Anxiety

[cldlhd]

I do find that when I am distracted by little projects, I feel better -- or maybe it is that when I feel better, I am able to be distracted by little projects. ???

Could be both. I think it's more the former though. When I'm engaged in a project , even something little like over the last year or so I got a Smartthings hub and have added it to my Amazon Echo and done some minor home automation, it keeps the mind busy and helps prevents it from drifting too far into the negative. As most know anything tech related ill need troubleshooting now and then. " May your hands always be busy, may your feet always be swift".

 

[Nocturne]

Well, went to my little shake place and got a white chocolate and pretzel shake (150 calories), chatted a bit, met a car salesman who just found out he has kidney cancer (stage one). As usual I feel a lot better now. Sure do wish I'd get that call telling me all the heart stuff was a big mix-up, though.

 

[dornole]

Just to be traditional and all .. . .if you find the anxiety becoming more problematic for you, ya could always look into anxiety medication to balance your runaway brain, or therapy to learn new tools for managing it. Both require effort and some tradeoffs, so obviously not recommended for passing worries, but those treatments are there for a reason and can be life changing. As my husband says "I really don't believe in medication but I believe in it for YOU, what a clear difference" (derp) I get depression not anxiety but have found it very helpful. No shame no harm no foul. My employer offers 8 weeks therapy for free. Why not build skills I say. Glad you're feeling better and hope it keeps being manageable.

 

[dornole]

Just to be traditional and all .. . .if you find the anxiety becoming more problematic for you, ya could always look into anxiety medication to balance your runaway brain, or therapy to learn new tools for managing it. Both require effort and some tradeoffs, so obviously not recommended for passing worries, but those treatments are there for a reason and can be life changing. As my husband says "I really don't believe in medication but I believe in it for YOU, what a clear difference" (derp) I get depression not anxiety but have found it very helpful. No shame no harm no foul. My employer offers 8 weeks therapy for free. Why not build skills I say. Glad you're feeling better and hope it keeps being manageable.

 

[epstns]

Anne - You and I must be related somewhere far back in time. I also occasionally get up at night, do something else, then go back to bed. I also take long walks, and often write out my thoughts. The writing helps me to slow down and really understand what my mind is trying to process. I learned this from a therapist many years ago, and continue to write (and often immediately shred) to this day.

It is really nice to find that we have "family" all across the globe, isn't it?

 

[Paleowoman]

Anne - You and I must be related somewhere far back in time. I also occasionally get up at night, do something else, then go back to bed. I also take long walks, and often write out my thoughts. The writing helps me to slow down and really understand what my mind is trying to process. I learned this from a therapist many years ago, and continue to write (and often immediately shred) to this day.

It is really nice to find that we have "family" all across the globe, isn't it?

It's lovely yes Steve ! When I next make a cuppa in the middle of the night I'll be thinking of you

 

[pellicle]

...I also occasionally get up at night, do something else, then go back to bed. I also take long walks, and often write out my thoughts. The writing helps me to slow down and really understand what my mind is trying to process. I learned this from a therapist many years ago, and continue to write (and often immediately shred) to this day.

I think there are a few of us like that here ... some of us write blogs for pretty much that reason (but I don't shred I share ;-)

 

[epstns]

I could also say "Anxiety is fun. You never run out of things to think about."

But I won't. In fact, after that, maybe I should run and hide. . .

BTW, the psychologists have given this thought spiral a name. They call it over-exaggerating. We just take the worst outcome at each decision point until meltdown occurs. Sometimes I just want to smack myself, but then they have another name for that, I'm sure.

 

[Paleowoman]

BTW, the psychologists have given this thought spiral a name. They call it over-exaggerating. We just take the worst outcome at each decision point until meltdown occurs. .

I'm part way reading ‘Why Zebras don’'t get Ulcers’ by Robert Sapolsky (a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford Uni and research associate with the Institute of Primate Research): https://www.amazon.com/Why-Zebras-Do...27t+get+ulcers It was recommended on a blog, not about anxiety but about heart disease - I got it, not because I have any heart disease or suffer particularly from bad anxiety, but simply out of interest. As I say I'm only part way through, but it’'s quite illuminating because part of the trouble with being human is that we can think disasters and other bad things and this can make our bodies produce the same flight or flight hormones that we would in a real life situation. Just a thought can do this. And this can cause harm if it happens too often if the person doesn't practice some mechanisms to cope with this ’stress’.

 

[epstns]

So true, Anne. Wouldn't it be nice if we could just decide to be like children and puppies, and just live in the "now?"

 

[carolinemc]

I love to tell you that women go tthrough stress issues also, hormonal or otherwise. We get so stretched out to do too much and more. Or they have no kids at home, empty nest and they have lots fo time on their hands. We may different triggers for stress, we have to learn how to deal with it. I used to stress a lot for 15 years, as a young person. Worried over the silliest stuff. But after I had my last bypass and has aortic valve replaced, I am not as stressed as much, but with what is left, I still stress a little. Just keep finding things to keep your mind busy, like you said little projects. Also word puzzles help also, jigsaw puzzles. Good luck in keep the mind busy. Hugs for you today.