Whenever I feel anxiety or feel like I'm going to have a panic attack I try to do as Dr. Claire Weekes prescribes and face it, accept it, and let time pass. It's hard but I feel like I've been making progress and my anxiety/panic is not been as bad as it has been. One thing I struggle with though is distraction. She says to not try and not distract yourself when you feel anxiety or have panic but I find that if I focus only on the anxiety it can make it worse. One thing that really helps me during times of panic is watching any random episode of The Office. It takes my mind off the anxiety and the show makes me laugh which also helps calm me down. But I feel like maybe I shouldn't be doing this because I'm distracting myself instead of facing and accepting. Anybody have any experience with this or have any advice? Thanks all!
Face It, Accept It, Let Time Pass
- Thread starter NightOwl
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I know their are some staunch supporters of Claire weeks on here but I feel keeping busy and having distractions is really beneficial. I personally say if it helps you then continue...I always tell people that staying busy is one of the best things that can be done during a season of anxiety.
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The purpose of facing the anxiety is to look at it for what it is, fear of whatever it may be at the time. To acknowledge it for what it is. Then we allow and accept it for what it is and the last step is to stop reacting to it with more fear, no OMG’s, what if’s, descriptive words like horrible, terrible, etc. That is what gives the anxiety power over us, our reaction to it. Reacting is fighting. I do believe Dr Weekes also says to stay GENTLY busy. Go about our day as normally as possible. So we “float” through the anxiety by not reacting as best we can. We can use phrases in our mind like “there is the anxiety, I see it and feel it, but I’m not reacting to it.” Also note that it doesn’t have to be perfectly done, as long as you practice it will be effective. It takes time to learn the method and for it to work. That’s the importance of letting time pass. Rome wasn’t built in a day and our anxiety won’t abate quickly either, but staying consistent with daily practice will eventually lead you to recovery. This practice is what takes away the second fear and our reaction to it all, which causes the anxiety to gradually lessen over time. Stick with the method, I’m testifying here that it works.
That's what I did! The Office helped me a lot. Distractions are massively importantWhenever I feel anxiety or feel like I'm going to have a panic attack I try to do as Dr. Claire Weekes prescribes and face it, accept it, and let time pass. It's hard but I feel like I've been making progress and my anxiety/panic is not been as bad as it has been. One thing I struggle with though is distraction. She says to not try and not distract yourself when you feel anxiety or have panic but I find that if I focus only on the anxiety it can make it worse. One thing that really helps me during times of panic is watching any random episode of The Office. It takes my mind off the anxiety and the show makes me laugh which also helps calm me down. But I feel like maybe I shouldn't be doing this because I'm distracting myself instead of facing and accepting. Anybody have any experience with this or have any advice? Thanks all!
The only problem I found with Clare Weekes is that she didn't tell you how to accept. Some folk can do on conscious level but most can't
You need daily meditation and regular exercise. Walking is just fine
Jonathan123
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She doesn't need to tell you how to. Do you accept the sun will come up in the morning? The weather will be good or bad? That life will go on regardless? Acceptance is letting go. Not holding on to the symptoms and fears. Seeing them there, even acknowledging they are there, but without adding fear to fear. It is not true to say 'most can't'. We all can given the will. And therein lies the problem. Anxiety saps the will. We can become lethargic and may not even want to think about recovery let alone do something about it.That's what I did! The Office helped me a lot. Distractions are massively important
The only problem I found with Clare Weekes is that she didn't tell you how to accept. Some folk can do on conscious level but most can't
You need daily meditation and regular exercise. Walking is just fine
Meditation and exercise are fine, and if they help then do it. But, and there is always a but, we have to stop meditating at some time and stop exercising too. What then? It always comes back to the way we perceive things, how we think. Thoughts are extremely powerful. In some cultures the witch doctor says something will happen to you at a certain time and it does. Why? Because we believe it will and wish fulfilment happens. This is the basic cause of HA. We believe more in the imaginary illness than we do in any prospect of recovery. So the symptoms go on. Of course they do, because the habit of fear can become so entrenched it's difficult to not be fearful.
Acceptance is by no means easy. It takes time perseverance and a lot of patience. But the result is inevitable if we persist.
