Anxiety about feeling good

[Jesus is lord]

Sometimes I have anxiety because I'm feeling OK and know that the anxiety is gonna hit even harder and blindside me and be even more of a dramatic change in the way I feel. Its almost as if u wanna stay anxious as a defense mechanism. ...smh. like you don't wanna fall from a higher height. Why can't people come down with extreme happiness peace and contentment instead of this negativity? In the name of Jesus christ I will prevail though!

 

[janemariesayed]

don't feel guilty when you are feeling good. Make the most of it while it lasts. If you tell yourself that it will be worse when the anxiety hits again, then that is probably how you will end up feeling.

Give yourself peace. When you feel negative thank the Lord Jesus and ask him to take away that negative feeling. Tell yourself you feel great and you will prevail. I know what you mean about wanting to stay anxious. What we know and trust is better and feeling happy can be scary because we know it may not last.

 

[Jesus is lord]

@janemariesayed
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and reply. I never feel any guilt when I feel good...just apprehension. And I don't want to stay anxious but I'm kind of on guard for it to come which brings it on because now I'm conscious of that feeling. My lord and saviour Jesus christ has been my shinning light and one saving grace through it all!

 

[janemariesayed]

@janemariesayed
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and reply. I never feel any guilt when I feel good...just apprehension. And I don't want to stay anxious but I'm kind of on guard for it to come which brings it on because now I'm conscious of that feeling. My lord and saviour Jesus christ has been my shinning light and one saving grace through it all!

You are welcome. Try to put it out of your mind. If you are subconsciously waiting for a panic attack, it will come. We are what we think. When you feel apprehensive, turn to Jesus who you are finding comfort in.

I know it isn't your religious path, (and mine too) but when I lived in Egypt, my Muslim husband always told me to say 'God make the devil long far away from me' when I felt apprehensive. Saying it did make me feel better.

 

[Peanutbuttercup]

That is me exactly. Right to a tee. I’ve come up with a theory that I’ve conditioned myself to do that. Just like Pavlov...if I feel good, then I’ve conditioned myself to expect a crash, the anxiety to come back. What do you think?

 

[Kimberly Hunt]

I am right there with you Peanutbuttercup. I am constantly thinking that if i didn't have all these negative thoughts, would I be like I am? Does controlling your thoughts really help and for that matter how do you do that???

 

[Peanutbuttercup]

I am right there with you Peanutbuttercup. I am constantly thinking that if i didn't have all these negative thoughts, would I be like I am? Does controlling your thoughts really help and for that matter how do you do that???

Great question. I do the same thing. I think it is called ruminating. They say that cognitive behavior therapy is a good way to interrupt the cycle. I’m still waiting for my first appointment so I’m definitely no expert. They also say writing it down is supposed to help. I don’t think you are supposed to control your thoughts as much as reorder them....recognize the negative thought then transpose it to a positive one. Danger if I know how. Any good ideas?

 

[Kimberly Hunt]

Honestly, I think talking to people on this forum helps some to at least distract. As far as reorganizing, I am guessing it will take practice and for you to really believe that these are just thoughts and you actually have power of what you do with the thought. I know it begins with a thought, and then feelings and then behavior. So you have a thought and it makes you feel whatever and then you behave from that thought. So basically if I didn't have fear about my thought, I would not have anxiety. So they tell me. Sounds easy enough...not!

 

[Peanutbuttercup]

Tell you what...I’m going to give you my negative thought du jour, which will force me to write it down. You reorder it for me in a positive way. Then give me your negative thought, and I will reorder it for you. It is always easier to solve someone else’s problem.

My negative rumination is that I fear the oncoming anxiety and I can’t stop thinking about it and worrying about it.

What is yours?

 

[Kimberly Hunt]

Okay, this is good. We're talking we are getting it all out there!

So the one thing that I would say is let it. Let it wash over you like a spring rain and there is a rainbow in the sky and you are basking in all its glory. Don't fight the anxiety and know that it will pass every time guaranteed.

Mine is that I know what is like to feel normal even with anxiety and I am scared that I am never going to feel normal/good again.

 

[Peanutbuttercup]

Thanks for indulging this. I think it will help me.

You remember what normal/good is. Your brain’s neural pathways are still there and still in tact. Your brain, just like your body, has an enormous ability to heal, and it will because you will put the time and energy into doing the right things to get there. This is only a minor blip on the radar.

My next one is... what if I can’t stop thinking about it?

 

[Kimberly Hunt]

I do remember. You are pretty good at this. So two things, you will stop thinking about it because if that was the only thing you thought you would not be able to do or think of anything else. Also, maybe the question is not what if I can't stop thinking about it, because you may think about it a lot, maybe you should ask yourself what am i going to do when I do think about it? You could shout NO, shut the **** up (sorry for the language), get the hell out of my head, or you don't have power over me so just stop and watch or do something that is really distracting. Also, do you take any medication for your anxiety?

 

[Peanutbuttercup]

I started taking Effexor and Remeron about 3 and a half weeks ago. I love that about asking what am I going to do when I do think about it. Where did you learn that? Also, are you on medication?

 

[Kimberly Hunt]

I didn't learn it. I literally yell at myself sometimes to make thoughts stop. Sometimes I have to put myself in check! So that is what I thought about when I proposed the question. I am on Paxil. I also have Ativan and Klonopin, which I never take. I have no idea why, because Ativan has worked many times, but for some reason I just don't take it. I have taken Paxil for a long time and instead of increasing the dose, I tried to change to Zoloft but then my psychiatric nurse practitioner told me that the Paxil was working and that I just needed a little increase. So I did that about 2 weeks ago. How is your medication going?

 

[Peanutbuttercup]

I wish it was working more. Maybe if I give it more time. When did you start taking yours and how long before it worked?

 

[Kimberly Hunt]

The first time around it worked well and within 4 weeks. For this second go round I just started a few days ago.

 

[Kimberly Hunt]

How are you doing today? Did your night go okay?

 

[Peanutbuttercup]

Sorry I missed this post. Yes it went ok. How about you? How are things over there?

 

[Kimberly Hunt]

They are okay. I have several times out of the day, where the world seems okay and then WHAM....i get those physical symptoms of heat on my back or tingliness just from a thought. It is so annoying.

 

[Peanutbuttercup]

More than annoying. I swear I think we have the exact same days. Mine is tightness in my back and chest that proceeds to a headache.

Take deep breaths, practice mindfulness, etc etc.

What did you do?