[friedgreymatter]

I do not understand how the mind works. I have gone grocery shopping numerous times. There is always anxiety. It's as though my mind does not learn that it's alright. It's just grocery shopping, for crying out Christmas.

Everything seems exagerated. Emotions, feelings, everything.

Do some people need more challenges in life? Is my demented mind making more out of these things because it needs something more to do?

Or maybe I'm just insane, but polite.

Well, I did get the grocery shopping done. No explosions or accidents. Just grocery shopping. Credit card worked okay, too. All is well.

I keep asking myself, "What's the big deal???"

[SeptemberMorn]

It's really no big deal, unless of course, you have a chemical imbalance in your brain that sets your adrenaline going. THEN it's a big deal! Believe me, I've been there... and we didn't have the constant threat of terrorism being exploited by the media, either!

There's exercises and different kinds of therapy along with medication, if you choose to go that way, that will help tremendously.

No! You're not insane. And I seriously doubt that your mind needs more work! Having anxiety is bad enough all on it's own. If you want to give your brain more to do, read up on the physical/kinesthetic things you can do to control that anxiety. CBT is also very helpful (Cognitive Behavioral Therpay).

Hang in there! You'll make it.





<font color=blue>"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt" --Shakespeare</font color=blue>

[friedgreymatter]

I am a crazy person who also has anxiety!!!!

I have not been watching television for a long time now. It would make me more nutty with all the terror threats the Bush Administration is using to win over voters.

The bastards!!! Well, that's my rant...sorry.

Thank you for the suggestions about the different kinds of therapy.

I will consider what you've mentioned and think and think and think about it until I go insane!!!!!

Hmmm... another problem of mine...

Thanks, septembermorn

[Shaymus]

I can relate to the grocery shopping thing. I live in a town that has 24/7 open grocery stores tho so that makes it easier. I go at 3am on a weekday and its 99% of the time just me and the check out clerk. If there happens to be another car in the parking lot ill just smoke a few cigarettes in my car til they are done. Sometimes ill smoke anyway and build up the courage to go in even if there isnt anyone else there. If i get nervous while inside the store,since its so late i find going to the bathroom and sitting for a while on the toilet to calm down helpful too.

Haha im also a crazy person who has anxiety. I put way too much thought into things most people do without thinking.

[SeptemberMorn]

LOL Look out! You're getting political there!

Don't think about it, "Just Do It!" I have anxiety, too, but with just a little effort I keep it under control. It's not going to control me!

You are NOT insane! LOL




<font color=blue>"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt" --Shakespeare</font color=blue>

[Genevieve]

Have you tried medications for the anxiety? Aside from the usual suspects, there are a lot of other drugs that will help calm that adrenaline down, like most of the anti-hypertensives.

As for being a crazy person and just broken -- whch I often feel about this -- here's a little something I learned recently: once you've got that whole adrenaline system all ramped up with anxiety, it takes a while to reset. So, every time you restress it, it's going to overreact until it has a chance to go back to sleep long enough to reset itself to baseline. That can happen, though. It just needs some way to turn itself down long enough.

The problem, of course, is that there's a feedback mechanism between the physical part of the anxiety and the psychological part. Once you learn that this or that brings on all those physical symptoms, your brain will lay down pathways to the fear circuits. That's learned behavior, though, and it can be unlearned. It will take a while, there's no doubt, but it will happen. The two conflicting techniques are immersion therapy -- which, personally, I think would break me into tiny pieces -- or something I can't remember the name of which works on reassuring you by small steps. For instance, say you're afraid of spiders, they might start out by showing you a picture of a spider, then work up to showing you a spider in a jar, etc. The basic idea is to take small steps towards making you more comfortable with whatever you're afraid of. My guess is that one of the anti-hypertensives combined with that second type of therapy would be great for overcoming many of the common anxiety disorders.

Depending on your diagnosis, by the way, there's new evidence out there about using a calcium channel blocker called verapamil as a mood stabilizer in women. You might ask your doctor about it, since it should also lower your physical response to anxiety.

I hope that helps. Good luck.

[ktp]

Fried:

Understand the grocery shopping thing. Do the same thing. That's why we go at 3 am like Shaymus. LOL. Always go to Wal-Mart too, hit two birds with one stone that way. Things will get better for you. I hope really soon.

As for the political rant, that's why I don't watch the news. Election years are really bad and are to be avoided at all costs. Mudslinging on BOTH sides is enough to make my blood pressure sky rocket and the anxiety is unbearable. Brings to mind the expression, "Why can't we all just get along?"

Peace and Good thoughts sent your way.

Take Care.

[wisewoman]

Fried, you sound like a sane person with a cripp;ing anxiety disorder. There are all of those treatments mentioned. I hope you are feeling better. Anxiety in the body with that adrenaline rushing is the pits. I'll be sending you serenity okay? Peace baby