Symptoms.

[Minnie87]

Is it possible to make a habit of a symptom?

Like it just becomes a way of life and all you think about so it happens more? Xx

[Sixty4]

Yes I believe you can , I feel I make mine worse every day but can’t stop myself, it’s very tiring.

[Minnie87 in reply to Sixty4]

Yes!!this is exactly it!its so frustrating!

[Agora1]

Hi Minnie, it's just me putting in my 2 cents worth

I'm starting to believe that the whole Anxiety concept is nothing

but a habit. Once we get hit with an Anxiety/Panic attack, we don't

drop it. It then becomes a "what if" issue that ends up growing into

a fearful habit. You know the saying, "What you think is what you get"

and boy do we get it day in and day out. If we fear going to sleep at night

because of waking up to morning anxiety, I can guarantee you, it will be there.

It becomes a well trained habit. The thing I don't understand is what are we

getting out of it. It's a miserable feeling, it's wearing and it robs us of living.

It becomes so much a part of us that when we do have a day or moments of

calm, we still think about it by wondering where those feelings went. That's

a habit. But habits are meant to break. With time and the right tools for

each of us, it can be done. And that's what we are all striving for. That rainbow

ending. Sending a gentle hug xx

[Minnie87 in reply to Agora1]

Agora I was patiently waiting for your reply.

Thank god for your two cents.😃

How are you?

I totally agree with everything you said.

For me anxiety/symptoms become something I’m almost scared not to have.

Especially when I’m stressed and can’t cope with things.

I was in a very violent relationship when I first developed physical anxiety and one night when I was being strangled I believed that I couldn’t cope with that and overnight told myself I wouldn’t be able to swallow food.that became my everyday focus for two years and then when I let it go it finally went away.im praying this is what will happen with this constant lightheadedness etc.

How have you been feeling recently? Xxx

[Agora1 in reply to Minnie87]

I'm fine Minnie. I so sorry you went through such a horrific experience. And that would

certainly explain your focus in swallowing food. I am glad that it finally went away.

It is all about letting go, accepting where and how it came about and moving forward.

When I first started with anxiety, I hated the lightheadedness that I felt each and every

day. Test after test, doctor after doctor couldn't convince me that something dire wasn't going on. It wasn't until I switched from reading medical books to reading

psychological books on the Mind/Body Connection did I start understanding it more.

There were things that I realized I might be doing wrong. Not hydrating enough could

cause my dizzy headed feeling as well as not breathing properly. Not because I had a

medical issue but because I was so scared and nervous all the time that it made me

shallow breathe and even at times hold my breath while talking or going up steps.

I still catch myself to this day, in holding my breath unintentionally when I go up steps.

The difference is I am aware when I get symptoms in correcting it immediately by deep

breathing. The key to my getting better has been in accepting that this was anxiety

and that I had the power to overturn those feelings and get back control of my life.

For me, it's been meditation and deep breathing along with finding and using other methods I find on YouTube every day. Living with a mental health issues is a learning experience for sure. Your lightheaded feeling will go away one day, when you can truly

not fear it. I will support you through this. Breathe Minnie and exhale long and slow xx

[Minnie87 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you agora.

Honestly I appreciate your messages so much.

I totally agree with the shallow breathing.i find myself actually holding my breathe and sucking my tummy in all the time.

It’s like a constant state of looking at a lion in front of you.

I’m exhausted.

I really need to carry on with the deep breathing and keep it going.i find it hard to relax and start tapping my feet as it feels so uncomfortable to be relaxed.I dont know if that makes any sense!

I’m going to have a look on you tube today and find some useful pages to help.

Did you have a nice weekend?what did you get up to? Xxx

[Ragdoll15 in reply to Minnie87]

Yes I can relate to all this. One of my worse symptoms is not being able to keep my body still and I am constantly tensing myself up and just cannot relax. If. I try to relax it feels so abnormal that I'm fearful that this will get worse. I try to hide it from others but it's so difficult trying to overcome this.

[Funkyfaerie in reply to Agora1]

Hi Agora1,

I totally agree with the holding the breath thing.

I sometimes notice I'm not breathing when watching tv, or even drying my hair or chopping veg for dinner. I wonder if its a concentration thing for me, like for instance mh hubby will stick his tongue out a little bit when concentrating!

It's certainly become a habit for me and it's not good.

Like worrying about going to bed cos I might have a panic attack....and guess what I do.

So exhausting.....

[peanutbuttercup]

I think that is the very definition of anxiety. I don’t if it habit or preoccupation or both, but you’ve definitely bonked the nail on its head.

[Agora1 in reply to peanutbuttercup]

It's funny peanutbuttercup, in that I never really thought of it that way

until I saw Minnie's Post tonight. I never thought of anxiety as a habit

like smoking, drinking, biting your nails etc. I hope to hear from others

as to what they think. xx

[masa2333]

I think it is absolutely possible! My first panic attack was out of nowhere, I was with my boyfriend on a trip and we were in bed trying to fall asleep. All of the sudden, boom ! Spent the night in the ER, and ever since I just constantly think about it, I’m questioning myself, and I’m scared. I had recurring panic attacks for 20 days straight and then started medication. Helped with the symptoms but thoughts are still there

[Minnie87 in reply to masa2333]

I do think it becomes a way of life.in the same way that other habits do.constant thinking about symptoms etc.

[masa2333 in reply to Minnie87]

Yes if you allow it to. I think someone can be cure, but needs a strong will, and a good support group and therapy program. Unfortunately, many people with anxiety isolates themself and feel alone, me included.

[Calm_mama]

I agree 110%

[Ironj]

The quick answer to the question would be yes... it’s OCD you start ruminating about what’s provoking the anxiety. So you dwell on it constantly. It’s the what if’s that just wont let go.

Best wishes John

[Pontiac1979]

Yes

[Calm_mama]

The good news is that habits can be broken 👍🏻

[designguy]

Yes anxiety can become a habit and our default. So can the typical hypervigilance and scanning for symptoms. I think it is our way of trying to stay in control, especially when we don't understand or can't accept what anxiety really is. It all compounds the anxiety because our anxious thoughts and ruminations fuel the anxiety and help perpetuate it and the constant focusing on it reinforces the cycle.

[Minnie87 in reply to designguy]

Totally agree with this!!