Posted by bleauberry on November 10, 2007, at 18:57:26
In reply to Re: Anyone try the Linden Method?, posted by nolvas on November 5, 2007, at 16:35:08
So I guess without realizing it I have done the Linden method hundreds of times. Mostly when weaning off zyprexa. But also many many many other times. Even tonight. Scared to death to go play my guitar in church. But you know what, I had to get in the car, face the fear, feel the fear, feel my fingers shake as I catch first glimpse of the church, and the engulfing anxiety walking through the door. One foot in front of the other. One step, literally, at a time. One note at a time, not one song at a time. One word at a time, not one sentence at a time. And before I knew it, the evening was over and everything went fine. As usual. Done it so many times in so many situations. Work and home. When people have the option or the privilege of opting out of something due to anxiety or depression, I think that actually worsens the disease. If they have no choice but to fulfill their obligations with no way out, that I feel is therapeutic. At least in my experience. I didn't know it had a name though. The Linden method. Geez. What will they think of next.
Just go. Do it. No one is going to shoot you. The roof is not going to collapse. You will not be locked in a dark closet. Everything will be fine, even though you cannot possibly imagine or feel that it will be. But it will be. What you are feeling in the anxiety is not real. It is something physical such as deficient magnesium, taurine, serotonin, gaba, or excess lead or mercury or dopamine or norepinephrine that is causing the feelings to exist, or to cause reactions to your environment to be exaggerated. Just know that, and go.
And then, work on figuring out what it is that has the brain in an electrical storm. Probably something as simple as one of the above mentioned things. In the meantime the Linden method can help in coping and making strides in the right direction, but I do not see it as being a cure.
> I'll summarise the Linden method for you so you don't need to buy it :) It's as simple as this. Face your fear.
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> Yup that is it in a nutshell, it takes you through a lot of information about various treatments etc etc, but the real advice is in the end you have to face the fear, and to be honest that is the most powerful advice you can get and the most cast iron way of combating an anxiety disorder. No one said it's easy though.
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> I'm agoraphobic. I don't stay indoors but I hate places where I can't escape. I recently became agoraphobic about travelling in my car. So much so it really depressed me and scared me terribly. You control your fear, even if you think it controls you. You are the one that makes you scared once you start to realise this then you can make a positive change. I just had to get in my car and feel the fear, and the fear can be damn hard to face. You just gotta do it one step at a time.
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poster:bleauberry
thread:793441
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20071031/msgs/794319.html