You said “habitual”. And yes, so true. We get stuck in the groves of the record, going round and round. Important to understand. And also your description of acceptance, well put and simple.She doesn't need to tell you how to. Do you accept the sun will come up in the morning? The weather will be good or bad? That life will go on regardless? Acceptance is letting go. Not holding on to the symptoms and fears. Seeing them there, even acknowledging they are there, but without adding fear to fear. It is not true to say 'most can't'. We all can given the will. And therein lies the problem. Anxiety saps the will. We can become lethargic and may not even want to think about recovery let alone do something about it.
Meditation and exercise are fine, and if they help then do it. But, and there is always a but, we have to stop meditating at some time and stop exercising too. What then? It always comes back to the way we perceive things, how we think. Thoughts are extremely powerful. In some cultures the witch doctor says something will happen to you at a certain time and it does. Why? Because we believe it will and wish fulfilment happens. This is the basic cause of HA. We believe more in the imaginary illness than we do in any prospect of recovery. So the symptoms go on. Of course they do, because the habit of fear can become so entrenched it's difficult to not be fearful.
Acceptance is by no means easy. It takes time perseverance and a lot of patience. But the result is inevitable if we persist.
Jonathan123
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I'm sorry you feel that way. I can only speak from my own experiences. No one would ever suggest that acceptance is for everyone any more than any therapy is. I do know about meditation having been a student of Buddhism for many years. Thank you for your kind remarks. It's good to know someone reads my posts. I can assure you that I would not want you as a patient either.Sorry bud disagree
Many folk need a concrete way to accept. Do you keep saying to yourself 'I accept I accept I accept?' coz that don't work. Acceptance don't happen magically one day while you're taking a leak
We have to stop meditating and exercising at some time? You don't say. I thought it was a 24 hour process like
I guess you ain't an meditation and exercise kinda dude. I would not want to get counselling offa yous
For folk what might be a bit confused, the schtook with meditation is that it is not a quick fix. It's a gradual accumulated effect. Exercise is more of a quick fix but still got an accumulated effect. Keep doing and acceptance comes.
Claire Weekes kicks butt. She says accept accept accept. But many folk can't do that consciously. Meditation and exercising works at a subconscious level. Just keep doing. The act of keep doing makes acceptance happen.
So don't mislead the good folk here bud. You also got a problem with expressing your ideas. Are you aspey?
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Hey! Sorry if this has already been said, but if you accept that you are feeling a certain way, and facing it, watching the office is your letting time pass. You gotta do something right?Whenever I feel anxiety or feel like I'm going to have a panic attack I try to do as Dr. Claire Weekes prescribes and face it, accept it, and let time pass. It's hard but I feel like I've been making progress and my anxiety/panic is not been as bad as it has been. One thing I struggle with though is distraction. She says to not try and not distract yourself when you feel anxiety or have panic but I find that if I focus only on the anxiety it can make it worse. One thing that really helps me during times of panic is watching any random episode of The Office. It takes my mind off the anxiety and the show makes me laugh which also helps calm me down. But I feel like maybe I shouldn't be doing this because I'm distracting myself instead of facing and accepting. Anybody have any experience with this or have any advice? Thanks all!
It is never good to RUN from your anxiety, but finding a healthy outlet that takes your mind off the anxious thoughts and nervousness I think is a healthy approach way of dealing with things. That is what your supposed to do.Whenever I feel anxiety or feel like I'm going to have a panic attack I try to do as Dr. Claire Weekes prescribes and face it, accept it, and let time pass. It's hard but I feel like I've been making progress and my anxiety/panic is not been as bad as it has been. One thing I struggle with though is distraction. She says to not try and not distract yourself when you feel anxiety or have panic but I find that if I focus only on the anxiety it can make it worse. One thing that really helps me during times of panic is watching any random episode of The Office. It takes my mind off the anxiety and the show makes me laugh which also helps calm me down. But I feel like maybe I shouldn't be doing this because I'm distracting myself instead of facing and accepting. Anybody have any experience with this or have any advice? Thanks all!
Some folks, like me, actually run away mentally from the anxiety which is not facing it. I learned how to stay with the feelings, not trying to block them. So I think as long as you are allowing the anxious feelings, not running away from or fighting mentally with them(fight or flight), you will be able to progress. You also need to remember that it takes time for the method to work. It’s not going to happen overnight or quickly. But I can assure you if you stick with the method things will start to change. It happens insidiously, like trying to see the dawn breaking. Impossible if you stare into it, but look away for a bit and when you look again, you can see the difference.