We underestimate the power of body and mind to heal themselves. No less true of anxiety disorder as anything else.
Our nervous system can only take so much stress, worry, overwork, grief, disappointment, you know, the usual suspects. Then our nerves become hyper sensitive and all those symptoms that blight our lives make themselves known.
But almost immediately a recovery process kicks in: given time, peace and quiet our mind will heal itself and our shattered nerves. All too often this process is undermined by our own clumsy efforts to help ourselves.
We switch into fighting mode, "I must beat this thing", adding further stress and strain to a nervous system crying out for peace. We start to imagine the worst case scenario and frighten ourselves half to death: soon we're pumping out more stress and fear hormones that only serve to further the hyper sensitivity of our nerves. We refuse to believe the diagnosis of doctors who say it's all anxiety and waste time treating ourselves for illnesses we don't have - causing ourselves more trauma in the process.
So much for the peace and quiet our nerves crave for so they can calmly repair themselves.
The best thing we can do to recover is to do nothing. Accept the symptoms calmly and without fear and leave recovery to your mind's own healing force. Engage in what Claire Weekes called Masterly Inactivity*. Here's how she described it: "Masterly inactivity means to give up the struggle, to stop tensely holding on to yourself, trying to control your fear, trying 'to do something about it' while subjecting yourself to constant self-analysis. It means to cease trying to navigate your way out of breakdown by meeting each obstacle as if it were a challenge that must be met before recovery is possible."
There you have it from the Doctor who directly and indirectly has helped more people find recovery than any other therapist.
The natural human response to any problem is to fight it tooth and nail. Where anxiety disorder is concerned it's best to leave recovery to your mind and body and avoid getting in the way.
*Dr. Claire Weekes, M.B.E., M.B., DSc., F.R.A.C.P. 'Self help for your nerves - Learn to relax and enjoy life again by overcoming stress and fear' 1995 edition.
Written by
Jeff1943
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Yes Animegirl, it's also published as 'Hope and help with your nerves' in the U.S. but it's the same book. Available new or pre-owned om Amazon and Ebay. This book sets out Claire Weekes Acceptance method for recovering from anxiety disorder in all its forms. It was written many years ago but is considered by many to be the pre-eminant self-help book for anxiety disorder. It's fairly short, no technical terms and you will soon recognise yourself in its pages. The combined total of reader reviews for all Claire Weekes books on the U.S. and U.K. versions of Amazon is 1600 reviews in the past few years alone, 90% of those reviews rate her books and her method as Very Good or Excellent.
"Masterly inactivity means to give up the struggle, to stop tensely holding on to yourself, trying to control your fear, trying 'to do something about it' while subjecting yourself to constant self-analysis. It means to cease trying to navigate your way out of breakdown by meeting each obstacle as if it were a challenge that must be met before recovery is possible."....
This makes wonderful sense, and is similar to the Buddhist following.
Some people however, have or may have a neurological condition connected to the spinal cord about which little can be done. I am spina bifida occulta, which caused me much pain and hence anxiety from a young age, (I am 86 now, and in my childhood less was known than today.) This makes the way of dealing with it suggested by Clare Weekes even more helpful, by allowing the mind to help heal the anxiety problem. Again this is related to a relaxed attitude towards life.
This approaches the Spiritual (I am not talking about "Religion" here, far from it) and it is well worth heeding its wisdom .
Just a little reminder that you are now free to do as you wish because you have come through ever single challenge you have ever faced. Tomorrow is going to be a great day for you. You get to go someplace fun because you are WELL now!
I appreciate your encouragement very much, and just KNOW that you have a wealth of deep seated wisdom, which I thank you for sharing. I hope all your tomorrows are great days too.
You are right Jeff. Sometimes its hard to distinguish between 'giving up' and 'stepping back', as one is negative and the other positive. I guess its all abt trying to stop analysing yourself to get answers. Its very hard to find peace and quiet without feeling lonely. It seems to be either chaotic or the opposite in my life. I guess that is due to losing Chris and the support. Support is so important, but most people only give it for a limited time, and then you're on your own. Its a feeling they give you that you're irritating...and that's the last thing you want to be....a burdon to anyone! Pauline
Pauline, funnily enough I thought about you yesterday wondering how you were getting on, was going to PM you. I hope they're treating you better in your new job than the previous one and your 'lodgers' are being a help to you.
One of the facts of life is that if you have a partner inevitably one will go first leaving the other one alone. I know that Chris went before his time but sooner or later it happens to 50% of us and we are left to grieve. We must just never feel that we're too old to make new friends and develop new interests. I hope you've been feeling better than before and the occupation of a better job than before has helped to brighten things for you.
Jeff, l love my job now. It's hard work but my colleagues are so nice. Its very tense in the house, and we are starting to have fallings out. Darren's trial starts 1st Oct and sentencing is end of Oct. I've just finished the last of the Sertraline, but take a Propanalol as and when. I have times when anxiety just rushes through me but lm dealing with it a lot better. I'm finding that l can cry when l need to as the tablets stopped me doing that, and it relieves the stress. How are you doing Jeff, how's life treating you? Pauline
I'm glad things are turning around for you, Pauline, that's good news about your work. I remember how badly you were treated before. Also feeling confident enough to come off the Setraline is an excellent sign too.
I hope things don't go too badly for Darren in October. My grandson comes out after 6 years in a few weeks, we're hoping for a smooth transition. He's nearly 30 but he's coming out a better man than he went in. Life is treating me kindly at the moment though at 75 I notice you start to lose muscular strength. All those adverts for things to help you get out the bath aren't so funny any more. We're great grandparents now with another great grandson due any day. Must be very confusing for a 2 year old with all these dads, grandads and great grandads around. PM me when you know about Darren, my grandson says wearing a crucifix in the dock always helps😏
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