Struggling today

[Livelydively]

My health anxiety is really bad today. I am in the process of working on not monitoring my sensations. For example, I am not taking my pulse ox right now when I feel short of breath as I am not really short of breath. I just feel like I am. I am now feeling my other sensations a lot. I am also getting dizzy which may be due to a new supplement I started on Monday. I am stuck in my own head.

[Mewish]

Try to focus on something to take your mind off of it. Ie take a walk some task to focus on your home.. Maybe it will pass

[Livelydively in reply to Mewish]

Thank you.

[Daesin]

So what has been affective for you in the past? Reading a book? Going for a walk? Throwing the ball for the dog? Watching terrible movies on the Internet? Snooping on the neighbors? Wrestling net box of ice cream sandwiches at the bottom of the deep freeze? I mean there’s a lot of different things you can try. I’m sure you’ve tried a lot of them. What tears you away from the internal focus?And I got to go now because I mentioned ice cream sandwiches and I need to distract myself.🤪

[Livelydively in reply to Daesin]

It really depends on the day and the severity of my sensations. Yesterday, I was having a lot all at once.

I tried all my normal coping skills and they were not helping. Thank you for the reply.

I hope you got some ice cream!

[Daesin in reply to Livelydively]

Yes, the ice cream was lovely thank you.I understand what you’re saying about things being a day-to-day battle. Sometimes a half hour can make a massive difference in capability and functionality.

It’s really hard sometimes to figure out what you want/can do within the timeframe in the limitations of our lives….and honestly it’s really hard to remember this stuff When things start getting dark.You received suggestions from the others. I’m going to add but I’m also going to place a very large caveat.

When you make your list:

********this is NOT about things that you were necessarily good at. These are things that make you smile …that make you laugh or make you go ‘huh I wonder how that works.’

The feel of the breeze on your skin on a warm day. The sound of birds. The purr of a cat. A good book. A salacious book. A good salacious book. People watching or squirrel watching and there are stars as well. count them🌟 name them. Visit a pet store or zoo. Help the blind by dictating newspaper articles. Watch stupid videos on the Internet. I really don’t think those dogs are shamed very long.

Go online and visit the world’s s museums. The Smithsonian has an amazing natural history and science section. Call a friend. Do a crossword puzzle. Learn a language. Did you know that there are a little games that you can play on the computer that teach you languages? I love duo lingo,It’s free and my Swedish is terrible.

The deal is it has to be something that you are entertained by. It could be five minutes it could be 10 minutes it could be half an hour. You’re the one that controls the clock.

Because memory is hard write it down. Pretty it up on a big piece of blue paper with hearts and stars and animals drawn all over it if need be. Just get a list going of things that would work. I bet you could call out five things right now.

Whenever you have a random thought you go write it down.. So keep that list handy. And a pen. Why I can never find a pen in this house is beyond me. Hopefully yours is better.

Remember it’s NOT that you’re good at …not that are all super easy… not every activity involves anyone else. And when you are down you go look at your list. Pick one. But add to it every day. I could color for five minutes. It wouldn’t be in the lines and probably wouldn’t be the colors you expected, but it would keep me entertained for a few minutes. So I would get the list that one.

OK enough babbling. Blessings to you honey. I hope you’re able to crawl out of your head for a little bit.

[Zhangliqun]

The key is to get your mind on something else -- obviously something pleasant or interesting. This is very much like what I call the sleep paradox. If all you think of is trying to sleep, you'll remain wide awake. It's when your mind gets on something else that sleep finally comes.

I learned this the hard way with GAD, dysthymia and spikes of severe depression that taught me how to focus my thoughts outward. There are still bad days but not as bad or as often, thank God...

[Livelydively in reply to Zhangliqun]

Thank you! You are right about the sleep paradox.

[Daveacr1959]

Some funny guy on here swears by, 45 minutes of daily cardio exercise to produce endorphins that battle your anxiety and depression. And a 5 minute pure cold shower daily. There is magic in the cold water. It shocks the anxiety and depression right out of you. If you have a cooking thermometer see where 58 degrees is on your shower dial . Just put the probe in the water and don’t get the thermometer wet . After a few weeks, you can go down to 55 degrees and stay there . I take my shower. Then I get the water barely cold for a few minutes.. then I go to 55 degrees for 5 minutes.. then get out and dress warm and warm up slowly. You will be addicted after a few weeks. It shocks anxiety and depression right out of you! It’s online I didn’t make it up!!

[Daesin in reply to Daveacr1959]

I hear it tightens your skin too

[Daveacr1959 in reply to Daesin]

Boots immune system and builds mental toughness too!

[Daesin in reply to Daveacr1959]

I believe that the water baths and ice baths were used as a treatment (torture) for mental health patients at the turn of the last century 1900. Read up on Dorothea Dix. She was very tough.

I personally am from a warm climate and do not believe in cold. But I know many people swear by it. My CNS can’t handle the shock.

[Livelydively in reply to Daveacr1959]

I did take a cold shower yesterday! Thank you.

[Daveacr1959 in reply to Livelydively]

That was the hardest one . They get easier each time. Don’t stop or it’s like starting all over. After 2 weeks you will be craving them. Did it help with the anxiety? Was it at least 5 minutes long and 55-58 degrees? Good job! Good job being open minded to things that are not comfortable.

[mantis-toboggan]

Hi! I struggle a lot with health anxiety too. First, know that you're not alone and many people with anxiety experience this. I've been there too, in fact just two weeks ago I was checking my heart rate about every other minute. The fear felt so real and like it needed my immediate attention. Something I like to do when I'm feeling especially bad is to watch my favorite show -- sometimes distraction really helps. I always put on something funny to help get me out of my head. I understand that can feel hard when you're super anxious. It takes a lot to actual of effort sometimes to put our coping mechanisms into action. I hope you are feeling better today.

[Tara52]

Stuck in my head is the last place I want to be! It is like a horror show😳.( Especially when the movie playing is my past)Last night was a prime example. I had a hard time controlling my fearful, regretful and condemning thoughts.😒

This am after prayer and inspiring Bible reading I felt much better. We can't let our minds run amok, although mine often does!🙃🙂Hope you are experiencing more peace of mind today!💕