Something that helped for me with anxiety or illness phobia

Jessiepooh

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2012

Posts : 181

Posted 1/11/2012 3:04 AM (GMT 0)

Reading this website and others just looking for help, I would stumble across other peoples posts about what they went through, and how their problems would manifest, I know it sounds strange but I'm sitting in front of my computer terrified, trying to find someone that has the same problems and what they did to get past it, but, instead I get sucked into their story, and find so many similarities, they would be completely fine, then all of a sudden they stub a toe and think they have a blood clot or, get bad gas and think they might have some sort of stomach cancer, here is where it sounds crazy, but, I would laugh, and remember a time I did the EXACT same thing, it is almost like a therapy just knowing that someone out there does that exact same things, and when you put it on paper it helps you realize how badly we let things get, I pray that we all get better and get the right help that we all need soon.

Also, try watching comedy movies, that's also somewhat helping, I literally found lists on google of the top 20 or top 100 comedy movies of all time and have been going down the list, its helping get past a few rough spots!!

Hopefully will make it through tonight myself without running to the ER for reassurance from something.

Scaredy Cat

Elite Member

Joined : Sep 2006

Posts : 28868

Posted 1/11/2012 5:24 AM (GMT 0)

Hey JP:)

What you described is a big part of CBT therapy! Taking the irrational thoughts and fears, and learning to see them for what they are...and letting the more probable/reational thinking prevail.

One of the exercises that I was taught was to pretend to give advice to a friend. Let's say my friend had stubbed her toe (I'm going to borrow your example!) and now thought that she had developed a blot clot due to the injury, and was worried that it would travel to her brain and cause a stroke.

I would then tell her that the likeliness of this was really close to nothing. I would explain to her that her anxiety may make it seem like a possibility, but that in reality, this just doesn't happen. I would remind her that she is healthy and doing everything to stay that way, and that she was absolutley fine.

The point of the exercise is then to talk to yourself as you would your friend!

In a way, we do this for eachother here! It really helps both ways...the person seeking reassurance gets it, and the person giving the help is also benefiting. I think this is part of the reason that this place is so successful and amazing...it is a wonderful type of 'group therapy' :)

Thanks for the input. It is great to hear positive things, and I do think that watching fun movies for relaxation is a great idea too. I'm going to check out that list you mentioned. We just got our Netflix through our Wii...so I can watch as many as I have time for!

Take care and talk to you soon.

S.C.

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