily mean to be passive, but to not be so resistant to things. To look for the positive spin, to let go of needing to be in control.
I'll keep you up to date with how I get on with the book.
Ships in harbour are safe..but that's not what ships were built for.