Psycho-Babble Psychology Thread 540646

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Origin of anxiety

Posted by Shortelise on August 12, 2005, at 11:03:19

Anyone have any tips as to how to figure out where anxiety is coming from?

ShortE

 

Re: Origin of anxiety

Posted by B2chica on August 12, 2005, at 11:49:35

In reply to Origin of anxiety, posted by Shortelise on August 12, 2005, at 11:03:19

my T and i were just discussing this. he had suggested when i notice the anxiety, stop and think about your surroundings what you think of them and maybe what you were doing at that moment, also if i was thinking about anything specific.
it may not make sense at the time but maybe you can establish a pattern after time.

HTH
b2c.

 

Re: Origin of anxiety

Posted by Miss Honeychurch on August 12, 2005, at 12:46:30

In reply to Origin of anxiety, posted by Shortelise on August 12, 2005, at 11:03:19

Coming from a CBT/REBt approach, anxiety stems from your thoughts. Are you putting "shoulds" on yourself? Are you beating yourself up? Are you expecting the world to be kind to you when it hasn't been?

From what I understand from my therapist (and I agree because it has worked for me), depression and anxiety stem from either conscious or unconscious thought.

 

Re: Origin of anxiety

Posted by madeline on August 12, 2005, at 13:07:01

In reply to Origin of anxiety, posted by Shortelise on August 12, 2005, at 11:03:19

I think a lot of anxiety stems from either a real or perceived loss of control.

try to examine situations that cause anxiety and evaluate them based on how much control you think you have there.

Just a suggestion.

 

A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Shortelise

Posted by orchid on August 12, 2005, at 13:50:32

In reply to Origin of anxiety, posted by Shortelise on August 12, 2005, at 11:03:19

Just blindly, set half hour, and then try to get anxious.. Try to provoke your anxiety by thinking about various troublesome things.

And observe your own reactions.. and see to which though you react the highest.

Or try to pretend that you are anxious, and observe what you are thinking.

I don't know if these are prescribed methods, but it seems it would work from my common sense. No harm trying anyway

 

Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » orchid

Posted by Tamar on August 12, 2005, at 14:52:03

In reply to A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Shortelise, posted by orchid on August 12, 2005, at 13:50:32

Wow, that sounds like the opposite of CBT! I know when I get anxious it helps if I use CBT techniques to try to identify my thoughts and to see if my anxiety is warranted. If it isn't really warranted I feel a little calmer. And usually it's out of proportion, and recognising that calms me down a bit.

I imagine that trying to get anxious would be a little scary, though. How would I calm myself down again?

I think for me, anxiety is so unpleasant that I can't imagine provoking it on purpose. And it might be difficult to remain analytical and detached enough to get useful results.

Just my two cents.

Tamar

 

hmm.. maybe it is true.. I should take it back. » Tamar

Posted by orchid on August 12, 2005, at 15:00:23

In reply to Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » orchid, posted by Tamar on August 12, 2005, at 14:52:03

That makes me re think.

I agree it might become too much to handle for people with more overwhelming anxiety issues.

I might have been wrong to suggest it.

Maybe if you think you could handle it, and if your anxiety is not extreme, it might work. I was suggesting it because it seems to work for me. But maybe it is not true for everyone.

 

Re: Origin of anxiety

Posted by Daisym on August 12, 2005, at 15:17:58

In reply to Origin of anxiety, posted by Shortelise on August 12, 2005, at 11:03:19

With my son we tried the "it could be" approach.

As in:

I have a stomach ache because I ate something that disagreed with me.

Or it could be, that I'm getting sick.

Or it could be, that I stayed up too late.

Or it could be, that I got cold
Or it could be that I broke a rule by staying up too late because I couldn't sleep because I was cold because I played in the water at the park.
hmmm -- I broke a rule, yeah, that is anxiety provoking.


It is old fashion stream of consciousness thinking. Writing helps me, talking helps him.

I hate to be anxious! I'd rather be sad!

 

sick, tired and busy

Posted by Shortelise on August 14, 2005, at 23:31:49

In reply to Origin of anxiety, posted by Shortelise on August 12, 2005, at 11:03:19

I am sorry not to respond - I am all of the above and tehn some,a ndhave to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow. I am definitely not a high energy person...

Thanks for your ideas - I appreciate you all so, so much

ShortE

 

Re: Origin of anxiety » B2chica

Posted by Shortelise on August 16, 2005, at 13:25:57

In reply to Re: Origin of anxiety, posted by B2chica on August 12, 2005, at 11:49:35

I have been trying this since I read you the other day.
I always come to money. But I know that's not the origin, it's the symptom. When I am high anxiety, I always start to worry about money.

