Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Re: I am afraid to think » linkadge

Posted by Racer on August 31, 2007, at 19:42:57

In reply to I am afraid to think, posted by linkadge on August 31, 2007, at 18:12:52

Yeppers -- I get that sensation. It's worst for me at night, especially when I try to go to sleep. My stomach feels as though it's poised for flight, as though I'm about to be sick; my chest feels tight; every thought that begins feels as though it's going to bring on one of my obsessional attacks; and worst of all, if I do manage to get to sleep in one of those episodes, I'll have a night of those wake-up-crying-shaking-screaming-inside nightmares.

It's part of my anxiety disorder, and I have always "self-medicated" those episodes by reading in bed before I go to sleep. It's hard to read in that condition, but I have certain books that I can manage -- children's books, or Nicole Hollander collections -- or I pick up something like New Scientist magazine, which has enough short pieces I can concentrate well enough to read them. Eventually, that usually brings my mind away from the anxiety/obsessions, and I can relax.

If it happens during the day, I've been working on learning to self-sooth in a more active manner. My T is a big one on "learning to self-sooth," so I'm probably more resistant to doing it than most. (Just -- don't ask, OK? lol) I'm the one in my family who often calms others. I can even -- usually -- calm my mother down. (She's not crazy -- she's just a carrier...) There's a voice, and a cadence of speaking, that usually does the trick pretty well. I try to use the same method of calming myself down, although it's quite tricky. (Mostly because I sometimes feel so isolated, that I have to do this myself, that no one else is there for me when I need it, you know?) When I can get the same voice going, though, it works for me, too.

Also, some of the CBT type stuff can help. "It's only a thought, thoughts can't hurt." Reminding yourself of that might help.

Is there any topic that these thoughts often follow? That might be a clue of how to combat them. (Of course, I say that freely admitting that I read certain Nicole Hollander panels and see myself in the dogs -- dang, couldn't find any on her site. Well, the dogs usually sit there saying something in response to a cat's exaggerations, then finish the little bubble with the words, "Oh, bad dog. Bad dog!" It's hardest for me, when I get into that sort of state, because many times my thoughts are that something isn't actually my fault, or that I don't have it so great -- in other words, thoughts which in my childhood would have been contradicted, and I'd have been criticized for having in the first place.)

Link, I'm sorry you're having this experience. I hope it eases for you soon.


Share
Tweet  

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:Racer thread:780047
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070831/msgs/780064.html