advertisement
Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
stanislavski
Member
 
stanislavski's Avatar
stanislavski has no updates.
 
Member Since: May 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 38
8 yr Member
Default Feb 04, 2019 at 05:42 PM
  #1
Just like another poster on this forum recently, I suffer from endless obsessing and ruminative thinking. I'm curious to know what has helped quell similar symptoms for you. I call it "brain fever" I KNOW my repetitive thought patterns are silly, useless, counter-productive, anxiety provoking etc etc but of course, your frontal cortex has little effect on your lizard brain. What has helped you break out of the cycle?

__________________
I hate morning people. Or mornings. Or people.
stanislavski is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
BonsaiGuy, ken9018, MickeyCheeky
 
Thanks for this!
BonsaiGuy, MickeyCheeky, naturalemotion5

advertisement
Chez3
Member
 
Chez3's Avatar
Chez3 I exist, I guess...
 
Member Since: Apr 2018
Location: Doesn't matter
Posts: 58
5 yr Member
29 hugs
given
Default Feb 05, 2019 at 05:07 AM
  #2
My panic attacks are usually more emotion than thought. Usually, any thoughts about what I'm panicking about are brought up as a result of me feeling anxious about nothing in particular. I just obsessively remind myself that I'm having an attack and to breathe. It goes a bit like this:
Body: EMERGENCY!!!
Me: Oh crap! OH CRAP!
Me but smarter: EMERGENCY! We're freaking out for no reason! Remember to breathe. We're panicking. Don't worry. Breathe. Breathe.
Me: *breathes* this is still bad. Something is awfully wrong.
Me but smarter: nothing's wrong. You're just having a panic attack. It'll be over soon, just breathe.

Then I sit through the rest of the panic attack, but now with the knowledge that it'll end. It still takes a while, but for me, knowing what's happening, and acknowledging that that state of being is temporary really helps me. I don't know if this'll help. This is just how I manage.

__________________
We all need a little bit of help. Some of us more than others. I hope that in some way, I can help people.
Chez3 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
MickeyCheeky
 
Thanks for this!
MickeyCheeky
MickeyCheeky
Legendary
 
MickeyCheeky's Avatar
MickeyCheeky My echo is the only voice coming back
 
Member Since: Jun 2016
Location: Italy
Posts: 11,817 (SuperPoster!)
5 yr Member
38.4k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Feb 05, 2019 at 07:10 AM
  #3
I'm so sorry, stanisvlaski Do you see a therapist? Maybe that could help. You could learn new ways to cope with your anxiety, if you haven't already. Anxiety is hard to deal with, I struggle with it as well sometimes. I hope you'll be able to get the help you need and deserve. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you
MickeyCheeky is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
Chez3
Anonymous32451
Guest
Anonymous32451 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Feb 05, 2019 at 09:32 AM
  #4
I recently came across a new age artist called paul brooks.

music helps me anyway, but paul brooks is amazing

so are
hilary stagg and enya.

also I like to get air from outside when I'm anxious.

also using the senses

I'm a strong believer in touching things that calm me, or smelling nice things, or watching a sunset/ other pleasing thing

I personally suggest boats on the ocean
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous32451
Guest
Anonymous32451 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Feb 06, 2019 at 07:02 AM
  #5
watching the lion king or rocky.

both those movies help me a lot
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Anonymous47864
Guest
Anonymous47864 has no updates. Edit
 
Posts: n/a
Default Feb 07, 2019 at 01:50 PM
  #6
I am wondering this same thing myself. I just have no idea. Reading or watching a good movie helps me and so does going for a long walk. Otherwise I need to get new thoughts because I’m tired of some of the same old worn out, negative thoughts. It’s up to me to change it but that’s easier said than done.
  Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Meemur603
New Member
Meemur603 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Feb 2019
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 4
5 yr Member
1 hugs
given
Default Feb 07, 2019 at 07:30 PM
  #7
This is something I’ve struggled with strongly for a long time. Here are some things I find help. I’m guessing the thoughts cause some
Kind of discomfort or anxiety... in order to stop them from making me anxious I try and remember that the thoughts are doing nothing to help, I will repeat a mantra (for me it is something grounding, and I do my best to be in the present. Most of my problems are bc I’m not present enough. Being with my baby helps me do that (although that can exhaust me)
Meemur603 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
stanislavski
Member
 
stanislavski's Avatar
stanislavski has no updates.
 
