Snap out of it

[jmf3483]

This anxiety comes in waves. The good part about that is it subsided but the bad part is that it comes back. How do you just sit with the anxious feeling and not let it overwhelm you? I keep hearing that you need to face the anxiety and sit with it in order to move past it. But how can you sit with it and not be completely frightened? Any tips?

[Beevee]

Let yourself be frightened. Trying to not feel frightened just means you are tending yourself up for the inevitable onslaught which will happen because you are frightened by it. Let it come, watch it come, let it do its worst. EXCEPT learn not to add more fear to the fear that is already there. This is referred to as second fear which is recognisable as "What if?" Type questions going on in your head. For example, What if I can't control it, what if I never recover? It is the second fear that stokes the anxiety fire and keeps the first fear alive. If you allow yourself to feel anxious and just go with the flow, you will recover.

[jmf3483 in reply to Beevee]

My anxiety is currently stemming from a new relationship. I’m terrified that it won’t work out. But just as you said the “what ifs” start and I cant turn them off. Like why haven’t I heard from him and the anxiety starts and I get a pit in my stomach and I imagine all these terrible scenario and it spirals out of control.

[Jeff1943 in reply to jmf3483]

As Beevee says: let yourself be frightened. Accept it, don't fight it. Just don't respond to the flash of first fear with second fear.

Fear causes stress hormones which keep your nerves on edge and prolongs your anxiety.

Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling but it's not life threatening or physically disabling. You can still talk, walk, read and get on with whatever you need to do. It's just a blip in your wiring.

To recover all you have to do is accept it for the time being. So cultivate acceptace and stop letting strange sensations and strange thoughts bullying you.

You feel anxious, say 'So what? If I had a headache I could still function so why not with anxiety feelings? Why not?'

You feel frightened and panic, say 'Who cares? Nobody ever died of panic. Nobody ever died of being frightened: no death certificate ever written has 'Fright' as the cause of death. So why should I care?'

All those 'what if' things you fear are going to happen, think about it, they never do happen do they. If they were going to happen they would have happened by now, right? So why live in constant fear of something that never has happened, isn't happening and is not going to happen?

You can get by with being anxious specially when you know that accepting it rather than fearing it will make your over sensitised nerves recover.

[jmf3483 in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you!

[jmf3483 in reply to Jeff1943]

It’s just so hard. I keep ruminating over it. I can snap myself out for awhile but then it comes back and seems like a never ending cycle. It’s exhausting. I think I just need to think more positively and trust that the universe has a plan for me and whatever it is I will get through it.

[Jeff1943 in reply to jmf3483]

The solution to your anxiety problems lies in the Acceptance method first described by Doctor Claire Weekes many years ago in her book 'Self help for your nerves' u.k. edition and 'Hope and help for your nerves' u.s. edition both available on Amazon. Read some of the many hundreds of reader reviews on Amazon and you will see what I mean.

[Leah8414]

When it comes out just keep this in mind your body reacts to adrenaline it puts you in flight mode keep yourself busy doing something like taking a walk something that will burn that adrenaline out of your brain .. what you fear when it happens is your over thinking things . Try telling yourself good things keep the fear of it away . I know it's hard but adrenaline can't harm you it boost up your body to go go go . But your mind don't know how to handle it so it reacts to what negative thoughts you may be thinking ..