Bill
25-05-09, 04:04
Picture yourself standing in the middle of a wooden planked bridge over a deep ravine. In front of you there is a fog and behind you natives holding spears.
You're afraid to move. You fear falling if you tread on a rotten plank, you can't go back anyway because of the natives and in front you're afraid of what is hidden within the fog so you stay where you are because that's the only place you feel safe.
However, fear surrounds you - below, in front and behind. You feel panicky and dizzy, and you're trembling with palpitations....but you feel safest where you are.
The natives though start moving towards you. They force you to decide your fate. To jump to certain death or to confront the unknown in the fog. You decide on the fog because at least in there it might not be as bad as you fear.
You walk into the fog and it gradually clears to reveal green pastures around a town where the people are friendly.
Your anxiety disappears.
Moral of the story....
You may feel safe where you exist but if "a fear" surrounds you, your place of safety will be your cage where you will suffer continuous anxious symptoms because your mind will constantly be thinking about your fear, even if you're not aware of exactly the thought that you're afraid of. You will though be aware of the anxious symptoms and the more you think about the symptoms, the more fear will control you and prevent you from moving to freedom.
The natives are your past bad experiences, the ravine is the present where your bad past experiences have caused you to fear falling and the fog represents your fear of an uncertain future.
If we can come to terms with our past, don't dwell on our fears in the present and keep moving forward with determination and hope, we will always have a chance of finding some enjoyment in living to help us move on with our lives.:hugs:
You're afraid to move. You fear falling if you tread on a rotten plank, you can't go back anyway because of the natives and in front you're afraid of what is hidden within the fog so you stay where you are because that's the only place you feel safe.
However, fear surrounds you - below, in front and behind. You feel panicky and dizzy, and you're trembling with palpitations....but you feel safest where you are.
The natives though start moving towards you. They force you to decide your fate. To jump to certain death or to confront the unknown in the fog. You decide on the fog because at least in there it might not be as bad as you fear.
You walk into the fog and it gradually clears to reveal green pastures around a town where the people are friendly.
Your anxiety disappears.
Moral of the story....
You may feel safe where you exist but if "a fear" surrounds you, your place of safety will be your cage where you will suffer continuous anxious symptoms because your mind will constantly be thinking about your fear, even if you're not aware of exactly the thought that you're afraid of. You will though be aware of the anxious symptoms and the more you think about the symptoms, the more fear will control you and prevent you from moving to freedom.
The natives are your past bad experiences, the ravine is the present where your bad past experiences have caused you to fear falling and the fog represents your fear of an uncertain future.
If we can come to terms with our past, don't dwell on our fears in the present and keep moving forward with determination and hope, we will always have a chance of finding some enjoyment in living to help us move on with our lives.:hugs: