Dr Claire Weekes

[imported_n/a]

Hi everyone
I'm only very new to this site, and have suffered from anxiety for only 3 months, although it is quite severe at times, one of the things that really gets me down is the constant 'churning' or 'butterflies in my stomach.
I am very surprised that self help by Dr Claire weeke, has not been mentioned, unless I've missed it, she was an incredible person, with amazing insight into panic and anxiety..although her methods wen't for me, I feel sure it could work for someone else. I am presently trying the Linden Methodand am On day 2, so I'll keep you posted.
Kind regards to you all
Hayley x

Hayley x

[jonny]

Hi,

Dr weekes books are great i read the alot and they give so much comfort on those bad days.
She really does have an amazing insight into the condition although i am not sure if she suffered with anxiety or not. What i love best is that her writings seem to answer to my questions just as i seem to think them!!

Jonny

[nomorepanic]

Hi Hayley - welcome to the message forum. I have even put your picture on there now.

Claire weekes does get mentioned but it may be hidden in a post somewhere.

We would be interested to hear how the Linden method goes as a few people have enquired about it.

Enter "linden" in the search item at the top of the screen to read the posts.

Please let us know


Nicola

[theresa]

Even though I've read the Claire Weekes stuff several times, it's often reassuring to have another look at them. I was amazed when I first read them - the only person I'd come across who seemed to know what was going on. I'm even more amazed that many doctors and psychiatrists I've seen have not heard of her. My only criticism is that she doesn't address the problems of depression very well, nor psychological stuff but that's my bias as my problems started when lots of things went wrong at the same time and I felt I needed counselling/therapy to address them. Unfortunately, 5 years down the line and I'm no further forward.

Theresa

[theresa]

I’ve been re-reading Claire Weekes and it’s finally dawned on me that I’ve not got past first base with this anxiety/fear business because I’ve not been able to accept the state I’m in, the sensations and all the thoughts. I can spend all day saying ‘accept’, ‘relax and let go’ etc to myself but it’s just words spinning around in my head with no meaning to them. I don’t think I’ve ever truly accepted it, I hate it so much, I feel like I’m ‘another person’ and I despair SO easily. I find my near-constant thinking more upsetting than the physical stuff as I try desperately to put into practice every advice I’ve read or been given, some of it conflicting – but it’s all words in my head.

I’ m dreading the next couple of weeks. I’m visiting in-laws for a few days and don’t know how I’m going to manage that as I feel very needy with lots of upsetting emotions about being ‘left out’, ‘ignored’ and wanting to cry all the time, the strong memory of how I was last time I was there and knowing that I’m worse than that now, and complicated travel arrangements as they live over 300 miles away . This is closely followed a few days later by having to drive to Sheffield to collect my Mum (early Alzheimer’s, very poor mobility) and bring her back to my home for a few days so that my 82-year old Dad can finalise packing and then move house with her out of the way!

How do you cope with additional stress when your system is already stressed out (and I’m not actually doing anything else stressful – just trying to cope with each day)? I guess I could have said no to helping with my Mum but then I’m consumed with guilt so the only way seems to be the ‘accept willingly’ way. The positive stuff on this site is encouraging and I know I have to come to terms with what's happened to me and start to develpop a new attitude to 'it' - well I suppose it's a new attitude to myself.




Theresa

[u0000998]

Theresa

I know exactly how you feel when you mention that it is not the physical symptoms of anxiety that get you down but the constant thinking and worrying. I cannot stop myself worrying about how I feel - and this is constant. I used to worry about having manic depression etc but now just feel generally uncomfortable with a sense of doom that something awful is going to happen.

I also understand that it feels like too much to have to travel and do things whenyou are feeling this way. Remember - it is not the world or the traveling that is the problem - it is our anxiety that makes us feel this way.

Try not to think - easier said than done I know.

Where abouts are you in the UK - e-mail me if you want.

Joanne

[theresa]

Hi Joanne - I live in North Hertfordshire. You're right, it's not so much the travelling, the shoppping, the cooking etc 'cos if I'm realistic I know I physically CAN do each of these things, it's having to do it whilst I feel this way that's the problem and the painfulness of remembering that I could have managed this with more ease a couple of years ago. However, as Meg frequently points out, looking back at the past isn't helpful. On a more positive note, I've started swimming again (haven't done it for years) and am enjoying it.

Theresa

[Meg]

Dear Theresa,

That acceptance thing is not easy at all. I didn't accept for months..

Eventually I was advised to accept it as we accept that today is Wednesday. This made no sense to me at all for ages and I dismissed it as rubbish, then suddenly one evening I said to myself - It's Tuesday night - bin night and I had a lightbulb moment.

I needed to accept my anxiety exactly as I accepted that today it was Tuesday and thus had to treat it with the same attitude
ie
Tuesday is here so what must I do in order to enjoy the day or...
Anxiety is here so what must I do in order to enjoy the day

so put out bins, visit farm shop is infinately better than missing bin men and missing weekly farm shop delivery

so look after myself comfortably going about the day is preferable to spending masses of energy trying to combat the anxiety wildly and ending up ruining the whole day and being in panic. Nobody wins.

As we know, anxiety should not stop us doing anything day to day - it is only sensations which cannot hurt you - although it certainly can be extremely uncomfortable but it does pass.

The more you fuss around anxiety, the more it grows.

Does that make any sense to anyone at all ?

I don't mind if it doesn't, I'll try to think of another analagy.



Meg

Watch your thoughts, they become your words...
Watch your words, they become your actions... Watch your actions, they become your habits... Watch your habits, they become your character... Watch your character, it becomes your destiny...

[jonny]

quote:Originally posted by Radar

The more you fuss around anxiety, the more it grows.

Does that make any sense to anyone at all ?

I don't mind if it doesn't, I'll try to think of another analagy.

Meg

Hey meg,

i think you will find that each and every one of us fully understands! It is only those that have never suffered that cannot comprehend what those 'stupid' thoughts do to us physically.

I dont know if i have fully 'accepted' or not but i do understand that dwelling on the feelings only brings more pain so i try to get on with life and tolerate what comes my way. Some might say that that is not 'acceptance' but just putting up with it... but hell i feel a whole lot better than i used to do.

Theresa,

i really feel for you because i feel exactly the same way when i have to take long journeys, holidays or other trips. I dread the day coming because i know i am going to be bad and during the days prior to it those feelings of dread seem to build steadily. But you know what? When the day does come i tend to find that those feelings ease just as they built up, which tells me that i am my own worst enemy!

I know it is hard but we all need to stop those negative thoughts spiralling out of control. That is the key. When i have that sudden flash of fear i do not react to it like i used to. I used to think 'oh my god, here it comes again' and it went on from there. Now when i have that sudden flash i think ' ooh that was weird, strange' and carry on with my day.

Jon



I used to be extremely indecisive but now I am not so sure...

[sadie]

Hi Hayley,

I too love Dr Weekes books. They have definetly helped me over the last couple of years when I have been feeling quite stressed. There was a time when I thought i had the acceptance and floating bit conquered but then I dont know what happened... suddenly I felt back to my usual panicky self!!

It definetly is hard work to get a grip of anxiety and panic attacks, particular understanding and accepting the symptoms. I find this so hard but I am plodding on the best I can to get back to 'NORMAL'. Let us know how the Linden Method is going as I could give it a go!

Take care.

sadie