Haaaa...my therapy session last week was about having compassion for myself...Why can I be very compassionate with others but it's so difficult to do that for myself.....Also too, I remember when I first started the Anxious Truth...like literally a day or two in....and I would feel an I got it moment and have a great few hours but then it would all come back, and I was all upset, writing a post, asking what is going on....I thought I understood....ETC. You guys of course said this takes time, you are not going to overcome this in 2 days.....😆So, then I thought ok, maybe a few months....Same thing...I posted...it's been months but it's still hard, it's too hard....I feel better, then worse....Then 1.5 years later.....hit the frustration wall again.....I wish I could overcome this as fast as Drew did....but. I'm not, I'm getting there....It's definitely 100% not linear. My amygdala really enjoys protecting me apparently.....and I'm still variable in how I respond. Like Drew said, sometimes life is dishing out more, so the load it a bit harder to manage....I think it is good to see life patterns and expect that it will go up and down....and not to claim an all out defeat or catastrophe every time it's harder.....( my go to lately).....So, I continue on...and I will face this day and navigate through the best I can......Thanks Drew!!!💜
Uhhhh I find Mondays being this way. I feel the peak of dread or the flooding of thoughts that I’m always going to feel like crap! I’m never going to be “normal.” That I’m never going to be able to just get in my car and drive like I used to without all the dang what ifs and gnarly bodily sensations. Then I keep going, keep driving my daughter to school, keep making breakfast and keep being present throughout the day instead of googling and being instantly sacred of my what ifs. I can feel the power of anxiety losing its charge. When we truly think rationally about anxiety it is a natural and needed human response...ours is dysregulated. I always remember Drew saying let time pass and that in itself is so powerful. Our body wants to go back to balance but our urge to fix, control, and figure this crap out is what maintains it.
Thank you, Drew. I identify with today's podcast! Just yesterday I was putting up Christmas lights and completing alot of different tasks. Then I thought...maybe I have bipolar also. Gave it some attention and dropped the thought. But, it did occur to me. Really I was simply feeling good, pushing myself and stpped working when my body told me (eventhough my ocd said I must finish this and that to really feel right.) I did not listen and I gave myself free time!
Hi Drew. This post is very appropriate for me today. I have been challenged by anxiety for about 12 years, and of those twelve I would describe myself as in full remission for over 6 of them. I did exposures consistently and eventually found myself no longer bothered at all by anxious thoughts or sensations. It was a wonderful accomplishment. I have had some significant setbacks during 2022 when my attention turned inward again, and you know how that ends…setback.
I do exposures that are pretty intense by most standards. And I work really hard on not letting how I feel be the measure of success. I was overly confident in my recovery, and when the old anxious feelings cropped up I pushed back. Here I am again. It almost feels harder to work out of a setback than my original recovery. Seems like the disappointment of needing to start over can seem so hopeless.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on persevering through setbacks if you get a chance. Thanks for all you do! Off to do exposures at work!
Wonderful post! It has been hard not to feel like I'm slipping backwards sometimes, after I have a big win, and do something great, like going to the store and shopping for 25 minutes, but then STILL can't get myself to drive down a certain road where I had a huge panic attack. This just happened again yesterday. My self talk can be brutal. I appreciate the reminder to be patient and just allow it all to unfold. Slow wins the race, but gosh, it can be so frustrating after so many, many, MANY tries. Great idea to tape yourself when you were having a good day. I am going to try this!!! Thank you, Drew!!!
On Friday my boss said I was nearly back to my old self. By Saturday afternoon I was uncomfortable watching a film. I watched it anyway. I'm an early starter and yes, the dark mornings seem scarier. Getting my life back slowly all the same. Thanks Drew.
I joined a group for me called the man coach , and basically , for 28 days , you get routines in place, and structure , and have things you have to do , it kinda Bypasses the thinking . For the 28 days , I experienced 7 days of no anxiety , hardly , more possitive , not so scared . And journaled about it every day , it was amazing , but now it’s all stopped , and I feel back to my over thinking and scared etc early mornings . I hate it ,because for a few days , I seemed to shift into a more assured and not afraid person, to find it all come back. Just worried that my default is to be afraid and anxious .
Also , you spoke about the dark , and early mornings . Today my alarm went off at 5.20am. The room was pitch black , outside was black , I felt scared . Is this anxiety ?
