Problems and anxiety are a normal part of life. Nobody is without them. But too much stress, worry, overwork or loss makes our nervous system oversensitive and when this change occurs we start to view the world differently.
One of the main symptoms is that problems we're well able to cope with normally seem ten times worse than they really are. Problems more major become impossible nightmares. And always feeling anxious can easily make us depressed.
Often we imagine we have major illnesses when it's really our reaction to nervous exhaustion and our nerves playing tricks. But we always imagine the worst case scenario. Our imagination runs riot driven on by fear of the unknown.
Besides health anxiety we can experience agoraphobia and derealisation. These are caused by our mind's unhelpful attempts to protect us by withdrawing us from perceived threats.
One of the most unpleasant symptoms is panic attacks. But exactly what we're panicking about we're usually none to sure. Other people experience irrational obsessions such as fearing imminent death without any reason for it.
I reckon about 40% of anxiety disorder is genetic. Or to put it another way, we inherit a lower threshold to anxiety overload than most.
The more we understand anxiety the less there is to fear. The power of anxiety is limited: it cannot kill you, it cannot disable you and it cannot make you lose your mind. Also, all those aches and pains which we think are harbingers of major illnesses are really phantom symptoms caused by nerves on the blink. Though it's always wise to talk them through with your doctor for certainty and reassurance.
Inherited or not, there are ways in which we can achieve respite and recovery from anxiety disorder. My mother suffered from her 'nerves' most of her life until the 1960s. In that decade two wonderful things happened that made her life near normal for her autumn years: the arrival of Valium/diazepam and the publication of Claire Weekes' first book 'Self help for your nerves'.
The Valium gives instant short and medium term relief from anxiety for which it is much maligned by people who should know better. And Doctor Weekes' method of Face, Accept, Float and Let time pass offered full recovery to those willing to practice it with patience and persistence.
Anxiety doesn't have to be a life sentence, you will not feel like this forever. But there are no magic potions that make it go away instantly never to return. The Yellow Brick Road to recovery is long and winding.
Written by
Jeff1943
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What a well-written post. I agree with all of it. Anxiety is incredibly uncomfortable. But it cannot harm us. Our thoughts, whether we realize it or not, fuel the anxiety. Something has set off our fight or flight response. The adrenaline surge causes the physical symptoms. It can take time to learn to manage it, but it can happen. I keep working on it everyday. It is getting easier.
Great job, Jeff. To me, the biggest reason anxiety keeps its grip on a person is that it all seems so REAL, when in fact it's no different than a car's burglar alarm going off for no reason at all. You have to use your mind to step away from your brain's false message, and see it for what it is. This is incredibly hard for most people (at least at first), because we all learn to take what our brains tell us at face value. It's a skill that has to be learned. It's not easy, and there is a lot of backsliding involved, but you can make it down that Yellow Brick Road.
Yes jkl5500, that's a good point, we're all wired to take what our brains tell us at face value. We have to learn to reject what our brains tell us some times.
I often forget that the road to recovery is not a straight one,thank you Jeff1943, you have a wonderful way with words.
The thought of anybody wanting to be me made me smile. Minnie, I know you are a long-term anxiety sufferer and I remember you discussing this with BeeVee and Casa_Moma, two very knowledgeable people. BeeVee describe the Acceptance method for recovery but didn't mention Claire Weekes book whilst Casa_Moma did. I remember you saying you did have her book, may I suggest you would profit from rereading it. But of course reading it may bring understanding and reassurance but it won't bring respite and recovery. Not just reading the book. It's the slow dedicated task of practicing her method of Face, Accept, Float and Let time pass that leads to recovery.
Thank you Jeff.I’m currently sat in bed reading it as we speak.
I really appreciate your message back and it always gives me some reassurance.im going to screenshot that for when I’m really struggling.thanks again x
YES. I’ve just skimmed the book and passed it off as not enough concrete information on ‘how to’. But my life has told me that it is the task of practicing letting go AND time. That said, each time a new bout of anxiety presents, it is EQUALLY uncomfortable. I shall go back and read her book a bit more closely. Thanks for this post!
Hi Jeff, your replies are so easy to read and everything you say makes sense. I agree with you about Valium as luckily My G.P gives me them as he knows I use them only in emergency and they are a Gods send.
I am lucky in a way as I don’t have health anxiety or panic attacks but when a bout of depression strikes about twice a year and lasts for 6 weeks I become a different person. When I am back to my old self I am happy and enjoy life. I have no idea what brings the stress/ anxiety on because I have a good life. I have Claire Weakes book and I listen to her audio talk in bed.
Please keep on posting on here as it gives me hope that one day I will be depression free so I will keep reading the book. Roll on Spring x
Lin, there are many causes for depression, on obvious one is that we can get depressed about the symptoms of anxiety. There are also simple chemical imbalances. But Claire Weekes called depression 'depletion'. She said it can be caused by complete nervous exhaustion and a period of rest, distraction and gradual re-engagement with things we like and find interesting can help to overcome it. Depression and anxiety are so closely linked sometimes it's hard to tell them apart.
It's interesting that the Valium helps you as this is not an antidepressant of course but an anti-anxiety med.
I look forward to your posts, they always help remind me of the path to heal anxiety and live life. I adore Claire Weekes and learning to accept. Anxiety can’t hurt me.
That is a beautiful post. Thank you! My concern is..Doesnt stress kill?
Stroke, heart disease and many other illnesses..arise from stress. Living in a constant state of stress and adrenaline rushes..has got to do something permanent to your body. I can look in the mirror and see where it has aged my appearance by years in just a few months..bags under my eyes..gray hair..black circles from not sleeping well..Not sleeping well..leads to a whole host of problems..and i cant see where anxiety isnt dangerous or cant harm you when I can see the tell tale signs in the mirror everyday. A friend of mine just had a recent breakdown from anxiety..he ended up in the hospital with low sodium. His electrolytes where all out of balance. A result of worry and the Lexapro he was recently prescribed. A side effect being low sodium. He had a meltdown after a tramatic event at his church and became delusional and showed signs of dimentia. After his stay of a few days in the hospital..and after losing lots of weight over the last few weeks..This is a man who has always been very strong. I watched what anxiety and fear did to him..With a lot of help..I am happy to say he is making a good recovery..without any medications. He is very fortunate/Blessed to have a great support system. That makes a world of difference.
Autumn822, I believe heart disease is caused by narrowing of the arteries caused by eating too much saturated fat and not enough fruit and vegetables that contain antioxidents and sterols. I don't see how stress can create saturated fat to block our arteries. But I'm not an expert.
Autumn, stress can make us look older and unhealthy but when the stress is relieved I believe we recover, there is no permanent damage. Your friend went through a great trauma but you say he is recovering.
As casa_mama has said elsewhere, if anxiety and stress could kill she would have been dead years ago. Me too. I have had anxiety for 45 years or more though it is low level thanks to the teachings of Claire Weekes and the very occasional valium.
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