Anxiety always makes things seem ten times worse than they are. A glitch with our mobile phone/cellphone becomes a major crisis. A new boss means we're certain to lose our job. And a bad headache must be a tumour. We're all very good at convincing ourselves of the worst case scenario. That's the nature of the beast.
As time goes by, our worry makes the headache worse. We're our own worst enemy, we're brilliant at convincing ourselves that this is something serious: we're so creative and inventive at frightening ourselves half to death. And fear is the factor that makes anxiety stay and delays recovery.
To show exactly what's meant by this, start concentrating on one of your back teeth. There's nothing wrong with your back tooth of course but start imagining you've got the beginning of toothache. Imagine the dull ache is beginning to start. Keep testing for the pain, imagine the root is starting to throb, keep coming back to it.
And I can almost guarantee that before very long you will feel a dull ache coming from that tooth. We are true masters of imagining the worst.
Just think what could be achieved if instead of always expecting the worst we start expecting the best instead. Today I will leave the house without experiencing bad feelings. Today I will go to work and be free of the non-cardiac chest pains, the churning stomach, the fear I'm going to die some time soon. And if I do feel a twinge or two well it's certainly not as bad as it was yesterday and I'll just accept it for the time being and get on with my life.
More positive expectations can work like a tonic on tired minds and jangled nerves.
Written by
Jeff1943
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Hi Jeff, I always follow your posts and you are so kind to keep trying to help everyone with anxiety. Luckily I don’t suffer from health anxiety. But the last few days I have started to feel anxious for no obvious reason. I have Claire Weeks book and I am trying to put it into practise. I am finding it hard to accept anxiety. I find I am better being with friends and chatting as it takes my mind off the anxiety. Any advice from you would be very helpful xx
Lin, great things are not easily won and reclaiming our lives from anxiety and depression is the greatest problem any of us will overcome. But I believe that no matter how long or how deeply we have suffered we can gain respite and recovery with the method of Claire Weekes. Which is not to say there aren't other solutions including therapy and other methods of self help.
Weekes' method based on Acceptance (for the time being) is not something we can switch on like a tap. We cannot change our ways of thinking in an afternoon, maybe not even in weeks. It requires practice and persistance and patience. To begin with we may only be able to practice acceptance (for the time being) for only a minute or few minutes at most. This is called glimpsing. Build on that until the ability to accept comes as second nature. Practicing acceptance won't banish feelings of anxiety, and the depression that sometimes flows from anxiety, after a few minutes of acceptance. And it must be utter acceptance, not just 'putting up with'. We need to frame our mind so that it matters little whether our day is filled with anxiety or is a day free from its symptoms.
Acceptance (for the moment) means we know recovery is coming and all that stands in its way is the fear we readily swamp our sensitive nervous system with. When we truly accept we do not fear. And remember, the last maxim of Weekes is to 'Let time pass'.
I can relate to this post so much! I'm reading a book on health anxiety and one of the first exercises tells you to close your eyes for one minute and just focus on one foot! Guess what??? Suddenly that foot was twitching and tingling! The mind is really an amazing thing. Maybe we just have a more open mind and that is why we feel the way we feel! 😁
I know it’s really not funny, but yeh..same ..unbelievable !
X
Or the neighbour who lives close by is leaving due to ill health, so the next person to reside there will cause antisocial behaviour, watch your every move, and be a nightmare...that’s me right now, thinking that !
I could win an Oscar for the best horror ever, with my imagination 😩
Thanks for sharing ..gives me a different take on things..
Olivia, I hope your new neighbour is a civilised and caring person, do not prejudge them. I am old fashioned enough to believe there are more of that kind than the other.
Thanks Jeff..yes of course you are right..the current neighbour hasn’t even left yet...and the new neighbour could be the best thing since sliced bread. Thanks for making me look at the the other side of things....it’s a good lesson to learn ..I appreciate it !
Jeff—one time my husband got a boil on his thigh. I looked at it daily thinking about how painful it must be when he walked and the muscles moved underneath it and within two weeks I had a boil in the exact same place!! It is crazy what the mind can do. I read today. 1. Mind creates thought. 2. Thought creates feelings. 3. Consciousness makes it all look real.
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