We all do it some time in our lives. We know we've got anxiety disorder but we still worry that some ache or pain is the harbinger of heart disease, cancer or some other serious physical illness.
So we consult Doc Google who occasionally brings reassurance but more often than not confirms our worst fears. We may go see our doctor who sends us for tests. But even when the results come back negative we're still not totally convinced. Even though all along we really know it's anxiety disorder. If you're in any doubt you only have to look at what this forum is called, the clue is in the title.
The problem is it's all wasted time and energy: reading up and accessing medical assistance for something we haven't got. Because you can never recover from an illness you don't have - no matter how hard you try.
Instead we should put that effort into recovering from the illness we do have: the one that begins with the letter A.
When our nervous system becomes over sensitised through too much worry, stress, over work or disappointment it magnifies our normal concerns ten-fold. That's why we always fear the worst and some people end up obsessed that death is imminent.
Even when we accept that the problem is anxiety and are prescribed medications to bring relief many people have an exaggerated fear of the side effects or becoming addicted and won't take the meds. Nobody wants to rely on medications to feel normal but they can provide much needed temporary relief which is important if you've got family or job responsibilities to consider. Any side effects are minimal compared with mental suffering and nobody should become addicted so long as coming off them is slowly tapered over time.
So I say that medications have a part to play in recovery and don't deserve to be demonised. The breathing space meds give should be used to look into self help methods for recovery from anxiety disorder and the secondary depression that sometimes comes out of the anxiety.
Merely listing one's latest symptoms on this forum on a daily basis is never going to exorcise the beast and neither is just waiting for some spontaneous recovery.
Self-help for recovery means reading up on how we get anxiety and how to overcome it, there are scores of good books out there waiting to be discovered. They can bring reassurance, understanding and courses of action that can lead to full recovery. But many people feel they haven't got the time or concentration to read a book on the subject, though they'll willingly spend hours Googling illnesses they don't have.
The book I always recommend is 'Self help with your nerves' written years ago by Claire Weekes who was first to develop and advocate the Acceptance method that has proved so successful.
So it's important to stay focussed on overcoming the illness we do have and doing something positive about it.
Written by
Jeff1943
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Enduser, to succeed in recovering with the Acceptance method you do need to read her first book to understand exactly what she means by 'acceptance'. Acceptance is only one of four protocols: "Face. Accept. Float. Let time pass".
It's a short very readable book devoid of medical terms written over 50 years ago. Still in print and available from Amazon and Ebay either new or used. It was published in the u.k. under the title "Self help for your nerves" and the same book published in the u.s. under the title "Hope and help for your nerves". The author is the late Claire Weekes - her biography was published recently and the title says it all "The woman who cracked the anxiety code - Claire Weekes". Whatever you decide I wish you a speedy recovery no matter how long and how deeply you may have suffered in the past.
Hb2003, Claire Weekes was a remarkable woman and many people have commented that as they read her first book they feel she knew them personally. A second hand copy from Ebay or Amazon is not at all expensive and helps the environment by cutting down on paper. Good luck should you decide to read it.
Hopefully it helps with my GAD, because the majority of books that I read out there are on anxiety in general or Panic Attacks.
Which don't get me wrong, I think BOTH above are very helpful, just never found "that book" that really hits home with GAD with me yet, and unfortunately I'm kinda piecing things together ATM.
As I always say: if you only read one more book in your life this is that book. Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry at Boston University claims that her method has healed tens of million throughout the world.I thought GAD was the same thing as "anxiety in general".
Weekes does mention all the most common symptoms of anxiety but with the exception of agoraphobia doesn't spend much time on them because (as the title to this post declares) You can never recover from an illness you don't have. She concentrates on the common cause of all such false symptoms: anxiety caused by nervous sensitisation. Overcome that and all the false symptoms yield.
Excellent post Jeff... This should be read over and over by all of us on this forumas a reminder with no "ifs" "Ands" or "Buts" The minute we put doubt into these
healing words everything goes out the window...that is everything but Anxiety
Thank you Agora. Btw Sam went for his procedure today, yes hospitals work Sundays in the u.k., and we await the result of a biopsy. I'll keep you informed.
I have never actually been diagnosed with anxiety. However, I have been diagnosed with ibs. Actually, not just ibs, but extreme ibs. Tubes up, tubes down, blood tests.... All negative. But diagnosed none the less. 2 buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide), 4 times a day. My life was hell. I couldn't commit to anything without the worry that my lower parts would ruin the day, and they usually did. Not to mention the huge list of foods I couldn't eat, all the best stuff. A life of paying through the nose for that special food that tastes like cardboard.
This website, you people, Claire Weekes and propanalol have all contributed to me controlling my anxiety. Since that has been sorted, every symptom of ibs has gone. I now go where I want, when I want, and eat what I want with no complaint from down there...
Another fantastic post Jeff1943 , and a little evidence to help show anyone else struggling that you're absolutely right. Sort the anxiety and the rest is likely to sort itself.
Sleeplessme, that's an incredibly interesting story and an example and encouragement to so many others here. Regarding your Irritable Bowel Syndrome Claire Weekes wrote that the stomach is the part of the body most sympathetic to anxiety. Thank you for sharing.
Great post about recovering from anxiety, I would also add to make sure your adrenals, thyroid and hormones (testosterone level for men) are functioning properly as they can contribute to or cause anxiety if not. The other really important thing to acknowledge is that it really is up to you to be your own "safe person". The right meds and good appropriate therapy can help but it's up to you to do the work and be comfortable in your own skin.
So true designguy, always talk to a doctor in case the symptoms are physical based not anxiety. It brings reassurance apart from anything else. And Yes, we have to take responsibility for our own recoveries not just list your symptoms on a daily basis.
My anxiety creeps back up every now and then and worse then ever, you helped me with one of my posts 2 years ago when i first started having symptoms and i came to your posts now because i knew i was going to read something i needed to at the moment. Not being able to talk to anybody because of the fear of looking crazy or feeling weak because I can’t handle my own mind makes it so hard to overcome this. My google searches is nothing but symptoms that come with us illness and I am so exhausted but I won’t give up.
No doubt two years ago I was recommending the method devised by Claire Weekes for respite and recovery from anxiety disorder in all its forms and in particular her first book 'Self help for your nerves.' May I ask if you ever got as far as reading up on Weekes' method?
Just catching up as I have been away from this forum for some time. This is a great post and reminder of how control freaks like me, can regain some control in a healthy way. I read her books several years ago at your suggestion and still recommend her to others. Thanks for being here!
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
I hope illness doesn’t have us yet 
Recovering from a break up
Can you withdraw from Clonazepam?
