... it's like a panic attack but without the balls. What interests me most about it (although, I have to admit, probably not anyone else) is the cause.
Most OCD sufferers are well aware of their obsession, since it is linked to their compulsion. So people obsessed with germs are compulsive cleaners. On the darker side of the spectrum are people who suffer from obsessive thoughts (often unpleasant - sexual or violent or both), who must carry out a ritual in order to feel released from these thoughts. Of course, the real underlying cause is tucked-away out of sight: the brain chemistry if you believe in that, or upbringing, if you prefer that approach, or both, if you're a Liberal Democrat.
I don't understand what my obsession is. So on one hand I'm thinking "I see-e-e-e-e, ver-r-r-y ink-tu-rest-ink" (yes, with a German accent) and on the other I am nauseous, my breathing is accelerating and becoming shallow and I'm thinking ... well, what am I thinking? In the end I hide behind my compulsion, and run to my blackberry and take a look at work. Then I justify it to myself, call myself a liar and generally feel glum. (I may not know what my obsession is, but my compulsion is work.)
"There must have been something!" I shout at myself.
Myself mumbles something about doing the cleaning.
"You've done most of the cleaning, it's almost all done! You spent most of the week doing it without a single ****ing attack, digging yourself out of this stupid hole! You ****ing mental!"
N.B. I can have a bit of a temper, although only with myself.
Really, this makes me the worst form of hypocrite. I keep on going on and on and on to anyone who will listen how the symptoms of mental illness is not the feelings themselves - it is the lack of a rational cause. Having a panic attack is perfectly sensible if, say, you find yourself stuck in a lift with Hannibal Lecter ... or John Prescott (or both, although in that case deciding who would eat who could be quite entertaining), but you get officially filed as a mental if you have no good reason for having one.
But what was I thinking? Oh **** it, I don't know. Now ... where's my blackberry?
Sunday Secrets
1 hour ago
1 comments:
Overcoming anxiety is no small task.
It takes practice and a lot of hard work.
I used to have panic attacks once a week
due to my high anxiety, so I definitely feel
for you. Fortunately, I can do a lot more
for you than empathize.
By utilizing the techiques below, I was slowly
able to gain control over my anxiety and stop
my panic attacks from occuring. If you
exercise these techiques regularly, you too
will see great improvements in anxiety,
tension and stress.
Breathing:
As the anxiety creeps up, begin to count in
your head. Count 1,2,3,4 -- 1,2,3,4 -- 1,2,3,4
pausing on the dashes and so on.
You're not going to actually say or
even think the numbers. You're going
to breath the numbers.
Take a deep breath in through your
nose for the 1 and 2. Then take a
deep breath out through your mouth
for the 3 and 4. Practice this routine
for a few minutes a day until it
becomes an automated exercise for you.
Practicing really helps a lot.
Practice in a controlled environment.
I used to practice before bed. When
panic does hit, this self-defense
mechanism kicks in without effort.
Control Your Thinking:
When you have negative thoughts,
negative things will come into your
life. Conversely when you have positive
thoughts, positive things will come
into your life.
That's because thoughts steer the
direction of your life.
The same holds true in moments of high
anxiety. It's important during these
times to monitor your thoughts and
make sure you force calming ideas
and images into your head.
Nothing is really as bad as it seems and ten
years from now,this particularly stressful
situation won't exist - so control your
thinking to avoid your mind from falling
into a negative thought spiral.
As soon as you have a negative thought,
throw it out of your head and
counterbalance yourself with a
positive or optimistic thought.
This is a hard one, but after
you monitor your thoughts for
a week or two, you begin to think
more positive in general.
These two tactics helped me a lot.
Other helpful ideas are:
- Participat in Therapy
- Talk to someone you trust
- Exercise (cardio works best)
- Yoga
- Stretching
- Reading
- Meditation
- Take a hot shower
- Go for a Walk
- Listen to Music
For more Great Tips,
CHECK OUT:
http://www.Stop-Anxiety-Panic-Attack.com
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