Hello,
I'm new to this community. I'm battling constant negative thoughts, and scared I"m dying of some disease, but afraid to go to the doctor. My body is constantly weak and tired, sleep is sporadic, and I'm afraid of going from room to room in my own home. Does anyone else feel this way, and want to talk? I am a Christian, but sometimes feel like God is so far away. I used to feel strong, but now all I can focus on is how weak I am! Please help.
You say you are constantly battling negative thoughts. Constantly battling? Is it any wonder you feel depleted of nervous energy. Fighting and struggling cause untold stress and strain, the last things you need. You need to stop fighting to give your nerves a chance to recover. There is only one way I know to do that: to ACCEPT your negative thoughts for the time being.
A thought cannot kill you, disable you or make you lose your mind. So why not agree to co-exist with your intrusive thoughts for the moment. They are a toothless paper tiger that can do you no real harm.
So let those negative thoughts come. They may make you feel uncomfortable but it's far less exhausting than fighting them. And it is only a temporary step in your recovery. So let them come, those intrusive thoughts, come one, come all. They have been tricking you all along. What have you to fear from a toothless paper tiger? It's a rhetorical question, the answer is 'Nothing'.
By living in a constant state of fear you have been releasing too much 'fight or flight' hormones as your mind senses your anxiety and thinks you need extra cortisol and adrenaline to fuel what it perceives as a physical threat. But your response to fear rarely involves fight or flight these days, we just sit in our chair and stew.
All those unused anxiety hormones have an effect on your nervous system: they cause it to become over-sensitised. Am I going too fast for you, Hope-7? I'll try to slow down a bit.
In its over-sensitised state your nerves tend to exaggerate every thought or physical symptom ten fold. A tummy ache must be stomach cancer. Muscular tension in the chest must be a heart attack coming. That ringing phone must be bad news. Always the worst case scenario!
This I suspect is the true cause of your health anxiety. But for total reassurance do go and see your doctor, you'll find it will help.
So it all comes down to ACCEPTANCE. Once you do that long enough you stop pumping out the fear hormones - and eventually your nervous system loses its over-sensitivity and returns to normal. Your anxiety yields and you regain your quiet mind.
(Anyone who hates religion look away now).
God has not deserted you but it is not part of his plan to kiss everything and make it better. We are here to become better people and a large part of that involves dealing with hardship. But God does not send more difficulties than we have the strength to cope with. Thus we evolve to a higher form.
That's the story.
Oh Jeff, I wish we could hang your post in our homes as a reminder whenwe fear. You have a way of explaining Anxiety in a totally simple and meaningful
way. As powerful as your words are, unless we put action into them, we stay stuck.
I never get tired of being reassured that Acceptance is the key.
Thanks my friend for your input. 
xx
So grateful for all your encouragement and advice too! It's a really terrible time for me right now, and its far from easy just to go through a day, but I want you to know I am very thankful for everything. I'm sorry I can't write much, but please don't stop praying for me.
Your speaking my problems exactly, read my profile for confirmation. Harsh stuff as this needs harsh medicine. 30-60 minutes of daily cardio exercise to produce endorphins and seratonin. Do the Wim Hof breathing exercises twice 3 times daily. It’s on you tube free guided breathing exercises. Then take your 5 minutes pure cold shower daily.
Thank you for your advice, I wish I had enough energy to do all that, but right now I am just drained. I am trying to walk around as best I can ( like around my house), and I do breathing exercises, as they do help a lot sometimes.
Hi Hope!I don't know much about you. I am glad that you shared and hope you have figured it out by the time you read this message. God works in mysterious ways!!!!!! I have found that to be true. I can't understand Him because I'm just a human but after many years of suffering and watching others seem to get ahead, I felt like maybe there was something wrong with me BUT recently found help and it was the right help. My pain is actually getting tolerable and I know who I am and how to trust myself. If I had gone a different path, I don't know. Life is a journey not a race and the world is round. Why some people think they're "ahead" of others doesn't make sense to me. I wish you well. Trust your inner authority and maybe find a doctor you aren't afraid of.
Thank you for your understanding and advice! I don't understand why God has allowed my life to take this course, as I am suffering every day, but I suppose I have to remember that He has better plans for my life than I know. I'm glad you were able to find help!
I think the mind's default is towards negativity. That might have been beneficial at some time in our evolution as a species but not so any more. You must be persist in injecting positive thoughts in the mind. Wish there was an easier way but I haven't found one.
So grateful for all your encouragement and advice! It's a really terrible time for me right now, and its far from easy just to go through a day, but I want you to know I am very thankful for everything. I'm sorry I can't write much, but please don't stop praying for me.
Thank you for the offer, I appreciate it! I'm doing my best to rely on God's strength when I can, but its nice to know I have others who are praying for me and supportive of me. I feel as though I am in the middle of a storm that I can't get out of, I really need prayer! Thank you.
Hi there! I know how you feel. I feel the same way even going to the restroom which is a few steps from my bedroom is a challenge because I think “oh man what if I faint?” I myself sought help with both a psychiatrist and therapist and honestly the meds did work. I would advise you to seek help it does work! I am more than happy to chat. I’m a catholic and have been through serious issues with God and my mental illness
I agree about the fact that negative thoughts are pervasive, and no, its not easy to correct that kind of thinking. I'm just trying my best amidst my suffering.
Jumping out of my skin 
Trapped in My Own Head
Not my own (please help)
crawling out of my skin
Scared to take my xanax
