Aa
Something I've learned
We all post here our crazy symptoms, as do I. I wanted to share what I have been learning lately.
I began therapy and we began addressing my symptoms one at a time. For example, I am dizzy a lot, this is because somewhere along the line I have connected dizziness with fear so everytime I feel that feeling of off balance, etc, I get panicky, which escalades into a panic attack. Most people would not think about it but becuase I am so sensitized to dizziness, it affects me differently. Like when I get out of the car, my husband lets his foot off the brake and the car moves slightly, that gets me going, simple to anyone else but not to me. I have to desensitize my brain from dizziness, so I spin around and get dizzy, this tells my brain that it is okay to be dizzy, and gradually I will begin to fear it less. I do the same with lightheadedness, I hyperventilate myself (with my doctor) to tell myself it is okay to be lightheaded sometimes. We realized I was breathing shallow all throughout the day causing my constant lightheadedness, but I didn't even realize it. So, now I a more aware of my breating and try to take deep breaths throughout the day. I am beginning to feel better, over the last week or so. I am realizing it takes time to desensitize the body and to be patient.
I think any symptom can be a symptom of anxiety, the first thing we need to do is get a thorough checkup and rule out everything else and then address the anxiety. I had to go through every test out there before I would accept it was anxiety.
I am by no means 100% better but I am beginning to understand it. It is the belief we have put in our heads, the belief that there is danger, whether it be dizzy, heart palps, etc, we have belief in our heads. Our intellectual side tells us there probably isn't any danger but our emotional side says maybe there is. Here is an example: Say I said I put a bomb under the table next to us, you would run out of the office scared because your BELIEVE there is a bomb there, but there really isn't, you have to disconfirm the belief in your head so you can begin not to fear it.
I am not sure if this made any sense, but it did to me, I just wanted to share.
God Bless you all, hope you are all doing well.
Jess
I began therapy and we began addressing my symptoms one at a time. For example, I am dizzy a lot, this is because somewhere along the line I have connected dizziness with fear so everytime I feel that feeling of off balance, etc, I get panicky, which escalades into a panic attack. Most people would not think about it but becuase I am so sensitized to dizziness, it affects me differently. Like when I get out of the car, my husband lets his foot off the brake and the car moves slightly, that gets me going, simple to anyone else but not to me. I have to desensitize my brain from dizziness, so I spin around and get dizzy, this tells my brain that it is okay to be dizzy, and gradually I will begin to fear it less. I do the same with lightheadedness, I hyperventilate myself (with my doctor) to tell myself it is okay to be lightheaded sometimes. We realized I was breathing shallow all throughout the day causing my constant lightheadedness, but I didn't even realize it. So, now I a more aware of my breating and try to take deep breaths throughout the day. I am beginning to feel better, over the last week or so. I am realizing it takes time to desensitize the body and to be patient.
I think any symptom can be a symptom of anxiety, the first thing we need to do is get a thorough checkup and rule out everything else and then address the anxiety. I had to go through every test out there before I would accept it was anxiety.
I am by no means 100% better but I am beginning to understand it. It is the belief we have put in our heads, the belief that there is danger, whether it be dizzy, heart palps, etc, we have belief in our heads. Our intellectual side tells us there probably isn't any danger but our emotional side says maybe there is. Here is an example: Say I said I put a bomb under the table next to us, you would run out of the office scared because your BELIEVE there is a bomb there, but there really isn't, you have to disconfirm the belief in your head so you can begin not to fear it.
I am not sure if this made any sense, but it did to me, I just wanted to share.
God Bless you all, hope you are all doing well.
Jess
Hey Jess......your post made PERFECT sense to me. It sounds like you have a very good therapist and I'm so happy his techniques are helping you. I found myself taking a deep breath when you talked about breathing shallow....I do that too. It seems to be all about exposing oneself to our individual pre-panic sensations. Your post has been very helpful to me and let me just say how POSITIVE you sound. I'm so happy that you're feeling better.
Thanks hun.........
Thanks hun.........
Wow! Awsome post I agree!! Id have never thought of spinning to sensatize ones self to dizzyness,,,,
*Bows with respect and apprication* Jenn
*Bows with respect and apprication* Jenn
Oh dear, if I started spinning I would throw up. The whole inner ear thing you know. I can't even stand on my porch without feeling like I'm falling sometimes.
Ahem. Excuse me, Jess. Did you say, "I am beginning to understand it?" Did you say, "I am beginning to understand it?!!!"
Well if you DID say, "I am beginning to understand it," and if you ARE beginning to understand it, Then YOU, dear woman, are headed toward the exit. The exit from panic.
