Motivation

[danimariea1]

I feel like I don't have enough motivation or energy to go out and do things. I have been pushing myself to do some activities, but it has been emotionally and physically draining. I am scared to go out, cause I feel like I am going to have an anxiety attack. Does anybody else feel this way, and if so, how do you manage it?

[Dorsey]

Feel like that everyday i just try and keep myself busy. I can feel ok for couple of hours then back it comes again i just cant seem to find an answer but i hope you can. Medication is just a bandaid there has to be something out their to help us all.

[Jeff1943]

Danimariea1, anxiety takes many forms but it is always still anxiety. Some of those forms are very common like stomach upsets, palpitations and agoraphobia. Some are much less common, anxiety is a real shape shifter. Like the voice you hear telling you negative things, this is your anxiety whispering in your ear. Only rather than just a thought that comes to mind you actually hear the words. Over wrought nerves up to their tricks again!

Sometimes your tired brain tries to help. It senses anxiety which it interprets as danger so wants you to stay within the safety of your home. Thus agoraphobia. Thanks, tired brain, nice try, but it doesn't help.

Stay focussed on the cause of your anxiety, a nervous system sensitised by months, maybe years, of fear. If only you could fix that all the strange symptoms and feelings will recede and eventually vanish. Who says you can't fix that no matter how long you've suffered? I say you can.

FACE the fact that you have these problems, don't try to hide behind distractions. Admit it, you fly with the cuckoos just like most of us here☺ Don't try and sneak round your symptoms, face them head on and pass through them.

ACCEPT the symptoms FOR THE TIME BEING. That includes the panic attacks. If one strikes when you're out refuse to fight it. Instead imagine every muscle in your body going limp: the jaw muscle, your limbs, your body muscles. And imagine there's a muscle in your head, imagine that going limp too. Let the panic attack do its worse, it will pass all the quicker because you accept it passively.

FLOAT out of your home and head on up the road. Imagine an invisible force carrying you forward. Don't worry, jelly legs will still get you there and back. So what if you feel panicky, say: "I'm feeling panicky, who cares? Not me, I can put up with a little panic. It's not nice but it isn't going to stop me!" And just float on, offer no resistance, let the waves wash padt you and recede.

AND LET TIME PASS. You took months getting yourself into this state, at least allow some time to pass for your sensitised nerves to recover. You can't truly accept your symptoms and fear them at the same time. So once you cease to feel fear your nerves return to normal and you recover your quiet mind. No matter how long or deeply you have suffered. But Acceptance is no quick fix.

If you can practice true acceptance with persistance (not just "putting up with") then you will heal yourself. Without meds. Without therapy. All your own work with a little help from Claire Weekes.

[Hollick]

Yes, you are not alone. I feel it and have been for some time. It's hard, but keep fighting it, it's the nature of depression and anxiety. Keep hoping that by fighting it, it will get better, it's the only way to go right? Focus on the way you think, and change that as much as possible. Take care of yourself.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Hollick]

Hollick, you say you 'keep hoping that by fighting (anxiety), it will get better'.

When faced with problems the natural and correct response is to fight the problem. But there is one exception: anxiety.

We become anxious because of too much stress and tension in our lives. Finally our nervous system can take no more and it becomes over sensitised. But if we start fighting the strange symptoms sensitised nerves inflict on us the fighting only causes more stress and tension. When in fact our nervous system needs less stress and tension to recover.

This was pointed out some years sgo by Claire Weekes in her first book 'Self help for your nerves'. She devised what she called the acceptance method to recover from anxiety disorder. Instead of fighting our anxiety we should accept it for the time being. We should accept it utterly and calmly and with the minimum of fear.

That way we stop adding more stress and tension to our nervous system: the last thing it needs.

Also, if we frame our mind to accept the symptoms for the moment we stop pumping out fear hormones into our system. It's fear hormones like adrenaline that keep our nerves sensitised. As you can't accept your symptoms and fear them at the same time, we reduce the flow of fear hormone giving our nerves a chance to recover.

This Acceptance method has allowed thousands to recover from the nightmare of anxiety disorder. They achieved this because they stopped fighting their anxiety and were prepared to accept it for the moment.

Fighting helps us solve most problems in life. But only the opposite of fighting, which is to say Acceptance, can help to heal our nerves and restore our quiet mind.

[Hollick in reply to Jeff1943]

The serenity prayer mentions acceptance, my favorite part because it's so true. Thanks for your reply and input.

[BetterDays14]

I always feel that way. I'll sit in the house all day .When I have time walk to a store Get very lightheaded and dry mouthed .