Show Notes
The Anxiety Guru News Desk
1. I reported a few weeks back about how actress Heather Locklear was admitted to an Arizona facility for anxiety and depression. Well according to star.com Heather has checked out and gone home. Star.com claims that Heather was taken in for treatment in June because of a supposed suicide attempt, her people deny this – but either way let’s hope she is o.k. now.
2. According to earthtimes.org as of today there is a record 300 new mental illness drugs being developed right now. The article states that over 60 million Americans suffer from some form of mental illness and that this effort by American drug companies is a much needed attempt to relieve the pain of many people.
3. The Chicago Tribune reports that the treatment of choice for people suffering from panic disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy – both with and without the aide of drugs. Therapists Mona Berman, the expert in the article, also pointed out that anxiety disorders are not curable – but are very manageable. The article also had a main focus or subject that suffers from panic disorder – his last line was to me the meat of this particular article. His name is Larry Anthony and what he said was “I was wrong to think I was supposed to live without fear… learning to do things even with fear was an epiphany”.
Emotions
1. Anxiety can not only alter how you feel physically, but it can also affect how you feel inside. Your emotions will run the gamut – from high to low. But no matter what you feel you should realize that this is normal.
a. You may develop feelings of frustration. You become frustrated becomes it seems that no matter what you do or how hard you try you stay stuck in a constant state of fear. Feeling frustrated at this prospect is to be expected.
b. After a while you might start asking yourself – why me? What did I ever do to deserve this? So naturally you can develop and sense of anger that will ultimately manifest itself in the form of irritability. You become short tempered and snippy with people. Everyone and thing tends to annoy you from time to time.
c. But finally you become tired and worn down and wonder when it’s all going to end. You become saddened. Your sadness is born of frustration and anger at the seemingly insurmountable challenge that anxiety appears to be. This can lead to depression. If you feel depressed you should see a therapist to be evaluated. Be sure to look out for signs that suggest that you may be developing depression such as:
a. Loss of interest in normal activities.
b. Feelings of hopelessness.
c. Uncontrollable crying – related story about me.
d. Thoughts of suicide.
Check out my post that explores this question of “How to know if you need a therapist?”.
2. Remember that although you will have occasional ups and downs – everyone on the planet experiences the same thing. You’re simply experiencing it more often and on a more intense level.
a. You are not going crazy. The constant state of tiredness and mental fatigue has “caught up” to you. You will not develop something new as a result of feeling these common emotions.
b. Anxiety exaggerates everything you feel and think – don’t be impressed. What you are experiencing is normal based on your condition.
c. What you are going through is what used to be called a “nervous breakdown”. It is all as emotional as it is “mental”. Remember the brain’s amygdala? ( click here to learn more ) All of our fear symptoms and our emotions come from this place. It is normal that your feelings of fear and various physical anxiety symptoms feel (and are) tied into your emotions.
3. You can manage this. A cure for anxiety does not exist. So we must do the best we can with what we have. And just because you have anxiety it doesn’t mean you, your brain, or any other part of you is no good.
a. In order to manage and control your anxiety you have to accept it, let go, be patient, eat right, exercise, educate yourself.
b. Think positive and you can feel positive. Even with bad days – focus on future good days. If you expect to find something, hope for example, you will.
If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future shows contact me at anxietyguru.net.
Side note: If you never have – read this book. It will teach you a lot of the things that I rely on to help me with my condition of general anxiety disorder. Hope and Help for Your Nerves
I am going through an anxiety episode.
Thank you for your posts.
I have found them helpful.
I came across this site by accident and have found myself reading and making mental ✔…more like ✔ ✔ ✔. Everything in here describes me to a tee. I am very high functioning and have read all this before over the years with the addition of what I thought was just me….fear of the fear itself!! That’s exactly it. People who have known me for years have said “I’ve never known you to be afraid of anyone or anything, so I just don’t get what you’re afraid of now!” Well, they never will unless they experience it themselves. Thank you….I will have this on my home page for quick access from now on. I’m looking forward to getting out of this agoraphobic, toxic life and feeling better.