Mesandy
10-18-2007, 05:17 PM
believe the best way to feel better and be on your road to recovery is to take action -- now! You cannot depend on medicines or therapists to do all the work for you -- you must be willing to do it yourself. It's all about pushing yourself a little each day. Do SOMETHING, anything, to begin the process.
The first and foremost thing is to begin to look at panic in a new way. When you first feel the symptoms of panic (whatever they may be), learn to "relax into it."
When I feel my symptoms coming on, I say to myself, "Oh, that's just my BODY panicking" and let it pass through me like a wave of energy. Sometimes, I even visualize that my body is see-through (like a ghost) -- and I let those beginning panicky feelings just pass through me.
To be able to do this, you must be good at relaxing.
This takes practice (action!) as well. Spend 20 minutes per day meditating -- that is, relaxing in a comfortable sitting position with no distractions. Concentrate on your breathing. This exercise is like any other -- the more you do it, the better you get, and the easier and quicker it is to RELAX.
Also, when you feel those beginning panic sensations, don't try to distract yourself or tell yourself that it's not happening. That's what we all do, right?! Big NO, NO. Again, you need to say to yourself -- "It's just my BODY panicking -- I'm nervous because I'm in a new situtation -- If I don't over-react to this, it will pass quickly" ... and guess what? It will!
For me, it's like disconnecting my thinking from my bodily sensations. If you can learn to do this (and you can, with practice!) you'll begin to recover at a surprising rate.
Just "waiting" for your body to be done with that "little thing" it does will keep you from getting into the second phase of scary thinking -- like "I'm having a heart attack" or "I'm dizzy and I'm going to crash the car" or whatever. That second phase of scary thinking is what brings on a full blown panic attack.
I have suffered with panic, anxiety and phobias since my early 20's. I thought I had tried everything, but really what I had tried was having someone/something else fix me. If you want to get better, start WORKING on it yourself -- give up caffeine, sugar; cut down or quit red meats, alcohol; walk every day; meditate every day; study self-help material; go to therapy; be kind to yourself; and face your fears (if only a tiny bit) EACH and EVERY DAY. If you do this, your confidence will begin to grow radically; you will feel empowered; and you'll slide right into a more normal lifestyle.
Accept that you have this condition and that you will have to work to feel better for the rest of your life. Be thankful that there is SOMETHING YOU CAN DO!
thanks,
mesandy:) .
The first and foremost thing is to begin to look at panic in a new way. When you first feel the symptoms of panic (whatever they may be), learn to "relax into it."
When I feel my symptoms coming on, I say to myself, "Oh, that's just my BODY panicking" and let it pass through me like a wave of energy. Sometimes, I even visualize that my body is see-through (like a ghost) -- and I let those beginning panicky feelings just pass through me.
To be able to do this, you must be good at relaxing.
This takes practice (action!) as well. Spend 20 minutes per day meditating -- that is, relaxing in a comfortable sitting position with no distractions. Concentrate on your breathing. This exercise is like any other -- the more you do it, the better you get, and the easier and quicker it is to RELAX.
Also, when you feel those beginning panic sensations, don't try to distract yourself or tell yourself that it's not happening. That's what we all do, right?! Big NO, NO. Again, you need to say to yourself -- "It's just my BODY panicking -- I'm nervous because I'm in a new situtation -- If I don't over-react to this, it will pass quickly" ... and guess what? It will!
For me, it's like disconnecting my thinking from my bodily sensations. If you can learn to do this (and you can, with practice!) you'll begin to recover at a surprising rate.
Just "waiting" for your body to be done with that "little thing" it does will keep you from getting into the second phase of scary thinking -- like "I'm having a heart attack" or "I'm dizzy and I'm going to crash the car" or whatever. That second phase of scary thinking is what brings on a full blown panic attack.
I have suffered with panic, anxiety and phobias since my early 20's. I thought I had tried everything, but really what I had tried was having someone/something else fix me. If you want to get better, start WORKING on it yourself -- give up caffeine, sugar; cut down or quit red meats, alcohol; walk every day; meditate every day; study self-help material; go to therapy; be kind to yourself; and face your fears (if only a tiny bit) EACH and EVERY DAY. If you do this, your confidence will begin to grow radically; you will feel empowered; and you'll slide right into a more normal lifestyle.
Accept that you have this condition and that you will have to work to feel better for the rest of your life. Be thankful that there is SOMETHING YOU CAN DO!
thanks,
mesandy:) .