“Worry gives a small thing a big shadow” – Swedish Proverb
The Anxiety Guru Show: Episode 4 Show Notes
1. A common symptom of anxiety disorder and PTSD is having disturbing thoughts.
a. It includes thoughts of harming yourself or others.
b. It includes dreaming of or envisioning violent or sexual themes in thought and dream.
c. Feeling of going crazy.
d. Fear that your going to die.
e. Racing thoughts.
f. All very frightening but none of your thoughts will ever hurt you.
2. Disturbing thoughts are a result of a tired mind and body losing it’s resiliency.
a. The mind has the ability to think multiple things at the same time – it is what makes human intelligence possible, creative and dynamic.
b. Develops out of an obsession with your fear and anxiety – you search for more strange things. You explore the rabbit hole to see how strange it can get.
c. Constant introspection locks you inside your own thoughts – disconnection follows. This is the root of depersonalization but that will be covered in a later show.
i Too much introspection distracts you from the outside world and prolongs your anxiety.
3. Tired mind: Let your mind think what it wants it does not matter and it will not hurt you.
a. Given too much importance your thoughts will dominate you even as you try to do other task.
b. Do not shy away from your scary thoughts – this will only help to create a greater focus since you are trying too hard to push them out of your mind.
c. Do not make the mistake that you are defective – you are mentally fatigued and need rest.
d. Think what you like – you are a good person and will not act on these disturbing thoughts. The mind is powerful and can produce this in anyone at anytime – it’s just that you dwell on it.
c. You can’t always control your thoughts – but if you take away their potential to scare you and to create anxiety then that is the key to recovery.
d. Do not be dominated and terrified by thoughts – they are only thoughts and cannot hurt you.
e. Remember – you will not act on your thoughts – they are just thoughts.
f. Acceptance, letting go, patience, exercise and a healthy diet are all keys to recovery.
Email your questions, comments and topics you would like covered to info@anxietyguru.net
My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-e66ac7854f935d9ac6da2ed9c741149a}
You made so much sense about bad thoughts, you have really helped me and i thank you.
Thank you so much. I have had problems with anxiety since I was 5 years old but I have been struggling with the most disturbing thoughts for the past month. I have thought I should die because I was going to turn into a bad person. I thought I was the only person who experienced this. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!
thank you this helps alot!!
Paul,
9 months on and listening to this mp3 has helped me so much im well on the road to recovery, youve explained stress in a way no one else has and in a lot of detail.
You should be a councillor, and should be proud of yourself that youve helped me this much.
Respect from the UK
Thank you. I hope you stay well. It means a great deal to me to know that you’ve been helped. Hang in there.
I think that this is so good.. I get really bad feelings when i think my terrible thoughts i feel alone alot of the time.. Im not sure what to do… i have bad thoughts or feelings of harming my baby idk what the heck is worng with me its like when i get in to that panic i feel almost capable.. I feel like such a piece of crap! I just dont know what to do… They have me on 20 mg of lexapro and i have been since oct… I hate this but its nice to know im not alone does anyone have any advice?
Hi Cam, My advice would be to take the thoughts that disturb you the most and exam them closely. Don’t shrink from them, but instead let them come close, right in front of you. Then, ask yourself this. Do I actually want to DO what my thoughts suggest? Have I ever done what my thoughts suggest? If the answer is no then be relieved and understand that it is stress and anxiety making you vulnerable to the false belief that you would do something horrific. But of course you will not. Let those thoughts do what they will,they won’t harm you and if you remain unimpressed by those thoughts they will fade away. Hang in there.
Hay cam ..I was reading what u said and I think it’s good your thoughts scare u because that means u are r not that person u think u might be …face your fear and don’t loose site u are a dad and have the duty to that kid don’t feel gilty for some thing u did not do u r a good person…. Did u now native ameracans use swet loges and some use drugs to explor their bigest fears ….just think crazy killer people think like that and like it ……. U don’t !!!!! That’s y it bugs u…..so forgive your self and enjoy life… hope that helps
Hi Paul,
My anxiety comes and goes and in the past year it has done so with disturbing thoughts. Previously my anxiety brought on panic attacks due to health (my heart is racing – I must be having a heart attack etc). But I had been having thoughts of hurting my husband. Which is ridiculous because I’m a pacifist and a newlywed! I had so much shame in thinking these horrible thoughts – I thought I was going to be locked away. Now I listen to your podcast when I have the panic attacks and they do help greatly (in conjunction with therapy and Lexapro!). Thank you for doing what you’re doing. Sometimes, all we need to know is that we’re normal, this will pass, and that we’re not alone.
Thanks Meg, and you are right. This will pass. Always does.
paul, i find disturbing thouggts the worst part of my anxiety. i keep having thoughts like im going crazy or loosing touch with reality. sometimes i wonder if everything is even real. is this normal? deep down i dont believe any of this but i find these thoughts so disturbing i cant help but be afraid of them.
Hey Ally, you’re not going nuts, but I know it can feel like it sometimes. Anxiety is tricky like that, but don’t get discouraged. Get focused on finding things that help you relax and over time you’ll be able to lay down this fear. And that is the main problem, fear.
Hey there, Im 24yrs old and have been struggling with anxiety off and on since i was little. I was anxiety free for a couple of years and then i started college and it all came back after a 4 day freak out over an exam…. i couldnt get right after that and its been almost a year. My anxiety shows its face in many ways including a phobia of throwing up(mainly) and as of the past year its been disturbing thoughts with a side of my o’ so fun phobia. Sadly at this point in my life i have so many happy things going on that i just love but yet my anxiety (disturbing thoughts) haunt me and bring these happy things to a hault.. i know i should get help through therapy but i just dont have the funds or time for that….i just want to enjoy the wonderful things around me fully..an advice would be greatly appreciated..please..
