They say that anxiety always attacks us in the weakest part of our body. For some people that's their stomach, others it's their chest, me it's my eyes.
Had one too many problems to solve recently so three days ago I begin to see a shimmer on anything bright. Then I notice this dark elliptical shape viewed for a split second when I blink whilst looking at a white background like clouds or a white wall. A clear case of sensitisation of the nerves serving my eyes.
I'm lucky though, 44 years ago I read a certain book about high anxiety that taught me everything I need to know. That book has sold over one-third of a million copies since first published according to Wikipedia.
I've also had these visual disturbances before and I know it will go and it can't damage my eyes. Armed with that knowledge, from both the book and from experience, I felt no fear. I didn't stress or obsess about it.
Not that I'm any braver than anyone else here, it's just that I wasn't bewildered by this symptom, I was prepared for it by experience and what I'd read in the book I discovered 44 years ago.
And because I felt no fear, no obligation to fight it, a willingness to accept it for the moment, I'm not flooding my nervous system with stress and fear hormones that will keep the visual phenomena alive far into the future.
I can't put a number of days, or weeks, or maybe even months on it but I know it will pass in it's own good time and can do no damage.
So instead of retiring to a darkened room to stress and obsess and fight my demons I drove 80 miles to the coast today and sat in the sun talking with friends and then drove back. Carry on as normal, see. You can't beat the symptoms of anxiety by trying to go round them, you have to pass through them to recover.
Like I say, I'm no braver than anyone else here but my advantage is I know what it is, I know its limitations and I know it will soon pass because I accept it for the moment. So I feel no fear.
I can well understand though that someone experiencing this for the first time won't know what's hit them and their fear of the unknown will grow and grow ably assisted by a fertile imagination.
Everyone experiencing the symptoms of high anxiety for the first time will feel bewildered and frightened, first fear followed by second fear ad infinitum.
That's why it's important for everyone to understand the Whys and Whats of anxiety disorder to replace bewilderment with reassurance and panic with the methods that overcome all.
Written by
Jeff1943
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Tha n you Jeff1943. I always enjoy your posts and find them encouraging. I’m still reading the book, not quite done yet as I have been talking my time. Thanks again!
Hello what book did you both read ,I hate feeling anxious and hate change ,my job is going through lots of changes its really hard and effects my tummy ,thank you x
Hi Tigglypoo, the book is titled 'Self help for your nerves' by Doctor Claire Weekes available new or used on Amazon. It was written many years ago and has sold one-third of a million copies. It will bring reassurance, understanding and a path to recovery using the Acceptance method she devised. It is short, easy to read and you will soon recognise yourself in its pages. I commend this book to those experiencing anxiety disorder in all its forms. She wrote other books but this one, the first, is the one that says it all.
Yes but sometimes it’s not that easy . I wish I only had eyes problems . Mine changes every frigin day . I do not run and hide . But some days , well most it just won’t leave me !!
Nobody says it is easy, Jodz, far from it. But there is a simple way to overcome anxiety disorder though it is hard and takes time. The method I support is the Acceptance method of Doctor Claire Weekes as expressed in her book 'Self help for your nerves'. No quick fixes but it brings understanding and reassurance and a road to recovery. That's the method I was referring to. In my case my anxiety disorder is inherited so it revisits me from time to time but because I understand its limitations and how to counter it I'm fine 95% of the time. I think about 25% of people experiencing anxiety have inherited it.
Yes mine is inherited as well , but Mum and Dad thought I was just a little sook as a kid lol . Those days they didn’t know it was anxiety , I was told like 30 years later .
Thank you for your post Jeff. I've heard so many good things about that book that I just ordered myself a copy. I have suffered with depression and horrible anxiety for a long time so I've learned to not fight it from experience but I can use all the help I can get.
That book has helped so many to turn their lives around, I sincerely hope that before long it helps you towards full recovery. It was written 50 years ago so some of the social contexts she refers to are a little dated but the substance of her acceptance method is as valid as it ever was. Thank you for your message
I got a burning sensation for a week know hard to shake like a bad hart burn went to er they did ekg it was normal. 2 days ago it was burning so bad my doctor did ekg a cheast x Ray I’m stuck don’t know what’s next
010221968, I'm no doctor but this could be reflux as in indigestion. I'd go back and see your doctor and suggest the reflex which he can give omeprazol for or if it's not that ask him or her to continue to investigate it before accepting that it's anxiety which of course is a possibility.
That's kinda what I'm talking about, we don't need, and I express the word need antidepressants, are own body and mind is the key to are health Jeff, and I have major problems, maybe not like you, but I'm not good either. But I've learned to simply know it's a certain way are bodies feel sometimes. And everyone is stressed from time to time, wich causes feeling's of depression, some worse than others. And I don't recommend cannabis for everyone, but like antidepressants, it's worth a try. Antidepressants literally readjust your own natural mind. Sorry but I don't agree with having my mind rebuilt just to make me a little more stress free, that's not how God created this world. We're supposed to go up and down in life, it's called happy and sorrowful. But it was God's plan for the world.
To recover from anxiety disorder using self help techniques and/or talking cures is always the preferred option. But if someone is overwhelmed by anxiety to the point that they cannot function and they have family and work commitments that cannot be neglected then a period of respite using anti depressants is the right course to take. It will not cure but it brings blessed relief. During that period of respite the person should read up on anxiety and the methods of over coming it and when ready come off the meds and start practicing what they have learnt. It may take several attempts. But although nobody wants to stay on meds for the rest of their life nobody should dismiss the tremendous help they have given to millions of people including myself.
I find it strange Quietly, that whilst dismissing meds you think it's o.k. to try cannabis which contains psychoactive substances that can precipitate neurosis and psychosis most especially amongs people already experiencing anxiety disorder. There have been just too many people reporting here how cannabis had caused them so many mental health issues to believe otherwise.
These things are sent to try us and we must all expect difficult times beside the happy times: we all have our cross to bear, who is without one? But retiring to a dark room in mental anquish with children to care for and a job to hold down for want of an antidepressant is not necessarily part of God's plan.
That's my point Jeff, I take life as if it were normal, but I'm not depressed because I'm only on my way down the weening road of recovery. I only took Zoloft for a little over a month, but that wasn't my choice. I have epilepsy Jeff and the drugs I take are to basically keep me alive, I'm not talking about antidepressants. I take Keppra, Dilantin and phenobarbital , for 41yrs , that's when my ignorant Neurologist put me on Zoloft for depressed feelings and anger issues, but I'm weening myself off without that doctors help. And yes, I'm having some problems coming off the drug, but that's okay, I can control myself and don't need a crutch.
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I wish I could be a live in the moment kind of person Im tired of the familiarity of living in fear I'm now afraid of brain tumor
Emetophobia - fear of vomiting