I need to find a way of circumventing that knee jerk thing.

I will keep trying this, as you suggest, keep trying!

Thanks

ShortE

 

Re: Origin of anxiety » Miss Honeychurch

Posted by Shortelise on August 16, 2005, at 13:28:43

In reply to Re: Origin of anxiety, posted by Miss Honeychurch on August 12, 2005, at 12:46:30

"Shoulds".

Good point.

I'll make a list. THat'll help with the conscious bit.
As for the unconscious, that would be the part I feel in my body? Probably.

Thanks Miss HC.

ShortE

 

Re: Origin of anxiety » madeline

Posted by Shortelise on August 16, 2005, at 13:30:33

In reply to Re: Origin of anxiety, posted by madeline on August 12, 2005, at 13:07:01

Madeline,

That's very interesting.

Loss of control.

That can go in lots of directions. Like, do I feel I need to control too much, do I feel I "should" be controlling things I cannot control? Do I need to let go of things? Or take things in hand.

It's really very interesting and I will think about this. Thank you.

ShortE

 

Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » orchid

Posted by Shortelise on August 16, 2005, at 13:33:51

In reply to A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Shortelise, posted by orchid on August 12, 2005, at 13:50:32

Orchid, I know you withdrew this suggestion, but I'm not sure that for me, it's such a bad one. I really do need to get deeply in touch with these feelings, and be in them, otherwise I don't think I can ever understand them.

In the place I am right now, I don't need to callf orth all my anxious thoughts/feelings, though. I can just work with the ones that are here. My T often suggests that I "stay" with a feeling. This post is a reminder of that for me, that I need to stay with the feelings to understand them.

Thanks Orchid.

ShortE

 

Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Tamar

Posted by Shortelise on August 16, 2005, at 13:35:27

In reply to Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » orchid, posted by Tamar on August 12, 2005, at 14:52:03

Tamar, what is the CBT technique you use to identify your thoughts? Just a rbief overview would be great, if you could.

Thanks!

ShortE

 

Re: Origin of anxiety » Daisym

Posted by Shortelise on August 16, 2005, at 13:36:48

In reply to Re: Origin of anxiety, posted by Daisym on August 12, 2005, at 15:17:58

I'm trying this.

Thanks

ShortE

 

Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Shortelise

Posted by antigua on August 17, 2005, at 11:26:04

In reply to Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » orchid, posted by Shortelise on August 16, 2005, at 13:33:51

I am always frustrated when my T says "stay with the feeling". I'm not sure what that means. Just let myself obsess and feel worse?
antigua

 

Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Shortelise

Posted by Tamar on August 17, 2005, at 13:17:33

In reply to Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Tamar, posted by Shortelise on August 16, 2005, at 13:35:27

> Tamar, what is the CBT technique you use to identify your thoughts? Just a rbief overview would be great, if you could.
>
> Thanks!
>
> ShortE

Hi ShortE,

I’ve been using a book called "Mind over Mood" by Greenberger and Padesky. They have exercises to help distinguish moods from thoughts, and to look at moods in the context of the situation. They suggest asking yourself questions like:
What was going through my mind just before I started to feel this way?
What does this say about me? What does this mean about me, my life, my future?
What is the worst thing that could happen if this is true?
What does this mean about how the other person(s) feel(s)/think(s) about me?
What does this mean about the other person(s) or people in general?
What images or memories do I have in this situation?

I’m finding it pretty useful…

Tamar

 

anxiety » antigua

Posted by Shortelise on August 17, 2005, at 18:12:45

In reply to Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Shortelise, posted by antigua on August 17, 2005, at 11:26:04

Antigua, I know just what you mean!!

ShortE

 

Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Tamar

Posted by Shortelise on August 17, 2005, at 18:17:23

In reply to Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Shortelise, posted by Tamar on August 17, 2005, at 13:17:33

Thanks, Tamar. I've copied this and will try it. Or I'll try to try it. ANxiety is sometimes so ... paralyzing!

ShortE

 

Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Shortelise

Posted by Tamar on August 18, 2005, at 2:51:40

In reply to Re: A good approach is to deliberately provoke anxiety » Tamar, posted by Shortelise on August 17, 2005, at 18:17:23

> Thanks, Tamar. I've copied this and will try it. Or I'll try to try it. ANxiety is sometimes so ... paralyzing!

Paralyzing is right! I have to admit, I find it harder to identify thoughts connected with anxiety than any other mood. I usually know why I feel sad or angry or guilty, but I can rarely think straight for long enough to identify my thoughts if I'm anxious!

Tamar


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