Posted by dana on June 27, 2001, at 19:28:17
In reply to Telephone anxiety, posted by cjay on June 27, 2001, at 19:05:59
Hi cjay,
..can I suggest that it appears that you have somehow 'connected' the sound of the phone ringing to your being diagnosed with anxiety and depression.When I had my first panic attack a couple of years ago, I was in my kitchen at a certain spot...........now it is no problem for me to be in that spot, but while battling with my illnes, I would try to avoid standing any where near it.........as if being in that spot would bring up the panic attacks again for me.......
It's part of the OBSESSIVE cycle of thinking....and through Cognitive therapy I have learned to retrain my thinking...... which mostly works now........... NOTHING DANGEROUS IS GOING ON HERE......... it's JUST THE PHONE RINGING.......
Did you get some bad news around the time of you being diagnosed ??........ Did the phone ring and it was someone with bad news ??............... it is just so easy to connect to certain events or situations and become obsessive about it...
can you change the RING tone on your phone ??... but I guess therapists would say that that is 'avoidance'.......so maybe don't go there............
It's learning how to break the cycle of thinking......... de-sensitising yourself to the sound of the phone............ is it the thought that there may be bad news on the other end ??....is that what happens........... and sets you off on a cycle of trembling.....
Maybe you just don't want to have to talk.... then DON'T until you are go and ready........don't put pressure on yourself......
hope this isn't too jumbled up......
Dana
poster:dana
thread:68132
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010625/msgs/68136.html