Quote:
Originally Posted by rainbow8
FearLess, you are amazing! Thank you so much for your response. I had to check your profile to see if you are a therapist! I am lying in bed with an ice pack because 30 minutes of aqua therapy wore me out. It's only 10 minutes from my house but was stressful. I usually feel light headed and weak. I took my blood pressure and blood sugar. Normal. I used to be prediabetic so when I feel shaky I still check my blood sugar. So... I will try to think adventure rather than fear.
I am seeing a CBT therapist for my pain and anxiety and I am trying to change my automatic negative thoughts to more positive ones. Does CBT really help anxiety? I'm also doing biofeedback which shows I need to breathe slower and deeper. These questions are for anyone reading this. Thanks.  |
Rainbow8 I am definitely not a therapist!
Just a person who has struggled for a long time. I am still in the sea of struggle as we speak and often I am giving myself suggestions when I make them for others.
Much like the sound tactic you use for checking your blood sugar...CBT can be similarly used to check your thoughts/sensations/beliefs. When anxiety grabs a hold of me I try to be curious about it just like low blood pressure. Like, "Hmm. I'm anxious. What could this be about?" CBT can be a good way to identify whether what we're sensing is a right now thing, a yesterday thing or a tomorrow thing. And then to talk ourselves through that thing, based upon what's happening right now. "This is an old thing. I think I got triggered by X. That makes sense. Ok self, you are safe, I'll take some deep breaths to let you know."
The breath is our tool that forms a bridge between the outside of us and inside of us. So how cool is that? Breath, the thing that we sometimes find ourselves holding when anxious, can also be the very tool to bring us back to a more calm baseline.
FearLess47