Heart pounding, racing, body shaking, sweating, lump in throat, upside stomach, feelings of heart attack and death... It stinks big time. I was locked in my living room for months on end. I couldn't go out. I couldn't see the light... I never saw outside these walls. I forgot what normal felt like. Watching people go by wondering why I couldn't be like them. Trying to remember what life was like when I was normal.
So now... After one therapy session with this amazing man... I've walked on to my driveway then to the sidewalk then to the street!!!
I walked with my son back and forth, back and forth, back and forth... I went from a 8 on the anxiety scale to a 2 then I did it myself it went back up to a 5 but the more I did it over and over the anxiety went to a zero bc I got bored. I got bored with the task and bored of the anxiety. Next step is around the block with my son and around and around I'll go till my anxiety is a 2 then I'll go at it alone again and again. With each trip your anxiety lessens and with repetition you get bored and your anxiety gets bored. If you have an attack just sit there and feel each symptom take notice to it and then let it go. It can't hurt you. Your heart is ok. You are ok. Just breath and let it go. Don't force anything and don't fight it let it happen. Loosen your muscles and relax it won't be bad. I promise. Roll with it and after laugh about it. The more you do it the less it will happen.
I look forward to driving soon. That therapist worked wonders and I found him online he is hours from me but did Skype and it was awesome can't wait to talk to him Monday!!! Find someone who's right for you
Delighted for you Dawn...I know every word you say is true..its getting the courage to do it though...when its so hard to walk with the jelly legs and dizziness...I Applaud your courage..XXX
Well done Dawn. You found the way out of this yourself. Keep on going. I wish i could find your secret.
Yes Dawn, that is similar to the practice called mindfulness. There is a book with that title that teaches all of that. Basically instead of fighting off the symptoms of anxiety and panic, we are supposed to acknowledge the symptoms and then let it go. Because if we act with anxiety about how we feel, it will get worse.
did your therapist teach you how to bring yourself back to the present moment with your breathing? That helps you get away from all the negativity going on in the mind Great job!
I spoke to a therapist Abe Kass. Because I don't go outside ...at all... It was impossible for me to see a therapist so I looked online and found this guy. He is very well known, has written books and his pricing was very reasonable. And after my first session I felt amazing. My second session is on Monday. I was outside today after my session and I even got in the car with my son and I drove around my house for 10 mins granted it took me awhile to get in the car and sit for awhile I even say in the street for awhile in debate but then I just floored it and had the time of my life. Then anxiety hit a bit and I got that scary anxious feeling so I drove home with the anxiety and slowly paid attention to each symptom and it wasn't as bad as what it could have been. I did get a serious migraine that made me so sick to my stomach but I don't relate that with the anxiety so all in all from not going out of my living room since around December to this ... It was life changing and I as scared as I was, I was more scared to not have my life back. To not be normal. My Drs gave me Zoloft and Ativan but I refused to take them. I didn't want to mask my problems with a pill I wanted to have the strength to face it on my own. We're survivors were fighters and it's all in our brains. Good luck I hope you take that first step bc it is amazing once you accomplish even the smallest goal it gives you the courage to keep going forward. Get excited about the smallest thing bc to us it's huge!!!
I know all about the jelly legs and the dizziness... I would move from the couch and feel like I was gonna collapse I would lay down on the floor to find my center. It's scary !!! But make small silly goals. I couldn't go in my bedroom bc it's where my husband smoked meth and where I found out he cheated on me also mixed with some abuse. I walked up the steps and sat outside my room, then I would open the door and just sit looking in then I would walk in and sit on the floor. Little by little I moved to the bed. But don't get me wrong I have to paint and get all new furniture. But as of today the same day as my appointment I can go in there again with zero anxiety. It took me about an hour or so to accomplish this but I did it. Took me about 2 hours to get out my door and about 3 hours to get in the car. I did all this therapy today.. against Drs orders. He said one small thing at a time. But I'm impatient and once I accomplished one and could have zero anxiety doing it after repetition I kept going lol. I over did it today but it didn't make me fear tomorrow. Get jelly legs and dizzy... Stop and hang on to something or sit but don't retreat!! Stay where you are it will pass. I promise it will pass. Even if you feel like your gonna die like I do.. it will pass. It's so scary the feeling life ending but it's all in your mind. Just slow down... Flop relax all your muscles it's hard bc you want to tense up but that makes it worse . Relax everything and say it's all I'm my head. I'm swimming in a cool ocean. Actually feel the cool water on your body... While you sing a favorite song in your head. It will pass. You can do it.
After reading the first paragraph I felt the emotion you feel and share it with you but then reading on and seeing you develop and finding ways to relieve is amazing well done and hope you live happier and one day I hopefully will to will definitely try taking time to review my symptoms and reassure myself on them not being harmful these are great ways to help
Once again well done !!!
As scary as it sounds when you do it yourself it's not scary. Kind of like when you get a bottle of Zoloft from the Dr instead of us going in blindly with trust we read review after review and the side effects and cause fear before we even try so most of us don't even bother. We create the fear. We already know that once we do something that we've done before it's gonna give us anxiety which leads us back to that spot getting anxiety just thinking about doing it. Point is, you cant think about you just have to do it over and over and over again humming, skipping, whatever takes your mind off the fact that you have had anxiety doing this before. Repetition is key. I was driving today and I had panic I got home still with some panic but I rested and I'm fine. I haven't driven in 6 months bc just getting in the car gave me an attack and then thinking about getting in he car gave me an attack until I was stuck in my house completely. It sucks. But just relax and don't think