Claire Weekes method, how?

[Emolk]

Hello everyone, I have been suffering from anxiety for nearly 2.5 years now. I came across Claire Weekes about ~4 months into my suffering and have been reading/trying to understand her work ever since (a long time).

I just don't 'get it'. I've read most of her books and all her audios, I still don't understand exactly what I'm meant to be doing or practising.

For some background, the thing I struggle with is the symptoms. Thoughts are not my problem. Constantly quickly beating heart, churning stomach, panic flashes etc. I've read all i can on claire weekes method but nothing seems to be getting better, in fact im at my worst right now.

Has anyone recovered using claire weekes method that was similar to me, only problem was the terrible symptoms? Could you please explain exactly what im meant to do, exactly how to accept etc., i just dont get it. I try to practise it but i just get worse, for years.

What exactly do I need to do / practise in terms of the symptoms? How exactly do I accept the symptoms etc.

Thanks

[Dolphin14]

Hi

I've never read Weekes. There are a few people here that have.

If you join the Anxiety group also you will find a member that's very fluent in Weekes

🐬

[ZOO7]

I’m not great at this either but for me I have become better at not panicking when my anxiety is higher. My skin flushed/rashes..I get headaches, feel brain foggy/nausea. I try to do deep breathing, take a walk outdoors, lift light weights and listen to podcast/meditations. These things seems to diminish the “high” of the physical symptoms. Mine have not gone away just have become more accepting like “I’m ok”, “ this too shall pass”, “you are ok” “ take a breath, breathe”.

[Artistfriend]

The confusing thing about acceptance is that its not supposed to make you feel better right away. Its literally about being ok with however you feel and not adding more anxiety. So much is about our fears of the anxious symptoms, if we can reduce our fears of the symptoms then we can go forward knowing that we are ok and that they are just symptoms of anxiety and nothing more.

It has definitely helped me a great deal but i would also look at other more modern books, they say the same thing but in a different language thats sometimes easier to relate to.

I also have to add that its about addressing the causes as well, you can be an expert at managing anxiety but if your not dealing with the root causes in yourself youre not addressing the big picture

[Emolk]

What other books do you suggest? I don't have a 'root' cause, im simply in an anxiety cycle as claire weekes says.

[SayNOtoPanic]

I have Dr Weekes books on audible and frequent listen. I discovered it during big struggles and it says a lot but really means one thing, acceptance. Basically sit in the panic in the symptoms and don’t fight them or respond to them just let them be. Man!!! That is the biggest challenge. Cause of course with anxiety we are afraid. Fear to the max. Throw in the physical terror and how do u accept. So I took on meditation. And mindfulness.have you tried either? Try How to train your Mind by Chris Bailey. Prayers up for you.

[Dell12345]

If it help I have only found mindfulness and the Clare weeks sort of method helpful to a point. By far the most helpful has been medication.

But therapy and learning to accept the horrible feelings can be helpful for gradual exposure.

[Bramble2000]

try Autogenics?

[Madaboutsinging]

Claire Weeks' teaching is the basis of modern CBT training. I did the free NHS CBT course, which you can get via your GP surgery website. I have found this enormously helpful in getting through bouts of anxiety, and Dr Weeks'books now make so much more sense to me.