A Bit of Hope for You

[Ellishart]

I have been posting a lot on here about dizziness, headaches, and a general problem accepting that all the physical symptoms I was feeling could be attributed to anxiety, despite doctors' reassurances. Well, after about 2 months of therapy sessions, reading Claire Weekes' book, lots of meditation and mindfulness, and tons of CBT exercises, yesterday felt...a bit better. Not perfect by any means! I still feel flashes of all my most dreaded symptoms quite frequently. They just don't seem quite as bad. And when they do come, and again it is still so very often, I am able to let them go a bit easier.

I'm writing this because I think many of us dream of that day where we wake up and feel PERFECT. I think that expectation can lead to such disappointment. That was happening for me every morning; I woke up hoping to be magically "cured" and wasn't, so I became even more stressed and panicked. But yesterday morning I woke up in a particularly bad state but was able, by the end of the day, to feel something close to okay. That little win helped me so much that I wanted to share it with all of you. Honestly, it almost feels like a super power to be able to resist making things worse when I start to feel the symptoms coming on for the time being.

Again, I could be an absolute wreck an hour from now, who knows? But this brief feeling like progress CAN happen and that I am not completely at the mercy of this anxiety is going to motivate me to keep at it. Sorry this got long, but I hope it helps those of you out there who need to hear it too. It's the hardest thing I've ever had to confront, but for the first time since I've been really trying to tackle the root of my issues, I feel like maybe it's possible.

[mel-waukee]

Wooohoo! Every small step counts! Keep up the good efforts

[Ellishart in reply to mel-waukee]

Thanks! I definitely still feel the lightheadness and headaches, etc. I guess I just feel slightly less afraid of them/more in control? Good luck with your journey too!

[JAYnLA]

I love this... and this has been exactly my trajectory using similar tools. Yes, healing may be slow sometimes but progress is the biggest gift in the world when we notice it!

[Icanbeathis2016]

Thank you for your encouragement. Yes the small steps, progress, victories matter. We as anxiety sufferers will get lost in thinking we want to feel "normal again" or feel like how we once felt before anxiety came along. When we should pat ourselves on the back more often for the little victories.

Wish us the best😊

[jessiejakes]

Thank you for sharing ,you start to get more and more good days and the physical symptoms start to go .keep doing what you are doing read doctor Weekes book and follow her advise ACCEPT whatever anxiety throws at you and I promise you ! That you will lose your fear of your symptoms and anxiety ,accepting it s the answer.well done and hope you continue with your recovery.