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How to deal with what ifs

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 71

I told her I use this site but didn't really speak about the forum. I agree it helps so much reading others stories and talking to people who experience similar things.

I honestly felt a lot better last night and had a great night and then of course got a panic attack while driving today and thought oh gosh I can't breathe it's going to stop so I googled all the possible medical conditions that have a symptom of difficult breathing and tried to convince myself it isn't possible that I have any of those! I'm feeling okay right now hoping this lasts. How are you feeling?

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 85

Im so glad to hearrrr!!

My psychologist has a similar technique called grounding in which you focus on your feet touching the ground, your hands on the chair, the chair underneath you, etc. But I like your therapists technique because the focus is on a calming object like a tree and not on yourself. Im going to try that!

How are you feeling today after seeing her?

Oh and maybe you should mention that you come on this forum lol. Some may find it as a barrier to recovery. My psychologist barred me but I cant help it. I feel more stronger and confident knowing others are in the same boat. I dont really disclose to my family or friends because I feel that because they often have nothing to say or look at me with sympathy, it makes me more anxious and alone.

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 71

In the beginning I felt more like that! Now it's just the physical feelings and obsession with breathing yay lol.

The therapist was great today though I really liked her so I'll stick with her. She told me to do progress muscle relaxation when my legs are starting to get tight and tingly. She also said to look at something in nature even if I'm at work or home just look out the window and really focus on it and notice everything about it. So for example if I choose a tree focusing on what the branches look like, trunk looks like etc. She said that could help bringing my awareness into something that's calming and can't bring fear.

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 71

In the beginning I felt more like that! Now it's just the physical feelings and obsession with breathing yay lol.

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 85

Only arms and fingers.

But not everyone will experience everything. Like for me my dominant discomfort is feeling disoriented and feelings of unreality. Do you experience them?

Mine isnt fun either. I would so trade lol.

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 71

Have you ever experienced the numbness/tightness and tingling sensations in your thighs and arms? Its not a fun feeling!

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 71

Yeah I'm hoping the yoga anxiety goes away cause I really enjoyed it and I can see it helping eventually. Yep! Exactly it feels like something just takes over and you lose control. Its not fun. I used to breathe in through nose and out through mouth and that was the worst. Now I just breathe in and out of my nose when I am panicking. Sometimes it helps. If only I could stop focusing on my breathing and not think about it anymore lol. Then my anxiety levels would reduce SIGNIFICANTLY! I feel like my biggest and almost only issue now is that I can't stop focusing on it and I trigger my own attacks that way. One day we will get through this I promise :).

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 85

Everyone is telling me to do yoga. Funny it triggers anxiety for me too. Its like i have to be focused on anxiety to keep it in check or it will harm me. That probably applies to you. Same here. When Im calm I feel like I can do anything and when I experience panic, im curled up into a ball completely at its mercy lol. Actually my psychologist says its called amydala hijack. Apparantly if your emotional (anxiety) brain signals danger but your rational brain signals safe and they are both exactly the same intensity the brain listens to the emotional brain because the consequences could be potentially fatal (your body thinks there is a tiger - doesnt know it is imagined). So your amydala is hijacked by your emotional brain. Thats why we cant think, were restless and scared. Theres a terrorist in our brain called emotions and it's hijacking the plane of logic lol. Anywhooo. When I panic, I feel like I dont get enough air also. So thats definitely normal symptoms of anxiety. What stops it is breathing through your nose. Do NOT mouth breath because it will continue to throw off the c02 levels. That should stabilize the levels. Try it and let me know if it helps

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 71

Tell me how it is when you finish it! Ugh I agree!! When I am not panicking I can easily tell myself all these wonderful things like not to think of these thoughts and how I am perfectly fine and bla bla bla lol but then once I am in panic mode its like I completely lose hope. I noticed the other day that the past week and a bit my panic attacks mainly happen when I am driving alone. I wonder if it is because when I am driving alone I am so focused on my breathing and its harder to distract myself. Yesterday while driving my thighs and arm got sooo numb and tight and tingly that it triggered a panic attack and I felt I couldn't breathe. I kept reminding myself though that clearly I am breathing or I couldn't possible be driving. Thanks I will definitely let you know how the apt goes. I hope well. I also started yoga last night and it was helpful. At first it brought on some anxiety because the instructor was asking us to breathe in and out on certain poses and I felt I wasn't breathing in "enough".

7 years ago 0 +0 / -0 85

Same here.

It's like I know what this is, I know it's my flight/fight/freeze response but still I keep falling in the same trap. You would think that the body would habituate or get worn out but it doesnt. Sighhhhh*

I got such an amazing book that im reading

that applies to anxiety. It's called the Power of Now. Essentially Tolle purports that by living in the present moment, ends your pain and suffering because pain and suffering needs time to exist. For instance, for me, im like what if I panic again like the first time? My mind is focused on the past and future instead of living in the now.

Also he says not to identify with your thoughts. You are the conscious observer of those thoughts. Thoughts are not you. By saying I am anxious you have now identified with those thoughts and made it a part of your identity.

Anyway im only at pg 60. Still have a long way to go. It's funny when im clam, I can implement what he says but when I panic, im deaf, mute and blind to reason lol.

Let me know how it goes tomorrow. Crossing my fingers for you.

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How to deal with what ifs