Amanda I feel your pain,
I’m also 24 years old and it all hit me like a bullet train. My mind is at it’s worst, now I have disturbing unrealistic thoughts and what’s worse is that my mind tells me I can’t get better and what I read is a lie whenever I read good things about people recovering and it going away my mind laughs and says yeah right I will live with it, and maybe if I drink then it can go away. my mind is so strong now that unless i black out my mind is fighting the alcohol and still making me anxious Theres no escape anymore..
I’m living on edge everyday every second. this is not living for me anymore it’s a nightmare I’m supposed to cope with it (HOW?)???. I haven’t got help yet my doctor referred me to a psychologist ( he said there’s no point though bc he will do the same thing and prescribe me medicine) I need to pay for counsellong. To anybody out there can my life be normal like before I got any panic attacks or anxiety? I can’t get close to anyone anymore I’m losing out in future love intrest,friends life, bonding and most of all my family… Me me me my brain is drying me out 99.9%
Any reply would be appreciated as well. Thanks Internet world
Hi, had a panic attack 3 weeks ago and haven’t felt the same since. Thank you for letting me know that I’m not alone when it comes to disturbing thoughts. I have them about my kids then feel SO guilty for thinking such horrible thoughts and that if I tell someone these thoughts, their going to think I’m insane and that I shouldn’t have my kids đ It’s an absolute nightmare and I want to be back to my normal self except not to put so much on my plate. I have never contemplated suicide until these past 2 weeks, I never actually think I could but I thought life with these thoughts is absolutely unbearable and I’d rather be dead. I am a believer in God so I wouldn’t actually but I don’t know what my mind and body are capable of when I feel so lousy. Tell me that this will END!!!!!!!!!
Hi Shells. It will end!!! I have had issues with the same thoughts. They are so scary, it is the thoughts that send you into the panic then, the panic and adrenalin make you feel as though you may lose control over your body and act on the scary thought. Itâs a crazy cycle that your mind keeps playing. But it is so true what a writer said in an earlier post; if you were really a terrible person, these thoughts wouldnât not bother you in the first place. It is because you are a good person and love your kids that these thoughts send you into a panic attack making your body feel that at any moment, you may lose control over your mind. Itâs OK! You will never act on these thoughts and you are FAR from alone. I too suffer with such thoughts but I have learned to laugh at them even though they make me feel uncomfortable temporarily. I have learned to challenge them. I ask them to come in, with detail. I play out the scary scenario in my head. I ask the anxiety to come with the thoughts. Then, I ask myself if I like the thoughts. I ask myself do I want to act on these stupid thoughts. Since I have been doing this, the thoughts are less scary. It was hard to do at first but I did it. Pushing the thoughts away will be your biggest setback every time. Thoughts of hurting your child are the worse but you wonât do it! Itâs a thought that leads to a strange sensation. THATâS IT! đ You may ask,” well, why are they taking over my mind?” You may have already convinced yourself that this is NOT normal. But IT IS đ Its PTSD really. Because these thoughts scare you so much, your brain wants to focus on it and you are trying so hard to reassure yourself that you are not going crazy that you are now obsessed with it. You may keep asking yourself how strage you thoughts can get, then you try to scurry those thoughts away immediately. When you welcome the thoughts and embrace the feelings they give you, you will realize that you will never lose control and harm anyone. Itâs normal for these thoughts to make ANY parent feel discomfort. I hope this helps you dear. I hope this gives you a warm assurance. The next time these thoughts come, show them that they are defeated and go and kiss and hug your kids. That will show those terrible thoughts that they are just a big bluff and will NEVER affect you, your home or your children đ Love You (If you were me, already your mind may be trying to find a way to make it seem as though you are different and something is really the matter with YOU in particular. Itâs just that anxiety and the What Ifs that come with it. You are fine and completely NORMAL )
Hi everyone I’m 25 years old and been suffering with thought Lyk these for 5 years now, on nd off, my thought originally were aimed at my parents espeasially my mam who I love dearly, these thoughts were really disturbing, but 5 years dwn the line I still hav disturbing thoughts but Iv learned not to pay them much attention because that’s what they feed on, the more attention you pay them the stronger they will become, me and my fiancĂ© recently had a baby, nd my negative thinking has started to creep back up on me but now I no jst to let them thoughts hav there space and time and they will leave on there own accord trust me Iv been there and seen them come and seen them go, so for sufferers out there reading this wanting to no if they will ever get out of the dark hole what they think they are stuck in with there thoughts, trust me you’s will jst takes time and patience, it is hard but stick at it you’s will get there. Take are all spk soon !!
Thanks so much for this. It is stuff I think you know when you’re being rational but having it spelled out and told to you really helps – I’m just a worrier by nature, I think I’m lucky and don’t have any huge problems, but a recent expereince has lead to me over-examining my own thought processes and feeling very intropective, more than usual. I know that it will go away again and I’ll settle back down, but it can really get your down when you’re worrying or obessessing about the fact that you’re doing it. Learning not to be scared of it and just letting your brain do what it will and taking away the sting I know will eventually mean the cycle will break and I will just be me again
Hey I was in an accident less then 2 years ago and ive been suffering from anxiety for the last two months since i have to go for an operation the injury that i have is affecting my life , my job everything has changed im stressed out and now anxiety is getting the best of me Im having disturbing irrational thoughts and it freaks me out feels like im going crazy and this has helped me realise im not . Its just anxiety but im strughling to convince myself and rid myself of these thoughts and fears