Member Since: May 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 38
8 yr Member
Default Feb 07, 2019 at 09:50 PM
  #8
Thank you all for your insightful answers. I don't think it's really "up to us" to change the negative thinking pattern because you're trying to engage your frontal cortex to win over your "snake" brain (limbic system) and that can never work. The primitive brain doesn't respond to logic. If it did, none of us would be on an anxiety forum But I think we *do* have control over how we "think about our thoughts" if that makes sense. And that's what I've been trying to do - like many of you. Just be present. Breathe. Observe. And realize that all thoughts are just...thoughts. In addition, a hot bath works for me (somewhat) and distraction (somewhat) There are times when the only thing that will work is an Ativan. Good luck to all. Anxiety really sucks...

__________________
I hate morning people. Or mornings. Or people.
stanislavski is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
stanislavski
Member
 
stanislavski's Avatar
stanislavski has no updates.
 
Member Since: May 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 38
8 yr Member
Default Feb 07, 2019 at 09:51 PM
  #9
Quote:
Originally Posted by MickeyCheeky View Post
I'm so sorry, stanisvlaski Do you see a therapist? Maybe that could help. You could learn new ways to cope with your anxiety, if you haven't already. Anxiety is hard to deal with, I struggle with it as well sometimes. I hope you'll be able to get the help you need and deserve. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. Sending many hugs to you
Thank you Mickey. Yes, I am seeing a therapist and it does help but in the end, it's ourselves who must do the heavy lifting as it were. I do appreciate your kind thoughts very much

__________________
I hate morning people. Or mornings. Or people.
stanislavski is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
xmascarol
Grand Member
 
xmascarol's Avatar
xmascarol has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jul 2018
Location: United States
Posts: 755
5 yr Member
9 hugs
given
Default Feb 16, 2019 at 04:58 PM
  #10
Quote:
Originally Posted by stanislavski View Post
Just like another poster on this forum recently, I suffer from endless obsessing and ruminative thinking. I'm curious to know what has helped quell similar symptoms for you. I call it "brain fever" I KNOW my repetitive thought patterns are silly, useless, counter-productive, anxiety provoking etc etc but of course, your frontal cortex has little effect on your lizard brain. What has helped you break out of the cycle?
For me I am anxious from the time I get up till the time I go to bed.Nonstop anxieties ,sometimes what works for me is doing my crafts like knitting and crocheting sometimes drawing too.However when it blows up into a panic attack nothing seems to worse.Oh ya try laying down if you can,think of something that makes you happy.Like for me it would be the beach because it is so calming.I often think of walking along the beach .or just swimming and fishing I love both.Sometimes it works other times no.Do you take any medication? I am on klonopin it helps but there are days when it seems like I need a whole bottle.
xmascarol is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Hugs from:
naturalemotion5
stanislavski
Member
 
stanislavski's Avatar
stanislavski has no updates.
 
Member Since: May 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 38
8 yr Member
Default Feb 19, 2019 at 01:29 AM
  #11
Quote:
Originally Posted by xmascarol View Post
For me I am anxious from the time I get up till the time I go to bed.Nonstop anxieties ,sometimes what works for me is doing my crafts like knitting and crocheting sometimes drawing too.However when it blows up into a panic attack nothing seems to worse.Oh ya try laying down if you can,think of something that makes you happy.Like for me it would be the beach because it is so calming.I often think of walking along the beach .or just swimming and fishing I love both.Sometimes it works other times no.Do you take any medication? I am on klonopin it helps but there are days when it seems like I need a whole bottle.
Ativan (Lorazepam) 1mg at night, Gabapentin 300 mg twice a day. Lexapro was the best drug I've ever tried but alas, it quit on me after eight good years. My go-to non pharma trick is hot baths. Really great though the effect is short lived

__________________
I hate morning people. Or mornings. Or people.
stanislavski is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
sarahsweets
Threadtastic Postaholic
 
sarahsweets's Avatar
sarahsweets has no updates.
 
