diva2008
07-10-2008, 07:46 AM
Please help!
I suffered from Panic Attacks when I was younger, then I developed (or it emerged) OCD, I got some help and thought I had it licked, was 90% better, but recently Ive had really bad general anxiety! I dont worry about the sensations or anything as I know what they are I dont think Im goin mad and can regocgnise the stupid OCD thoughts so just let them flow through my brain, but I just cannot shift this anxious feeling, like an uncomfortable knot just under my rib cage that actually hurts! I feel a bit sick and have lost my appetite (which trust me NEVER happens - but I need to lose weight for my holiday so quite pleased with that one) and just CANNOT sleep!
I think I've got quite a bit on my plate at the mo and am depsperate for my holiday, I run my own business so cannot switch my mind off it at night, one of my old school friends was just discovered dead and I havent really felt upset about it yet so that's bound to come out soon, Im worried about my boyfriend always being stressed out at work etc etc.
What can I do to just REEELLLAAAAXX ? I just can turn off and certainly at night cant get my mind to just STOP! I get so stressed out that I could scream as I cant sleep, I cant deal with being tired, stressed AND anxious at work.
Any tips for turning your brain off? :D
Does this sound like GAD to you?
Thanks
OCDeev
xx
I suffered from Panic Attacks when I was younger, then I developed (or it emerged) OCD, I got some help and thought I had it licked, was 90% better, but recently Ive had really bad general anxiety! I dont worry about the sensations or anything as I know what they are I dont think Im goin mad and can regocgnise the stupid OCD thoughts so just let them flow through my brain, but I just cannot shift this anxious feeling, like an uncomfortable knot just under my rib cage that actually hurts! I feel a bit sick and have lost my appetite (which trust me NEVER happens - but I need to lose weight for my holiday so quite pleased with that one) and just CANNOT sleep!
I think I've got quite a bit on my plate at the mo and am depsperate for my holiday, I run my own business so cannot switch my mind off it at night, one of my old school friends was just discovered dead and I havent really felt upset about it yet so that's bound to come out soon, Im worried about my boyfriend always being stressed out at work etc etc.
What can I do to just REEELLLAAAAXX ? I just can turn off and certainly at night cant get my mind to just STOP! I get so stressed out that I could scream as I cant sleep, I cant deal with being tired, stressed AND anxious at work.
Any tips for turning your brain off? :D
Does this sound like GAD to you?
Thanks
OCDeev
xx
Sponsor
soupermom
07-10-2008, 12:01 PM
Like you, I struggle with not being able to sleep. I have a hard time switching my brain off at night. I live a busy life and always tend to take on more than I should and it catches up with me when it is time to go to sleep. If I am not getting enough sleep my anxiety symptoms increase and it becomes a vicious circle.
This may sound like a cliché but I have experienced good results with relaxation exercises and have several relaxation mp3s that I use when I go to bed. After a fair amount of experimenting with different ones, I settled on exercises that focus on breathing as I find correct breathing makes a big difference in my ability to relax. I have made them my nighttime ritual and with time and effort, I trained my brain to focus on the exercise and not allow it to drift back to whatever my brain is trying to obsess on. It took a month or so to get any results but I have got to a point where many nights I am asleep before the end of the exercise.
As someone with GAD I have so many negative triggers, the relaxation exercises have become a positive trigger to “reboot” my brain. For me, it is all about diverting my brain and not falling into the worrying trap. Not sure if it helps…
Good luck
This may sound like a cliché but I have experienced good results with relaxation exercises and have several relaxation mp3s that I use when I go to bed. After a fair amount of experimenting with different ones, I settled on exercises that focus on breathing as I find correct breathing makes a big difference in my ability to relax. I have made them my nighttime ritual and with time and effort, I trained my brain to focus on the exercise and not allow it to drift back to whatever my brain is trying to obsess on. It took a month or so to get any results but I have got to a point where many nights I am asleep before the end of the exercise.
As someone with GAD I have so many negative triggers, the relaxation exercises have become a positive trigger to “reboot” my brain. For me, it is all about diverting my brain and not falling into the worrying trap. Not sure if it helps…
Good luck