Newcastle meet up

[vicky23]

Dan, of course anyone is welcome to join us.
I've noticed a few more people posting in the support group in Newcastle thread so how about if I just throw out a date to meet : sat 25th sept who would want to come?
just trying to get an idea of whether another meet would be wanted and or possible for people
thanks

[_Psychocandy_]

Hi everyone, sorry it's been a while since I've been on here, pretty busy at the moment! Vicky, the 25th would be great for me actually as its the only saturday I'm not busy i think!
It would be great to meet all the new people too!
Did you have any thoughts as to where we should meet this time? I think a back up plan is a good idea this time though if we're planning on doing anything outdoors! hehe
Be fab to see you all again!

[vicky23]

yess definitley saying as it's officially autumn on 22nd Sept, outside in Autumn in England isn't good lol
hadn't thought about where to go, we can have a think or maybe someone else will suggest somewhere
There's lots of people from the north east here! I think so far there's been 4 new people interested in a support group
x

[radougalkins]

just gonna throw myself in here even though i kinda feel uneasy! saw a newcastle thread and thought 'hey, thats kinda near me xD'

been in middlesbrough last 2 years (uni), now back home until i'm back in middlesbrough again next year (uni).. so i'm in the berwick area if folk know where i mean. lol. kinda halfway between edinburgh and newcastle. though i figure if i follow through it'd be easier for newcastle. that way i can continue to know you guys if you'll have me. ok, i'll just shut up now. sorry for the ramble!

basically... hello! i'm fairly new to the forum and... would be pretty nice to get to know friendly faces around here from a similiar area some day

[Emphyrio]

Aw...would try and come if I wasn't going to be Yorkshire bound. I'll still be up in the NE occasionally though. I'm getting kind of nervous about the move down there.

Radougalkins - I know Berwick well - half my family come from there and I used to live in Newfields. I sometimes go to the occasional Berwick Rangers game from time to time!

[Pope]

Sorry for late reply, it's been one of those weeks. I'm between the Arena and Whitley Bay Ice Rink on the 25th for ice hockey, but sure I could get out for a couple of hours to a meet up. As long as I'm at Whitley for 6 I'm fine

Radougalkins - I spent a good afternoon in Cafe Nero in Berwick a couple of weeks ago. Ages since I got the chance to have a proper look round there, but used to visit regularly. Nice train journey too, very scenic from Newcastle

[phraggletastic]

Hi everyone,
I wrote the post below a couple of weeks ago but never got round to posting it. Anyhow, I've been good since so here it is whilst I think on. Just offers an explanation of why I haven't been around to reply etc. Thanks again and good luck everyone.



I won't be able to make the next meeting - sorry. I know I only came to one meeting so I don't want to go over the top here or anything. You all seemed like really lovely, brave, kind people and I really enjoyed spending that Saturday afternoon with you all. At the time, with the way I was feeling, it was re-assuring to share similar experiences for us anxiety sufferers, talking about what we experience and how we feel etc. Please do not think that I am not meeting up because of anything other than what I am about to put forward as my reason.

A little about what's been going on physiologically first…

• I've had extreme panic attacks to the point where I thought I was going to die. EXTREME! So many of these to count now that I couldn't even come up with an answer. Definitely 100s though.
• Dizzy most of the time - sometimes spiny or unsteady
• Not being able to breath properly
• Pains in my chest
• Tingling in my arms and fingers
• Unable to focus or feeling like I have some sort of visual vertigo
• Feeling off balance
• Weak and shaky
• Unable to swallow at times
• Felt so down about these sensations - really awful
• Panicking in my sleep whilst dreaming and waking up thinking that's it - I'm going to die!
• OCD

The list goes on… I've experienced so many sensations and symptoms over these past 13 years. Some constant, some intermittently. I've seen Neurologists, Doctors, an ENT Consultant, and a Psychologist. I've admitted myself to casualty before convinced I was dying of a heart attack or something and been hooked up to ECG machines, had MRI as well as countless other physical tests, eye and ear exams. None of them have been able to find any medical reasons as to why I've felt the way I have. I have to realise that anxiety has made me feel this way. It is a very powerful and negative emotion that can have a severe impact on how we feel. If I had something seriously wrong with my health it would have killed me after 13 years I'm sure! Even if not I do not care anymore!
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________


THE ABOVE LINE IS INTENTIONAL AND SYMBOLIC!

