So so so anxious

[Geda]

Hi guys
Last 3 weeks have been very hard for me anxiety wise , I don't think I have ever experienced such a terrible anxiety like I'm experiencing now and I don't know how to deal with it, how to snap out of it......it's killing me.....
Any tips how to deal with it would be very much appreciated...
Thank you
Sima

[stresspuppy]

Hi Geda,
Just lost my carefully composed reply  but recall that I was saying that recognition of where we are helps and is perhaps necessary to enable us to navigate a way out (journey). It's not easy and often we find it easier to help others rather than ourselves. Your posts to other forum members Tina and Zteve gave really good advice - you were being the good friend giving the good advice.

I suppose this is the dilemma/paradox/frustration of where we often find we are as anxious individuals - we often know the theory and practice and yet it seems to elude us. I would love to give you a wealth of advice from others and at the same time I know that anxiety, and humankind, act as filters - we only ever really seem to hold what we believe to be the truth and the rest we filter out. That sounded really depressing! What I want to say to you and others is that we need to recognise ourselves as these filters and as such we tend to form a sense of self-prophesised reality about the world which isn't necessarily true. We're much better friends to others than ourselves and most of us would go that 'extra mile' for a good friend and even strangers in extreme circumstances! and yet we find it so very hard to do that for ourselves - are we so damned or undeserving? - I don't think so and sense that you don't either from the advice you have given others 

Remember you are not alone in your struggles and you do have the means available to you and yet for some reason/s it's being filtered out  It would be great to see you at a meet if you feel able  take care of yourself 

[Dreaming]

morning chickpea, i am so sorry you've been feeling so anxious recently. I agree with stresspuppy, we are our own worst enemies sometimes. I wish you would treat yourself with as much understanding and kindness as you have treated me with! You are an amazing friend who has really helped me through some dire times and i really appreciate everything you have done. my advice is to try and concentrate on the positives this week, forget all the negative things & mistakes and focus on all the good things you have done instead. It seems so simple for me to say that and i know how you struggle with giving yourself praise, so i will give you a headstart:

Things Sima has done so far this week that are positive:
Been a great freind - consoled me after my disasterous night
Planned a long run
Posted on BAF for advise
Gone to work despite it being ****ty at the minute

chin up chickpea you are on the up! xxx

[stresspuppy]

Hi Geda, Hope my post didn't come across as a 'cop out' - just thought it important to remind you of your potential to help yourself and others. By way of some practical things that may help:

Exercise - your usuals or try something new? a new club or gym.

Feel good food  - I love a good curry, bananna smoothie, or just a new recipe!

Writing the stuff in your head down - busy heads  get full quickly and I find writing the stuff down sometimes really helps to reduce the power of the thoughts.

Writing your achievements down - so you can revisit when you feel not so good about things.

Plan something to look forward to - a dream holiday, a really cool party 

Get in touch with friends and family - you know the ones who always manage to make you feel good 

Pursue old/new interest - I've been going to the library recently and picking up books on things I'm interested in and discovering new things I might like to do.

Go see something funny - get your favourite film out or go see some comedy shows.

Rubbish work - there are some quite good books like 'don't sweat the small stuff at work' which might help.

AND/OR you can always have a good SCREAM out loud    or a damn good CRY  venting extreme emotions sometimes helps get stuff out that's bubbling underneath 

and here a friend is blowing you a kiss 

[Geda]

awww...thank you very much for your replies guys...they made me feel very emotional , I have teared up a little...lol...you are my two little sweeties...;o)...
I know both of you are completely right...I always see just the bad things...I don't know why I'm doing it......it's so hard to stop doing it..
I found your posts very inspirational and I will try to do things you have suggested...I will really try Mia (she said she doesn't believe I would try to do it today...that's why I'm saying it...lol...) ...)
Thanks again
Love and kisses ...little Sim

[Noisy]

Hi Geda,

I'm sorry to hear that you're finding things difficult at the moment. Not much else I can say that hasn't already been said except that you're a lovely person with a great sense of humour.
I hope that you know it's OK to come to the meet however you're feeling and it would be good to catch up with you next week if you feel up to it.

Best wishes,
Martin.

P.S. You should have seen the manly beer I had; you would be proud! 

[Geda]

Martin...you wouldn't believe what I have just done.....lol.....when you said about you having a big beer I went on Facebook because I have remembered that Mia posted a few pictures from the last meet over there and I have remembered there is a picture of you behind the table as well....so I went back to Facebook to check what beer are were having that night and I'm afraid I have to say....still not big enough...lol...;o).....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your support...you are lovely too...)