Anxiety Support

[alxox25]

Does any one know how to apply Claire Weekes method?

[Jeff1943]

Her acceptance method for recovering from anxiety disorder is set out clearly in her first book 'Self help for your nerves' uk edition also published as 'Hope and help for your nerves' us edition. Both available new or used from Amazon.

You apply her method by practicing what she teaches, there are no shortcuts.

There are also plenty of good YouTube videos about Claire explaining her method which suppory rather than replace her first book which has sold over 350,000 copies since first published.

[Agora1 in reply to Jeff1943]

Jeff1943, I've been saving this one for you. Did you notice all of us were afraid to touch this. You are truly the "Guru of Acceptance"

[Lin1944 in reply to Jeff1943]

Hi Jeff, I follow all your posts but when I am very anxious I find it so hard to follow Claire Weekes advice, I have the book on your recommendation. I ruminate instead of trying to relax and accept. I must keep trying as the bouts of anxiety are really getting me down. My new Doctor thinks I may have mild bipolar which makes sense, thanks for helping from Lin

[Jeff1943 in reply to Lin1944]

Hi Lin, yes putting Claire Weekes' method into practice can be slow and hard work to begin with. So many people read her first book and are greatly reassured but they don't manage the last step.

Cultivating a new state of mind is difficult to describe but with perseverance everyone can get there. To begin with "glimpsing" acceptance just for a minute or two is a good start and something to build on.

Then there's the technique of letting all the muscles in your body go limp and imagine there's a muscle in your brain and feel that going limp too.

"Oh no you don't, Anxiety, I'm not falling for that one again, you're looking for a fight, well I'm not going to fight you back and I'm not going to flood my system with fear, that's what you want, isn't it? I'm going to engage in 'masterly inactivity', do nothing, see how you like that. I will destroy you and lose this feeling of anxiety because I don't care whether I feel anxious or not, I'm just carrying on. I'm not blanking you out, I know you're there, but I've stopped caring whether you're there or not. And that's why I'm going to be able to recover."

[Lin1944 in reply to Jeff1943]

Thanks Jeff, will try that so fingers crossed.from Lin

[Tinkynutbug]

Claire also has inexpensive CD’s you can listen to her soothing voice.

Read the book over and over especially to any section that talks to you.’

I pray before I read it aaking God to help me.’

Best of luck

God bless you

[Jeff1943 in reply to Tinkynutbug]

You're so right, Tinkynutbug, rereading sections of Claire Weekes' books that most reflect our needs allow our response to anxiety to become almost a reflex action which is good. Those of us who understand God's purpose know that no prayer is ever left unanswered though not necassarily in the way we're expecting. Someone who went through a near death experience once asked Him why there is so much suffering in the world. His reply was: "There has to be pain because there is love." Or as it is written 'Not for ever by still waters'.

Of course, for most people today science is the new religion.

[Tinkynutbug in reply to Jeff1943]

Very beautifully put!

[designguy]

What helped me was deciding to truly not care whether I had anxiety or not. I thought of acceptance as being like a person who is confronted by a bear, supposedly the best thing is to stop, curl up like a ball and let it come, giving up all resistance to it. I figured that my worst feelings were from the anxiety, which I already had, so what was the worst that could happen? I had already survived it, numerous times, so fighting, denying it or trying to out-think it was futile and not necessary. It took time and I had periods of white-knuckling it but I made the mental commitment to accepting it and looking at it as a game or challenge. When I would feel it coming on I would consciously allow it and try to make it even bigger and worse and over time it would diminish and disappear. The durations progressively got shorter.

What I also realized was that when I was ruminating about accepting my anxious feelings, etc..., I thought i was accepting them but I was really trying to make them go away and stop. As subtle as the conscious ruminating was, it was perpetuating and maintaining the anxiety, that is why true acceptance that you are ok with or without your anxious feelings is the only solution. All of the talk about anxiety being a paradox is really true, the more you resist the more it persists.

The other important part of recovery is to check your self out to see if there is any physical component contributing to your anxiety. There are physiological things like thyroid, adrenal fatigue, poor diet, etc... that can physically interfere with your mood and brain function that can influence anxiety and depression. I had hypothyroid, adrenal fatigue and pyroluria which, when treated properly, made a big difference in lowering and managing my anxiety.

[Jeff1943 in reply to designguy]

Great post we can all learn from designguy's experience.

[19malpas]

Hi alxoxis ls this a coincidence or what, only yesterday i was watchings claire weeks videos on YouTube, she has made 4. I have read her books but would rather listen to her, i think the answer is to keep listening to her she is very relaxing. Good luck.

[Agora1 in reply to 19malpas]

19malpas, I too find it easier in not getting distracted if I am listening to someone on YouTube or a CD. Continued success in her teachings. xx

[stde]

For many years I read most self help books, and went to loads of alternate therapies...

I was lost and seeking peace of mind...

In the end the only thing that worked for me, and still does a day at a time, is understanding how the mind works...

If it is agitated it will make up stories (anxiety)...through time with exhaustion it can lead to depression...

I try not to react to anything, reaction is the pathway to discontent...I watch for euphoric feelings and control them as being happy and sad is life....but when on a high you can crash..(the bigger the wave the deeper the trough)...

I try to mind my own business, my life is enough to deal with...

I try not to criticize, who am I to judge others...

I pray to my god, or my self conscious to guide me...

And don't hold anger or resentment, you are the only one they hurt.....talk to someone you can trust...empty your head...

Most of all become the observer in life, watching, not judging, not making up stories, not getting hurt, realising those that hurt you might be sicker than you...

Understand that imagination can be your best friend or worst enemy....

Take your foot of the accelerator...this is Your life, enjoy it...

So my humble opinion is feel the fear and do it anyway is good but exhausting, why not just understand that fear, most of the time, is just your mind making up stories...

Embrace it for it knows no better

[Jeff1943 in reply to stde]

Excellent post!