I'm trying to do everything I can to 'forget' that I even have an anxiety condition. That might sound weird but I am confident it can work. It has sort of worked for me in the past but I didn't have a big enough hobby(s) for me to concentrate on and I didn't cope well with a short period of illness - stupidly convincing myself that I had something terminal. This led me spiralling back into my old anxious ways. Anyway, I'm feeling very optimistic about this and I am absolutely determined to rid myself of my old anxious ways and habits. I know where I went wrong the last time - I won't be surfing the Internet anymore trying to diagnose myself. That is the true pathway to destruction!!!

Anyway, moving on. Here is what I am doing to help free myself of these feelings:

• Controlling the anxiety attacks if they happen in the meantime with either a paper bag, or breathing out for double the length of counts I breathe in. The second one being less conspicuous of course! This helps me.
• Taking things slowly, not rushing my work or anything. Acting like a different person
• Ignoring the bodily sensations and symptoms when they occur. Doing something else to distract me
• Stopped talking about anxiety with my own inner monologue and with others
• Stopped going to the Doctors or other specialists about my anxiety
• Stopped researching my condition or other health ailments (very important for me)
• Stopped seeking re-assurance that I'm normal and experience normal sensations. I'd ask friends/online buddies is this normal, is that normal, etc, etc
• Stopped living my life around my anxiety. Acceptance that I will feel the sensations and just ignore them - they will disappear!
• Two cool new hobbies. Kite flying and photography. Kite flying is great and not that difficult to master. I cannot wait to get back out and fly it again
• Letting the past be the past
• Putting structure into my life and setting goals - I plan to be flying to Belfast next February for a mates stag do for instance!
• Wanting to be better so I can have a better life, and those around me can too
• Exercise on my bike and the gym
• Stop analysing myself in the mirror. How I look and feel etc
• Being conscious of how I sit/stand/carry myself. Not all hunched up and defensive like I used to
• Breathing from my belly/diaphragm. Belly out when breathing in, belly in when breathing out - but relaxed!
• Massage when possible either 'professionally' but cheaply from a local hair/beauty college or from my wife.
• Meditation or relaxation sound tracks on my iPod when possible

So, these are the things I am trying to do. If I can behave differently to how I have been behaving then I can overwrite my old anxious habits
and replace them with normal thoughts and normal habits. I'm 100% convinced now that all I have is this bad anxious habit. We can all overcome bad habits if we work hard enough. Why should the habit of anxiety be any different?

That's about as much as I want to say for now. I'm going to get on with my recovery and hope that you all can recover too. I've done this before and feel confident that I can do it again with bravery, patience, time and perseverance.

Good luck to you all in your quest to be anxiety free! Much love.

Phraggletastic

[vicky23]

thank you for giving us an update it's good to hear from you and I really hope you find the relief you seek we all know it's a long and hard journey but recovery is possible. There's a guy called Paul David who has a website called 'anxiety no more' I skimmed his blog last night and it's pretty much what you're saying about ignoring the anxiety and becoming more aware of what's going outside of ourselves.
I think we're still continuing with the meet ups as a social group (at least I hope so haha), I'd like that I enjoy your guys company so if you'd like to join us for one, you know where we are.... on here lol actually most of us are on facebook so you don't have to go through the temptation of looking through anxiety posts.
soo on that note, I really want to see the new Will Farrell movie (I mean film I'm not American) does anyone fancy seeing it with me?

[_Psychocandy_]

Yeah Vicky that sounds great I'd be up for seeing it if anyone else fancies it!!? Sorry I've not been on here recently...its all good though, lifes good at the moment. Can totally relate to phraggle wanting to 'ignore' anxiety stuff....I think everyone has their own particular way in which is best to help themselves. My 'disorders' are a part of who I am and I've gradually learned to control/overcome them. It took a long, long time but i'm finally getting there I think....

So get in touch anyone who wishes to join Vicky and I at the cinema!

[t0rt01se36]

Hi all. Hope you have a good meet up