I am sorry to hear how anxious you feel. If you are not quite ready for exposure that is ok. If you feel you need the extra support you might chose to do exposure work with a therapist. Taking it on alone when you don't feel ready might not be the best goal for you.
Let's talk about it for a bit though. What would your exposure plan be? What would be your first step?
There are a few things that make exposure easier and one is the ten questions. It works by keeping you on track and away from fear thoughts. It also helps you build positives by showing that the negative thoughts are not realistic.
Still it is best to work on the program till you are satisfied you can do exposure. Relaxation techniques will help you think clear as will coping skills. The object is to get better. How long it takes doesn't matter. Anyone who has won will tell you that.
Thank you so much for your reply Davit. I read in a past thread that some people come back and repeat this program again and again. I might need to just work with the information I have gained thus far and come back to review and complete the program when I feel I can do the exposure section. Thanks again.
There is a difference between anxiety and panic attacks. Panic attacks have similar symptoms with one exception. During anxiety you can still function mentally even though you are scared. You can make logical decisions based on that fear. During a panic arrack you can not. During a real bad one you can not think straight enough to reason with yourself. The other thing is that there appears to be no reason you can get ahold of for the panic. There is fear but for no obvious reason. You might think you are dying and even feel like it but there is no reason to feel this way other than that you do. Anxiety is based on something real, panic is based on something imagined triggered by something real.
Anxiety can turn into panic. A panic attack can leave you anxious for the rest of the day or longer.
Because imagination is a part of memory and memory can be modified, panic attacks can be cured. So can anxiety.
Exposure is tricky in that it is more test than cure in that it lets you know if you can handle anxious situations. Up to the point that you can it is reinforcement, past that point it is negative. Go slow and work up. Don't be surprised if you can't do much exposure at first.
Hello all! I registered a few weeks back and have been reading, doing homework, and trying to keep up with diary entries. Now I've come to a screeching halt at the section involving exposure work. I might not follow through because of a real flow of emotions now. I'm not even sure if I'm in the right place. About 8 years ago I went to a therapist when life got really overwhelming and he clearly said, "you don't have panic attacks you have anxiety". That's interesting because I feel that I have had them over the span of several years. Like a slow build up. Now I believe they are commonplace and interfere with normal function. Sometimes I can anticipate one will happen and sometimes it just catches me offguard.
I didn't want to write so negatively on an intro post but I really am frustrated and I just don't know how I would do exposure work. Especially when I feel bad and it's like I have a boa constrictor around my chest. I am not able to maintain longterm friendships because I try to keep all of this turmoil under wraps. On a positive note though, I learned through this program that I will not pass out. That has always been a real concern that I can happily scratch off my worry list!
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