hi everyone!
Again I am slowly getting better. But this evening I am spending the night at my boyfriends house. The last time I saw him I had a really bad panic attack. I know it was just a coincidence, but I’m anxious the same thing will happen. I recognize this thought is irrational and I need to reframe my thinking and focus on the positive. I just want to be able to enjoy my time with him
Go for it. You got this. But if you can’t just change your mind. You’re allowed.
thank you! I’m on my way now and slightly anxious
You have to go through it and prove to yourself that your safe, its ok to feel anxious about it
thank you! I keep telling myself that! I need to prove to myself that I can do it
I had that issue with church, as i had a panic attack there, & i was scared to go back at first. I told myself i need to keep going, to prove it was safe, so i forced myself to keep going, & I'm glad i did. It hasn't happened again. The problem is, by fearing a panic attack, we're just feeding into an endless cycle. We need to just accept that we may have a panic attack, & it's ok. It will pass & u will eventually be back to normal, just like after the last one u had. We get into a vicious cycle of fearing the panic attacks themselves more than whatever the original panic attack was from. We need to accept that a panic attack isn't the end if the world, & convince ourselves that we will be fine even of we do have one. This way, u will stop triggering the flight or mode when thinking about having the next panic attack.
If u read any of Claire weeks' books or DARE, they kinda help u change ur mindset, & it's definitely working for me. I had to go through tough times, but i was basically telling myself I needed to have a panic attack, so i could test everything i learned from those books, & tried to convince myself that i was looking forward to it (i would kinda get fed up, & say "just bring it on already," sometimes). I know it sounds strange, but eventually ur mind doesn't see having another panic attack as as much of a threat, & u can go longer & longer without fearing the next panic attack. Mine have drastically lessened in the past month.
I started practicing this around November sometime, so it took a good 4 months, but i was gradually seeing results starting in January (it took me less & less time to get back to "normal". At 1st i was on edge for weeks after a single attack, but eventually it was down to a day or 2, then i stopped having anxiety from just being scared of having another panic attack). I think it's worth reading up on those methods, if it's possible they can help u like they have me.
thank you so much! Those books sound great. I might have to get one. I totally get what you’re saying about it being a vicious cycle. I feel like I’m always waiting for the next one to happen, which just ends up making me more anxious. I also tend to associate the event that caused the panic attack or what was happening when the panic attack happened to the panic attack itself. For example if I had a panic attack in a restaurant, I would think each time I go to a restaurant I’m going to have one. I know that isn’t true, but sometimes it’s hard to reframe those thoughts.
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