Haaaa...my therapy session last week was about having compassion for myself...Why can I be very compassionate with others but it's so difficult to do that for myself.....Also too, I remember when I first started the Anxious Truth...like literally a day or two in....and I would feel an I got it moment and have a great few hours but then it would all come back, and I was all upset, writing a post, asking what is going on....I thought I understood....ETC. You guys of course said this takes time, you are not going to overcome this in 2 days.....😆So, then I thought ok, maybe a few months....Same thing...I posted...it's been months but it's still hard, it's too hard....I feel better, then worse....Then 1.5 years later.....hit the frustration wall again.....I wish I could overcome this as fast as Drew did....but. I'm not, I'm getting there....It's definitely 100% not linear. My amygdala really enjoys protecting me apparently.....and I'm still variable in how I respond. Like Drew said, sometimes life is dishing out more, so the load it a bit harder to manage....I think it is good to see life patterns and expect that it will go up and down....and not to claim an all out defeat or catastrophe every time it's harder.....( my go to lately).....So, I continue on...and I will face this day and navigate through the best I can......Thanks Drew!!!💜
Uhhhh I find Mondays being this way. I feel the peak of dread or the flooding of thoughts that I’m always going to feel like crap! I’m never going to be “normal.” That I’m never going to be able to just get in my car and drive like I used to without all the dang what ifs and gnarly bodily sensations. Then I keep going, keep driving my daughter to school, keep making breakfast and keep being present throughout the day instead of googling and being instantly sacred of my what ifs. I can feel the power of anxiety losing its charge. When we truly think rationally about anxiety it is a natural and needed human response...ours is dysregulated. I always remember Drew saying let time pass and that in itself is so powerful. Our body wants to go back to balance but our urge to fix, control, and figure this crap out is what maintains it.
Thank you, Drew. I identify with today's podcast! Just yesterday I was putting up Christmas lights and completing alot of different tasks. Then I thought...maybe I have bipolar also. Gave it some attention and dropped the thought. But, it did occur to me. Really I was simply feeling good, pushing myself and stpped working when my body told me (eventhough my ocd said I must finish this and that to really feel right.) I did not listen and I gave myself free time!
Hi Drew. This post is very appropriate for me today. I have been challenged by anxiety for about 12 years, and of those twelve I would describe myself as in full remission for over 6 of them. I did exposures consistently and eventually found myself no longer bothered at all by anxious thoughts or sensations. It was a wonderful accomplishment. I have had some significant setbacks during 2022 when my attention turned inward again, and you know how that ends…setback.
I do exposures that are pretty intense by most standards. And I work really hard on not letting how I feel be the measure of success. I was overly confident in my recovery, and when the old anxious feelings cropped up I pushed back. Here I am again. It almost feels harder to work out of a setback than my original recovery. Seems like the disappointment of needing to start over can seem so hopeless.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on persevering through setbacks if you get a chance. Thanks for all you do! Off to do exposures at work!
Wonderful post! It has been hard not to feel like I'm slipping backwards sometimes, after I have a big win, and do something great, like going to the store and shopping for 25 minutes, but then STILL can't get myself to drive down a certain road where I had a huge panic attack. This just happened again yesterday. My self talk can be brutal. I appreciate the reminder to be patient and just allow it all to unfold. Slow wins the race, but gosh, it can be so frustrating after so many, many, MANY tries. Great idea to tape yourself when you were having a good day. I am going to try this!!! Thank you, Drew!!!
On Friday my boss said I was nearly back to my old self. By Saturday afternoon I was uncomfortable watching a film. I watched it anyway. I'm an early starter and yes, the dark mornings seem scarier. Getting my life back slowly all the same. Thanks Drew.
Love this . Resonates with me .
I joined a group for me called the man coach , and basically , for 28 days , you get routines in place, and structure , and have things you have to do , it kinda Bypasses the thinking . For the 28 days , I experienced 7 days of no anxiety , hardly , more possitive , not so scared . And journaled about it every day , it was amazing , but now it’s all stopped , and I feel back to my over thinking and scared etc early mornings . I hate it ,because for a few days , I seemed to shift into a more assured and not afraid person, to find it all come back. Just worried that my default is to be afraid and anxious .
Also , you spoke about the dark , and early mornings . Today my alarm went off at 5.20am. The room was pitch black , outside was black , I felt scared . Is this anxiety ?