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Anxiety and spirituality

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  • October 12, 2015 at 6:29 am #85255
    Libby
    Participant

    I love this forum so I thought I’d ask here for any advice.

    I have anxiety, most of you know my story that I went through a very difficult time with my brother and family a few years ago after his mental health deteriorated and he became violent towards us. It led to me suffering from anxiety, and my children too. I have since cut him out of our lives and it’s been 3 years now. Life has improved but I have been left with anxiety lingering.

    I have always had anxiety but 3 years ago it hit in the form of panic disorder, agoraphobia and not long after intrusive thoughts that terrified me. I had CBT and things improved. Recently I have been physically unwell with fatigue and my anxiety rocketed after a sudden panic attack in the nurses office after a blood test. Since then my panic disorder and agoraphobia has returned. I have been feeling a little lost and not able to get my CBT head back on.

    In the past I took comfort after reading Michael Singers book ‘The Untethered Soul’ and the book ‘Zen and the Art of Happiness’. Both really helped and I have thought about maybe re reading them to see if they can help pull me up again through this anxiety spell.

    I was just wondering if anyone else could offer some advice. This time it’s manifesting as panic attacks when I go to appointments or try to socialise and I am spending alot more time at home again, I have lost alot of confidence since the panic attack a month ago in the nurses room. During the day at home when my children are in school I feel an unease which is general anxiety that I can’t shake off. I just feel very uneasy all day with the odd anxiety/panic attack. It’s not nice. I am trying to just let it be there and accept it as i know that’s the best way to cope with anxiety. If you stop adding further fear then the storm calms again. Adding more fuel to the fire just causes more anxiety and the loop continues.

    Any advice appreciated though would be lovely or some book recommendations that may help.

    Thanks again

    Julie

    October 12, 2015 at 8:23 am #85258
    Anonymous
    Guest

    Dear Libby:

    I would like to point out that I believe that your fear now is the same fear of the past, only in different forms and different names, be it panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety. It morphs to different collections of symptoms fitting into different titles of disorders but it is the same fear.

    I wouldn’t get confused then by the different symptoms and focus on the core issue, fear. I would gather all the things that worked for me in the past, specifically I would favor CBT and go back to it. If you stop practicing CBT skills, they will stop working. So I would build my faith again in those skills because when you practiced them, they did work.

    The fact that you are afraid again is not because CBT does not work but because you neglected the practice.

    anita

    October 12, 2015 at 1:52 pm #85272
    Lydia
    Participant

    Hi Libby,

    I have anxiety too and I know its a buggar. The only way I cope is to not let it stop me from living my life. I meet it with courage in little little bits which all add up. Start as small as you like. But challenge it. Teensy small challenges. And meet them. Coax yourself along. Know where you are and don’t judge it. Be so kind to yourself. Treat yourself. Celebrate every success like you are A TOTAL HERO (you are!). And exercise helps enormously. Dance dance dance! And meditate. Get to know your thoughts somehow. However you choose. Do yoga if you want. Eat well. Treat yourself nicely. go to CBT. Find a community/group. Ask friends for help. Try out all the different things & find ones you enjoy. There are many different things to try. But start as small small small as you like….

    October 12, 2015 at 2:05 pm #85276
    jock
    Participant

    I’ll give you a recent example of my anxiety. I had to give an impromptu 2 minute speech last night at a public speaking course I attend. I developed a nervous tic with my arms, “ums” and “ahs”, looking down at the floor instead of at the audience, heart racing as if I was doing a 100 metre sprint, and thoughts racing to keep up saying things like” you idiot, why are you even here? you are hopeless, just quit now while you’re ahead, see how people’s heads are down, they are too embarrassed for you to even give you eye contact. Just admit it, you are a f###ing loser”
    I have a panic attack every time I have to speak to a group in public, but am trying to come to terms with it.It is not easy. Good luck with yours.

    October 12, 2015 at 2:30 pm #85282
    Libby
    Participant

    Thank you all so much.

    I have gone back to cBT. It never cured me bit yes it helped.

    I have anxiety that manifests as scary thoughts of what if I left this world and that kind if scary thoughts. … but they’re under control now. That was when at my worst 2 years ago. My thoughts were very intrusive and terrifying. Now its more a general unease, panic attacks in shops or socially. Health anxiety where I panic at every sensation that I am ill. Urgh, it’s exhausting for sure.

    I am setting small goals to hit each day. It’s a great way to push myself but at my pace. I do yoga daily and I eat well.

    Thanks again everyone.

    Julie

    November 8, 2015 at 9:10 am #86979
    humour
    Participant

    There are a couple of more videos like these. Hope that it helps you

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