Fear vs Anxiety

Hi guys!

I don’t post a lot but I come by to read your posts most days. I had a situation yesterday that got me thinking and it was helpful for me. I thought I might share.

I accidentally took a double dose of my blood pressure medication yesterday. I was really surprised at how well I coped in the moment. I was fairly calm and realized that I needed to speak with someone who knew if there was something I needed to do for my safety. Turns out I was fine and there was nothing that needed to be done. I spoke with a pharmacist and he put me at ease about the situation. This is probably high up there on things to trigger me. I have a phobia of passing out (which happens if bp gets too low) and I have high anxiety about anything related to my blood pressure. My husband even mentioned how surprised he was at how calm I was in the moments following the realization that I had double dosed.

Fast forward 12 hours and I was reading about anxiety disorders in the DSM V for a grad class. The explanation of anxiety disorders specifies the difference between fear and anxiety. Fear being that there is an actual situation that could produce danger and anxiety being a potential situation in the future that may or may not happen. For some reason this distinction really struck me. I’ve always been aware of the difference but in the moments where there is fear instead of anxiety I actually preform very well.

So, my take away is that this disorder really is something that I feel I am doing to myself. Not in so much as the physical response that occur with my thoughts but the thoughts themselves. I react to things by telling myself how horrible they are or that if something were to happen I wouldn’t be able to handle it. In reality though, I can. I have. I will again.

I’m not exactly sure where this will lead me the next time my anxiety is high but it is a realization that I can keep with me in the future.

I feel like I’m rambling...but I’m also really proud of myself!!

[Agora1]

AbsolutDaisies, I am proud of you as well. You did handle that very well.

I agree with you saying "In reality though, I can, I have, I will again".

Keep that positive thought and it will work each and every time. xx

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Thanks so much Agora!!