I realise I didn't update after the 'Flying into the unknown' blog.
Well, I went. I went and I had a good time. I arrived at the airport shaking from adrenaline (and it was chilly which didn't help).
The bloody queue through security was the longest I'd ever seen at an airport. Typical! But I handled it. I just let it wash over me and thought it's normal to be anxious.
When the aeroplane took off I felt frightened. But I just put my head down and got on with it. Resigned to it really. I was moderately anxious the whole flight.
The afternoon after we landed was a piece of cake in comparison! In fact, I was taken a back slightly just how well I felt. I'd had no sleep and was socialising with my extended family. The next day I had a fair bit of nerves (anyone would think it was my wedding!). I was nervous about the Church, thinking 'what if I'm in the middle of a pew and can't get out' etc, or 'what if I'm sick'. I got through that too. At dinner we were seated on a predominantly Polish speaking table. It was awkward and uncomfortable but I got through that too. By the end of the night I was dancing and having fun!
The flight home was anxiety fuelled. I'd had a drink the night before too, which probably made it worse.
Wednesday, 10 September 2014
CBT
I pretty sure no one reads this blog of mine, but if you've stumbled across it, it's about to get a whole lot more boring! I thought a warning, so you can bounce off now. only fair!
I'm seeing a CBT therapist who said writing things down helps hammer home the message better, so I'm going to start documenting whatever comes into my mind.
Today is Wednesday. I'm not feeling very well, both physically and mentally. The mental bit being caused, in part, by feeling under the weather. I feel like I've been fighting a virus since the weekend. My chest hurts slightly, I feel absolutely zonked and a little dizzy.
I have to go the the post office every day. I'm lucky that the post office I go to is a tiny little village one and most of the time there is no one in there. I know the lady quite well, she is very sweet.
Today I'm really struggling with the anxiety. So much so that I very, very nearly didn't go. My mum is due home (from a trip away) this afternoon. There's a chance she could have made it round to me before the post office closes, and taken my parcels for me. I got my bag together and thought 'just bloody do it'. I then opened the front door and shut it again. I then made it out to the drive, where I stood next to my car for 20 seconds or so, debating whether to go back in the house. I got in the damn car. I started it up and reversed. I drove down the lane (the post office is literally 1.5 miles from my house!). At every turning point I thought about turning round and going back. I didn't. I tried to tell myself that if I had a panic attack, I had a panic attack. The woman at the post office is kind, and I'm sure she would have been nice if that did happen. I got the PO and felt a surge of adrenaline. I somehow went in anyway. All the while my internal dialogue telling me not to panic! I asked her how she was. Turns out, I'm not the only one who has worries (;-)). She looked on the verge of tears, poor love. She has a few family problems and is evidently really worried and down. I wanted to come round and give her a big hug. There wasn't a lot I could do or say. Even in my right mind I'd have struggled, but whilst the whole anxiety conversation is going on in my head, it left little room for other thoughts.
I did it, I felt gross, but I went anyway. And this, is the key.
Not only did I achieve this today, in spite of being ill, I learnt that people are so pre-occupied with their own lives, they really have no idea you are a whirl of emotion and anxiety inside. In fact, even if I had acted 'funny' she probably still wouldn't have noticed.
I also realised that most people are kind. If I saw someone really upset and in a panic, I would ask if they were ok. I would be concerned. so why am I so scared of people seeing me like this? Why do I care so much about what people think of me? And why do I think it would be so bad for someone to see me crying/ in a bit of a state? Where did I get the notion that I must be strong and in control of my emotions at all times? Or else what? What does it mean if I am not?
I'm seeing a CBT therapist who said writing things down helps hammer home the message better, so I'm going to start documenting whatever comes into my mind.
Today is Wednesday. I'm not feeling very well, both physically and mentally. The mental bit being caused, in part, by feeling under the weather. I feel like I've been fighting a virus since the weekend. My chest hurts slightly, I feel absolutely zonked and a little dizzy.
I have to go the the post office every day. I'm lucky that the post office I go to is a tiny little village one and most of the time there is no one in there. I know the lady quite well, she is very sweet.
Today I'm really struggling with the anxiety. So much so that I very, very nearly didn't go. My mum is due home (from a trip away) this afternoon. There's a chance she could have made it round to me before the post office closes, and taken my parcels for me. I got my bag together and thought 'just bloody do it'. I then opened the front door and shut it again. I then made it out to the drive, where I stood next to my car for 20 seconds or so, debating whether to go back in the house. I got in the damn car. I started it up and reversed. I drove down the lane (the post office is literally 1.5 miles from my house!). At every turning point I thought about turning round and going back. I didn't. I tried to tell myself that if I had a panic attack, I had a panic attack. The woman at the post office is kind, and I'm sure she would have been nice if that did happen. I got the PO and felt a surge of adrenaline. I somehow went in anyway. All the while my internal dialogue telling me not to panic! I asked her how she was. Turns out, I'm not the only one who has worries (;-)). She looked on the verge of tears, poor love. She has a few family problems and is evidently really worried and down. I wanted to come round and give her a big hug. There wasn't a lot I could do or say. Even in my right mind I'd have struggled, but whilst the whole anxiety conversation is going on in my head, it left little room for other thoughts.
