COLD, WET SENSATIONS

[Harzee]

Hi everyone. Just wondering if any of you get cold, wet sensations due to anxiety? Like it feels like something cold or wet is touching you? Does it happen a lot?

[Jeff1943]

Harzee, I don't understand why you are still swapping symptoms. Swapping more symptoms is not going to cure them. You've established that you're experiencing health anxiety. You have a copy of Claire Weekes' "Self help for your nerves" that has sold one-third of a million copies. You have everything you need to begin your recovery. I suggest you don't need any more symptom swapping, I suggest you should be reading and rereading that book as if your future depends on it. Because it does.

[sweetiepye in reply to Jeff1943]

What a harsh response . I imagine you like to be in control but you are being a bully. Pam

[Jeff1943 in reply to sweetiepye]

Pam, I am not a bully, but sometimes after long exchanges with someone and lengthy attempts to help them you have to spell things out in a way that involves some criticism, it's in their interests. Been on here trying to help for 2 years, never been accused of controlling or bullying before.

[sweetiepye in reply to Jeff1943]

Maybe I owe you an apology , but I made a decision to call people out on their behavior whenever I notice verbal abuse or bullying. That may not have been your intention but it comes across that way. It might be time to let her sink or swim. Pam

[Jeff1943 in reply to sweetiepye]

Whilst the normal default is nice there are times when bluntness is called for if you think it is helpful, we are allowed to criticise each other here. I don't see phrases like "I don't understand while you are still swapping symptons" as abuse or bullying and do not accept that it comes across that way.

Many people here just go on listing their symptoms post after post. Whilst it is good to record one's symptoms to begin with it's more helpful if people then move on to address the cause of their symptoms which is sensitisation of the nervous system and how to overcome it. So if someone is stuck in symptom swapping mode I say to them it's time to move on.

The symptoms of anxiety disorder are not organic or physical in origin though they can feel very realistic. They are fake symptoms mimicing real symptoms, something our nervous system and mind are very good at. So I tell people: you can't cure yourself of an illness you don't have no matter how hard you try.

Only if there is no hope of encouraging someone to re-focuss would I leave them to sink or swim.

[sweetiepye in reply to Jeff1943]

About the sink or swim part, I only meant that she may be to dependent on you. At some point you do have to do it yourself, face whatever your fear is. I agree with much of what you say. I went through this myself many years ago. People would tell me what I needed to do but I was so fearful I couldn't do anything. Then one day it hit me I had no life and I was angry at myself for allowing this to happen to me. That's when I started to face it.That's why I think everyone comes to recovery when they are ready.

[Harzee in reply to sweetiepye]

What were your symptoms?

[sweetiepye in reply to Harzee]

It would be shorter to tell you what I didn't have but here goes...palpitations, head rushes, feeling dizzy, weak jelly legs, fear of driving, couldn't leave my house, feeling like I wasn't really real. I had two years of therapy twice a week and was put on valium to calm me down. I went back to college at 36 so I had made this commitment and had to go. So I learned to do everything in panic mode. You really can't focus on two things at once and give both your full attention. So eventually as I paid less and less attention to anxiety and panic they went away. When I was in the middle of a panic attack I would say to it' go ahead do your worst' It only has as much power as you give it.It's like walking through fire, it strengthens you. Pam

[Jeff1943 in reply to sweetiepye]

Sweetiepye, what you say about paying less and less attention to anxiety and it goes away, saying to go ahead and do your worst as anxiety only has as much power as you give it and walking through the fire (symptoms) not round them really are key points for recovery.

At the risk of becoming the proverbial gramophone record I always advise everyone to read the first book of Doctor Claire Weekes titled 'Hope and help for your nerves'* where she sets out her acceptance method for recovery. Fifty years and one third of a million copies later it continues to bring understanding, reassurance and a road plan to recovery to thousands. I mention this because what you wrote is very much along the lines of her method. Have you come across Claire Weekes or were these things you discovered yourself?

* U.S. title - in the U.K. the same book is titled 'Self help for your nerves'.

[sweetiepye in reply to Jeff1943]

I heard about Dr. Weekes after my recovery. I wish I had known about her. I had a very good therapist . The bottom line though is you have to do it yourself. I will pick up a copy of her book. I think it will be helpful in advising people on here