Just want to feel ok

[Meyer_Gdmnx]

Hi guys for the past year I’ve had health anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder. For the first few months I would panic all the time would t go out could barley make it round the block. Then I went to therapy for the first time and I overcame my panic etc but then after and during Christmas and for the next 4 months I felt awful all the time I didn’t sleep well at all or eat very well I went to the doctors and they saw a folic acid deficiency which made me feel much better as well as going back to therapy and getting through a number of issues and the past the past few weeks have been really really positive but almost too positive I’d rather just feel normal. And not think about how I feel ALL THE TIME I don’t know how to do this I don’t know hit yo not constantly think about how I feel emotionally physically mentally even when it’s good. Anyone else have this? Or any advice?

[littlemissworry]

Yes, constantly overthinking and wondering if there is something wrong with me, it's exhausting! Only trying to keep busy and distracted but I know how difficult that can be and easy it is to zone back into concentrating on the anxious thoughts I hope you find something that helps soon x

[Meyer_Gdmnx in reply to littlemissworry]

Thank you for your responding and thank you for your good wishes I wish you the best as well! it’s more how I feel rather than how I think if hat makes sense? I also kind of feel like I’m outside of real life like I’m knocking on the glass bubble where everyone who’s normal and does normal things lives there lives?

[Jeff1943]

Think about how you feel all the time if you wish, but do it to practice accepting all the bad feelings (for the time being) and practice not adding second fear to the flash of first fear when symptoms or bad thoughts come.

May I suggest you are spending too much time monitoring how you feel every 5 minutes (introspection). Your sensitive nerves are only too willing to provide something bad for you to feel or think.

You are obsessing about illnesses you have never had, do not have and will never have. Accept that you are fearful of something that in physical medical terms does not exist. There is nothing physically wrong with you, it's all in your imagination created by an over sensitised nervous system.

If you can bring yourself to accept this utterly you are on the right road to respite and recovery.

[Meyer_Gdmnx in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you for your response it was very helpful. Sometimes though I think I’ve gone beyond anxiety it’s gotten that bad like I know what anxiety used to feel like and it was very easy to bat off this consumes me for months/year

[Jeff1943 in reply to Meyer_Gdmnx]

Anxiety takes many forms but it is always still anxiety. As you know I advocate the acceptance method for recovery as described by Claire Weekes. There are other methods but the important thing is to have an Escape Plan which you can implement. Drifting along hoping things will snap back into place is not an Escape Plan.

[Meyer_Gdmnx in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you for your reply again I’ve listened to Dr Weeks before she’s very very insightful. I have been getting through her methods thankfully. I wish you the best of luck overcoming your challenges

[Calmonoutside in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you so much for your words, Jeff. This is exactly what I needed to hear today. I have been on verge of panic all day, and concentrating too much on my feelings. I am going to get out with my grandson, and enjoy the day!

[Jeff1943 in reply to Calmonoutside]

Calmonoutside, yes spend your time and attention on your little one, every moment we spend with our children is part of their experience and cannot be destroyed.

Introspection - we all do it. The result of nervous exhaustion and over active imagination.

Panic is not the world around, it is us. Born of our fears, we are our own worst enemies. It is that fear that fuels our panic. Instead look outward, not inward. To friends, grandchildren and strangers too. We have been given reserves of strength others do not possess, therefore accept all your symptoms for the time being and carry on regardless of how you feel inside. When we can do that then we know complete recovery is inevitable.