I’m getting better at interpreting my anxiety for what it is.

Before now, I would interpret it as something being wrong with my body or my car.  It would freak me out more and I would spiral into feeling afraid and numb.

Over the last six months, I’ve been working on identifying the triggers, which helps me to acknowledge that when I’m feeling fearful, it is my anxiety– not my body or car that is causing me to feel this way.

It’s been one helluva trek.

I decided today that when I acknowledge that I’m feeling anxious or fearful, I’m going to say to myself, “Calm up” instead of “Calm down.”

First of all, self talk is HUGE.  Humans are gullible.  They’ll believe anything they want– or don’t want, depending on the emotion they have attached to the belief.  If they think the source of the belief is reliable, the belief becomes fact.  The reason self talk is so important is that generally our self talk reflects our core beliefs!  Therefore, I find it completely and absolutely necessary to tell myself something to calm my nerves.

Second, fear is a negative emotion.  When I feel afraid, it’s on the down turn of the continuum.  I’ve decided that instead of calming “down,” I should be lifting my mood and calming “up.”

So, there you have it.  Repeat to yourself: “Calm up, Ash, calm up.”

4 Comments »

1. 

   Calm UP Ash… calm UP.

   Hey, have you tried a high protein diet? I’ve read over and over that a high protein diet gives your body something that it needs to be balanced and reduce anxiety. I eat TONS of meat (some people do not) and I haven’t had the huge, on-going anxiety attacks I used to have, in several years. I combine high protein and acupuncture (my acupuncturist is the VERY BEST EVER because she also works the chakras and NET and she’s at 470 & Kipling). I’ll give you her info if you ever want it. She’s been my savior for 3 years.

   Comment by Hyphen Mama — October 24, 2008 @ 11:52 am

2. 

   Hmmm.

   I try to get a balanced diet– with all of my daily nutrients. I’d bet that the key to all that protein is B-vitamins.

   I started taking B-vites about a month ago (again), and once again, I’m sleeping beautifully!

   The thing is that the vitamins dehydrate me, which makes my tachycardia active– so I need to a) take my vitamins (still), b) drink plenty of water along with them, and c) eat lots of salt along with all the water– because without the salt, I get light-headed and low blood pressure.

   So, I have a solution, I just got a little off-whack there for a morning.

   Comment by POHA — October 24, 2008 @ 12:28 pm

3. 

   I have anxiety too Ash! I get really scared at night that someone will break into our house. There are some nights that I sit awake terrified all night while Ryan sleeps.
   It’s awful. And it’s all in my mind!! So, if you have any good suggestions, let me know!! I really would hate to use drugs to cure it, you know?

   Comment by Colleen — October 27, 2008 @ 7:59 pm

4. 

   Ugh, today isn’t the day to give advice on that… I haven’t slept in two days and boy am I foggy.

   Comment by POHA — October 28, 2008 @ 7:05 am

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