Member Since: Dec 2018
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 6,006 (SuperPoster!)
5 yr Member
192 hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Feb 19, 2019 at 04:58 AM
  #12
I take buspar for anxiety but something I practice is a form of grounding I'll call "five blue things". When I feel like the walls are closing in due to anxiety and that I am teetering on the brink of a meltdown I look for five blue (whatever color works for you) things and name them and where they are in the room. For example..." I see the blue book on the shelf. There's a blue dish on the counter. I see a blue blanket..." Most times by the time I finish I am a little more-to alot more calm than before I did it.

__________________
"I carried a watermelon?"

President of the no F's given society.
sarahsweets is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
naturalemotion5
Member
 
naturalemotion5's Avatar
naturalemotion5 has no updates.
 
Member Since: Jun 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 25
5 yr Member
18 hugs
given
Default Feb 19, 2019 at 11:35 PM
  #13
Since ive been having med problems lately this has been a big one, a lot of panic attacks to the point where I feel paralyzed.

I avoid triggers (like socializing with people that stress me out, exposing myself to dark things) and do some mindfulness stuff that distracts me - rain sounds and nature sounds, turning the fan on and feeling the air hit my face and hands, turning off lights and lighting only candles to avoid sensory overload, applying heat somehow (or holding ice cube, that works sometimes), repeating the word CALM over and over, either in my head or out loud if I'm alone. I remember a therapist a long time ago telling me that if you tell yourself things like, "I need to calm down," or "stop panicking," your mind is more likely to focus on words like "need," and "stop" as urgent commands and you'll get anxious about wanting to control the anxiety, which ironically causes your anxiety to worsen. Allowing yourself to feel the anxiety, recognizing it for what it is, then responding to it as gently as possible without shaming yourself works best, I think, easier said than done.
naturalemotion5 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
zapatoes
Grand Magnate
 
zapatoes's Avatar
zapatoes Looking for my way
 
Member Since: Sep 2018
Location: Islandia
Posts: 4,263 (SuperPoster!)
5 yr Member
10.9k hugs
given
PC PoohBah!
Default Feb 19, 2019 at 11:57 PM
  #14
It depends and after work like to walk 30-60 minutes or even jog and in the past tried yoga and meditation, and all of these help some.
zapatoes is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Carmina
Poohbah
 
Carmina's Avatar
Carmina has no updates.
 
Member Since: Sep 2017
Location: A Growlery in the UK
Posts: 1,158
5 yr Member
129 hugs
given
Default Feb 20, 2019 at 02:59 AM
  #15
Quote:
Originally Posted by sarahsweets View Post
I take buspar for anxiety but something I practice is a form of grounding I'll call "five blue things". When I feel like the walls are closing in due to anxiety and that I am teetering on the brink of a meltdown I look for five blue (whatever color works for you) things and name them and where they are in the room. For example..." I see the blue book on the shelf. There's a blue dish on the counter. I see a blue blanket..." Most times by the time I finish I am a little more-to alot more calm than before I did it.
Sounds like there's an element of sensory anchoring going on there
Carmina is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
 
Thanks for this!
sarahsweets
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:14 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® — Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.



 

My Support Forums

My Support Forums is the online community that was originally begun as the Psych Central Forums in 2001. It now runs as an independent self-help support group community for mental health, personality, and psychological issues and is overseen by a group of dedicated, caring volunteers from around the world.

 

Helplines and Lifelines

The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.

Always consult your doctor or mental health professional before trying anything you read here.