I'm not making this up.
When you, when anyone, begins to understand it, then you also begin to understand how to "unring the bell." How? You "begin" to understand that if the brain is powerful enough to send us those confusing messages and signals, then it is powerful enough to make the necessary repairs and corrections. You "begin" to understand that it doesn't have to be this way. You begin to understand that YOU CAN CHANGE IT. This is not the same kind of understanding as figuring out how to do a math problem, this is the understanding that comes as a profound and life changing FLASH OF INSIGHT! What is so very strange about this understanding is that it makes complete sense -you can't understand why you didn't know it all along. It is almost too easy! Well, come to that, you DID understand it all along -that's why you can change it. The "cure," the new perception, the "understanding" was inside you all along. You look at yourself and say, "I know how to do this!" And you are right. And that is exactly why it works. You are NOT chanting some mantra, following some "program," or obeying some instruction from "outside." No, your answer comes from INSIDE.
And Jess, wait till you see what comes next. In time -and not much time now, you will begin to understand how it got to be this way; you will connect the dots that caused you to select for stimuli that you associated with panic. Work the therapy -and let the therapy work. This is a "boundary event," a point at which there is no going back. No false starts, no "gotcha's. Trust me in this, trust me, I've had PM's from folks who have also managed to break through -and, it is what happened to me.
Just one thing -I'm beggin' you. Now that you've begun to understand, stick around here to help pull others through. There is no more profound and credible affirmation of recovery than the witness of those who've experienced it for themselves. My story, your story, and the stories of others here are a HUGE in the lives of others who are making their approach toward "understanding," exactly as you have experienced it.
Congratulations, Jess, I'm happy for you and proud of you. You've got everything you need -and you always did. More insights will pour forth from you as you work your way through the process, so please keep sharing.
What a great post. Thanks again!
-Scott
Well if you DID say, "I am beginning to understand it," and if you ARE beginning to understand it, Then YOU, dear woman, are headed toward the exit. The exit from panic.
I'm not making this up.
When you, when anyone, begins to understand it, then you also begin to understand how to "unring the bell." How? You "begin" to understand that if the brain is powerful enough to send us those confusing messages and signals, then it is powerful enough to make the necessary repairs and corrections. You "begin" to understand that it doesn't have to be this way. You begin to understand that YOU CAN CHANGE IT. This is not the same kind of understanding as figuring out how to do a math problem, this is the understanding that comes as a profound and life changing FLASH OF INSIGHT! What is so very strange about this understanding is that it makes complete sense -you can't understand why you didn't know it all along. It is almost too easy! Well, come to that, you DID understand it all along -that's why you can change it. The "cure," the new perception, the "understanding" was inside you all along. You look at yourself and say, "I know how to do this!" And you are right. And that is exactly why it works. You are NOT chanting some mantra, following some "program," or obeying some instruction from "outside." No, your answer comes from INSIDE.
And Jess, wait till you see what comes next. In time -and not much time now, you will begin to understand how it got to be this way; you will connect the dots that caused you to select for stimuli that you associated with panic. Work the therapy -and let the therapy work. This is a "boundary event," a point at which there is no going back. No false starts, no "gotcha's. Trust me in this, trust me, I've had PM's from folks who have also managed to break through -and, it is what happened to me.
Just one thing -I'm beggin' you. Now that you've begun to understand, stick around here to help pull others through. There is no more profound and credible affirmation of recovery than the witness of those who've experienced it for themselves. My story, your story, and the stories of others here are a HUGE in the lives of others who are making their approach toward "understanding," exactly as you have experienced it.
Congratulations, Jess, I'm happy for you and proud of you. You've got everything you need -and you always did. More insights will pour forth from you as you work your way through the process, so please keep sharing.
What a great post. Thanks again!
-Scott
Wow I have been away battling so much, this is exactly what I needed.
This truly made me feel like there is hope. Thank you so much for your story.
And congratulations!
Crystal
This truly made me feel like there is hope. Thank you so much for your story.
And congratulations!
Crystal
Awwwwwwwwwwe. I am so happy for you. This is an "understanding" I've had myself, its just a matter of getting up enough courage to do the things u say and face ur fears, to desensitize oneself. But again, I'm too happy for u and like JSGreare says, please continue to share ur experiences and what u've learned with those of us that havent gotten to that point yet. Thanx so much again.
HOORAY!! for u!!!!!!!
HOORAY!! for u!!!!!!!
hummmm..... interesting post.... I guess i have to get over my fear of seeing a therapist in order to gain more understanding to my anxiety.
thanks
thanks
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