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14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

Cleo

Because you have had a week with hardly any anxiety you are wondering where it is. This thought is hardest to block at night when you are asleep and your mind replays random thoughts. You said it yourself at the end of your post. You realize that the dreams though unrealistic are very real. (mine are claustrophobic and not something I would ever do). Ok you know in one part of your mind this is true but what about the other parts of your mind. Did it help to vent here, it should have because writing it reinforces thinking it. If you want to see how well this works, write something that disturbs you and see how quick you start to panic. Now no one wants to get out of a warm bed to write something down, especially if you have to sit shivering while a computer warms up. But you don't have too. You can air write while laying or sitting there. Use your index finger and write in the air just like it was a black board. If you won't won't disturb anyone say it out loud like a teacher would. Teachers don't write and talk for nothing, one reinforces the other.

You have to say,"I've had a relapse, now lets see how long I can go till the next one." Everyone goes through some form of this when they start out. You have an advantage over some, you have us to tell you it is Ok. It won't happen forever, but it will sneak in during times of stress or fatigue. You don't have to go very far back in the posts to see who was the last person this happened to. Maybe she will tell you about it.

Davit.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 420

Hi cleo,

Don't worry about what thread you post under, just as long as you post and posting helps you. To me venting is when someone is angry and basically yelling and letting off steam. Your post is definitely you trying challenging your anxious thoughts. Coming here and posting is a great move on your part. I find posting helps me think things out. There is one thing I want to throw out there as a possible cause. Do you think this could be a side affect of your medication?? The nightmares that is. I have had nightmares haunt me all day at times. They do seem so real. For me I think it is the ptsd and then the anxiety/panic sets in when it comes to these nightmares. I am not on medication so it isn't medication in my case.

I do know some medications can cause nightmares. You may want to look celexa up on line and see if this is a side effect. I hope you get a good nights sleep tonight with out any nightmares and me too for that matter. I have not had as many nightmares since start the program. Posting does help me if I wake up in a panic for a nightmare. I use it as a distraction until I can calm down. I hope this information helps you in some way.

Red

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 538

Hi, I hope I picked the right thread to vent on...I've hardly had any anxiety for over a week, my negative thoughts have lessened, and when it does start I control it easily with self-talk.

The last two early mornings though have been rough. I woke up yesterday in a panic after a horrible dream. It took a long time to calm down..even with all I've learned here. And when I went back to sleep I went right to the same dream..which freaked me out! Then the same thing today...even worse. Every body symptom flashed.....seemed like an eternity. The dreams are totally unrealistic and bizarre, but so real like. I wonder if its my negative thoughts /anxiety that the celexa is hiding coming out when I'm asleep...subconsiously? Ofcourse I overthink things, so I'm writing it here, then trying to forget about them and get on with life. I would welcome any thoughts though.

Cleo

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

Lucid and Ashley.

Lucid, I pretty much do the same. I start work on the anxiety the minute it starts to show and is still small instead of blocking it till it gets bigger. I too just pick one little thing and as soon as I can turn it positive I use it as a focus point to turn the rest of the negative thoughts using distraction and happy thoughts. Some times when I am very tired or very sore I can't totally get rid of the anxiety but at the least it never gets past the point of tolerance.

Davit

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 86

Hi Rain,

I can totally relate to the anxiety appearing after having kids. I do think that hormones can trigger anxiety. I have no medical proof, just experience. When I was pregnant with my second child, the anxiety got really bad for me and then in the post partum phase, I was completely at my worst. I also have my anxiety start to take over when I have PMS.

GAS is hard because, as you say, it seems that there is not really a specific situation. But, just to ask: are there any triggers that you can pinpoint at all? Like, is it crowds? Being alone? If so, you can then take one (yes, just one) and practice challenging your thoughts.

To answer Ashley's question about what works for me when trying to get through physical symptoms: It seems weird to me, but sometimes, I try and ride it out like being on a surfboard on a scary wave. I think, "Yeah, okay, I feel weird. It's okay, it will pass in a bit. What could be making me feel like this? The lights? I'm tired? Just hang on. Look for the signs that I feel better." Then the moment I feel even slightly less anxious, I dwell on that instead. "Okay, I feel a bit better already. It's all good. The panic is going away." And then I look for things around me that make me feel relaxed (e.g. look out a window).

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11226

Hi Rain,

Everyone offered great suggestions. Another option is to take a look at the relaxation techniques auxillary session.

Members, what has worked for you when trying to get through physical symptoms?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

Rain

Just like you are doing. The thing you don't want to do is form a routine that avoids panic. Yes you do want to ignore the symptoms and use self talk to tell yourself that you are Ok. But you do not want to do it to avoid panic you want to do it to be able to ride out the panic. The difference is that if you can ride out panic then it will have no control over you and fade away. If you avoid panic then it will always be in the background waiting to bite you. When you can ride out a panic attack without getting that, I'm going to puke or I'm going to pass out, or I'm having a heart attack or what ever is your most fearful thought, then you can challenge them and take away there power. Just like Red and the others do with the 10 questions or some thing of that nature. I hope this is making some sense. I agree with Red you are doing great. Just keep working at it slow. As it works it will start to make more sense. The thing is even if it doesn't make sense to you, it still works. Keep posting, that in itself is a big help.

Davit.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 420

rain,

Your doing great. Challenging your anxious and negative thoughts is working the program. Its in chapter 3. The 10 question list is something I use all the time to challenge them and it is working for me. It does get better. It just takes time. Hang in there you are doing great. Your positive thinking is a Good thing and it will help you.

Red

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

thanks everyone for the comments and concern. I can see how members start to feel like family and genuinely care about each other. Unfortunately, I can only post in the evening and not as often as I would like.

I am getting so confused. I thought I was getting better because I could keep myself from getting a panic attack. I try not to do anything differently about my day because of my symptoms. The only thing I can't control is the physical symptoms I feel almost all day long. I ignore them, use positive messages to myself but I didn't think I was repressing my panic and making it worse for myself. I guess I am too new to understand yet. How do I work through my physical symptoms other than ignoring them and telling myself that they are normal feelings that will go away?

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 538

Hi Rain,

Welcome to this site. I am sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time with anxiety. I know how exhausting a few hours of extreme anxiety is...I read in your post that you "constantly have to fight these symptoms".

I have learned here that we should not fight the symptoms...that gives anxiety more power to intensify. If we could let the symptoms come, accept them, and go about our life they will decrease. I know..easier said than done...I'm trying to do just that and it is helping so much.

Here for you

Cleo

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