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8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11215

Great work!

I am glad to hear you are finding what works for you.

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 7

Hi Ashley,

My sessions are going quite well! This is actually the third therapist Ive seen in the last 10yrs and I think I found a gem this time, Im really comftorable with her. I feel Im making steady progress this time around. With each session it's like a layer is coming off, which is pretty cool!

Affirmations seem to be working for me. At first I couldnt believe such a simple thing could make a big difference, but wow, it sure does! Also challenging my fearful/negative thoughts is another tool Im getting results from.

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11215

Sorry about that Jlee5,

I hope I didn't make you worry. Health Eductors only check in once in awhile and we don't have the resources to reply to every individual post but we try to make appearances in every discussion. Don't worry, I was not scared of about the mention of paranoia. I think you are right, from what I have heard about you, I do not think paranoia is an issue for you but I think it's great you fully looked into it and considered it. I am interested if other members have ever experienced paranoia and what their thoughts are?

How are the therapy sessions going Jlee5?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

8 years ago 0 +0 / -0 7

Huh, I've waited over a week for a reply, sorry if I scared you off with the question on paranoia. I've read up on the subject and, No, I don't fit the profile. I'm guessing it's a subject that's not discussed here? Which is odd since anxiety is a symptom of paranoia. Just asking.

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 7

It is diffenitely something I'd like to work on. I've faced it about 3x, so far. It was difficult but I got through. I plan to write down some challenging statements the next time I plan to face it.

I had my therapy session today. I told her what I was going through this morning and she asked if I was paranoid. That kinda stumped me as I never imagined myself as paranoid. So I want home and read the definition of paranoia. And yes there are times that I'm suspicious of others and mistrustful, ands In retrospect there have been times I've been overly suspicious of my mate.

I may be wrong here but I thought all newly weds had problems of suspicion.?! I'm 25 yrs married now and still have boughts of suspicion yet not to the point where it is disruptive to our marriage.

Is this a possibility worth exploring?

How would the treatment differ?

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11215

Hi Jlee

Thank you for sharing. First of all, many people struggle with anxiety and that in no way makes you inferior. I think it makes you braver then the average person actually because you have to face fear much more regularly.

It sounds like it would be helpful for you to work on those negative thoughts and accepting the anxiety for what it is. Remember, panic only lasts on average about 20 minutes. It always passes. Losing fear of the fear is a key component to exposure. It also sounds like the construction by your house would be a good opportunity for exposure. Is that something you think you might want to work on?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 7

As far as my thoughts go, that's a hard one because the physical symptoms are so prominent and the fear of fear is what I experience. Thoughts like "How am I gonna get out of here?" Why do I feel this way, when everyone else is fine?""what if I make a fool of myself".

And when it's over the worthless feelings set in. Feeling inferior and lesser than others.

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 7

Hi Ashley,

I am a stay at home mom, and I run a small business from home. So normally I choose to avoid situations that would cause a panic attack. Recently there has been road construction going on near by, which is on the way to a gym a go to. I've only gone through about 3x in the last month. The other times I waited till evening to go to gym when construction stops. Its a one lane so the waiting is what causes me to panic. I know that eventually I'll move, it's not having control of not moving that moves me to panic. That Im trapped feeling. I sometimes get that at traffic lights too.

I'll try to do as you suggested next time Im in a situation. So far from what I can remember, the first physical reaction is the stomach churn followed by heart pounding. I start feeling that fight and flight feeling in my arms and legs. Whats strange is I feel the need to take off my shoes, although Ive never done it. Sometimes the thought of my throat closing comes in to play. I start scanning if I have enough room to turn around and head the other direction. I may look normal to a passerby but in my head Im totally out of control. Sometimes I wonder if I just expressed that fear out loud and had a chance to move around instead of bottling it all up to look like Im in control, maybe that would let off some fear.

That I believe is part of the whole anxiety. Everyone that knows I struggle with this has told me, " how can that be, you look so calm and collected." Ive been the type to hide my feelings with a smile, its automatic. Im the nice person that never says "no".

I also need to work on being assertive. It's a struggle for me to ask for what I need/want.

Jlee

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11215

Hi Jlee5,

That's great that you have insight into where your anxiety is rooted from. I often find anxiety was once an adaptive tool in an individuals life. For example, your anxiety around your father may have served you when you were younger. Now your anxiety is no longer serving you. Working the program there are a lot of tools that can help you challenge those thoughts. It sounds like you have done theraputic work before so I will off a new suggestion you could try that may help...mindfulness and acceptance alongside exposure work. Next time you are in a situation where you feel you need control and the anxiety starts rising, just watch the anxiety, where do you feel it in your body? What thoughts are coming up that are fueling the anxiety? Are the sensations moving around your body or are they staying in one place? Don't try to change these thoughts and feelings initially just watch them as an experiment. Write these thoughts and feelings down in your thought tracker and report back. Try to accept that anxiety and feelings for what they are and for where they came from. This is a BIG experiment to try but there is evidence that acceptance and mindfullness can be very helpful in learning to overcome anxiety.

What do you think?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

9 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

Hi Jlee.

I'm not here much anymore, I've changed sites to NMP out of the UK. where I can do private messages, but I do check in. The program here is very good just that I don't need it and can do more good on the other site.

You have Agoraphobia, a fear of not having control of the situation. Mostly it manifests itself as a fear of the outdoors but also and often together with Claustrophobia. It is curable with either exposure therapy, which I disapprove of or cognitive restructuring which I know works.

Davit

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