I did it, I felt gross, but I went anyway. And this, is the key.
Not only did I achieve this today, in spite of being ill, I learnt that people are so pre-occupied with their own lives, they really have no idea you are a whirl of emotion and anxiety inside. In fact, even if I had acted 'funny' she probably still wouldn't have noticed.
I also realised that most people are kind. If I saw someone really upset and in a panic, I would ask if they were ok. I would be concerned. so why am I so scared of people seeing me like this? Why do I care so much about what people think of me? And why do I think it would be so bad for someone to see me crying/ in a bit of a state? Where did I get the notion that I must be strong and in control of my emotions at all times? Or else what? What does it mean if I am not?
Thursday, 14 August 2014
Flying into the unknown
Well, the 'wobble' has lasted all summer. I have good days and bad days. I haven't returned to medication yet, although deep down I fear it's the only way I can feel normal. I'm having counselling, it helps.
Tomorrow I have to get on an aeroplane. Fly 2.5 hours to a country I've never been to. Socialise with my extended family and strangers for two days then fly home. It's the stuff of an anxiety sufferer's nightmares!
I'm feeling all kinds of weird today. Tired, dizzy, a little detached. All the while I know it's very simply adrenaline mixed in with a little bit of hyperventilation. In my more self- pitying moments I feel despair. I so desperately want to just go and have a good time! So that's what I'm going to try, anxious or not. Nothing bad will happen. The worse is I could have a panic attack, or several. This is highly unlikely. Although everyday is filled with life altering anxiety, I haven't had what I call a full blown panic attack for over 10 years. That's something I guess.
Today I plan to clean my house and rest.
I've got nothing more to say as I'm finding it difficult to think straight, but I thought it might help to write it down.
Tomorrow I have to get on an aeroplane. Fly 2.5 hours to a country I've never been to. Socialise with my extended family and strangers for two days then fly home. It's the stuff of an anxiety sufferer's nightmares!
I'm feeling all kinds of weird today. Tired, dizzy, a little detached. All the while I know it's very simply adrenaline mixed in with a little bit of hyperventilation. In my more self- pitying moments I feel despair. I so desperately want to just go and have a good time! So that's what I'm going to try, anxious or not. Nothing bad will happen. The worse is I could have a panic attack, or several. This is highly unlikely. Although everyday is filled with life altering anxiety, I haven't had what I call a full blown panic attack for over 10 years. That's something I guess.
Today I plan to clean my house and rest.
I've got nothing more to say as I'm finding it difficult to think straight, but I thought it might help to write it down.
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Hello!
It's been a long time. I'm having a bit of a wobble. At the back of my mind I keep thinking 'oh no, here we go again, this is where I lose all my marbles!'.
Feel really anxious, obviously. It started with a dizzy spell. I've been feeling a bit light headed and have had a run of minor illnesses since Christmas. It's made me lose a bit of confidence- you know how it goes- standing in Sainsbury's and you feel like you might fall over, so you stop going. That logic makes perfect sense to people like us, doesn't it?!. It's stupid. I need to get over this.
It's really helped to come back here. Reading the below 'Health Anxiety' blog from a few years ago and I'm now in the same boat, having the same ludicrous thoughts.
I moved from Sussex to Norfolk with my partner (soon to be husband if I can make it to the Registry Office!). I have my own small eBay business, scraping together a living. I think not mixing with people, however, doesn't have a very good effect on me. The only person I see, bar my partner, is my mum. It allows me too much time to think about how I'm feeling- to check in with myself every bloody ten minutes to see 'ooh, I have a strange pain in my stomach- is this appendicitis?' or 'am I still feeling dizzy?'.
I need some sort of action plan. I think it should involve getting out and actually mixing with people. Perhaps I should volunteer. We'll see.
If Steph/ Coffee Cup happens to read this, I'd love to hear from you- I think about you often and wonder how you are getting on.
Feel really anxious, obviously. It started with a dizzy spell. I've been feeling a bit light headed and have had a run of minor illnesses since Christmas. It's made me lose a bit of confidence- you know how it goes- standing in Sainsbury's and you feel like you might fall over, so you stop going. That logic makes perfect sense to people like us, doesn't it?!. It's stupid. I need to get over this.
It's really helped to come back here. Reading the below 'Health Anxiety' blog from a few years ago and I'm now in the same boat, having the same ludicrous thoughts.
I moved from Sussex to Norfolk with my partner (soon to be husband if I can make it to the Registry Office!). I have my own small eBay business, scraping together a living. I think not mixing with people, however, doesn't have a very good effect on me. The only person I see, bar my partner, is my mum. It allows me too much time to think about how I'm feeling- to check in with myself every bloody ten minutes to see 'ooh, I have a strange pain in my stomach- is this appendicitis?' or 'am I still feeling dizzy?'.
I need some sort of action plan. I think it should involve getting out and actually mixing with people. Perhaps I should volunteer. We'll see.
If Steph/ Coffee Cup happens to read this, I'd love to hear from you- I think about you often and wonder how you are getting on.
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