HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

The power of positive thinking

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/1/2018 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hey all,

Since i had my first ever anxiety episode last year at the age of 27 Ive been through a whirlwind of emotions, thoughts and a few crisis' to top it off.

I noticed that since my first episode i was being thrown back into these severe waves and really couldnt work out why. It now seems very apparent that the mentality Ive lived by for so many years is now destructive.

- its not as good as his, so I will try harder
- be the best or dont bother at all
- he doesnt deserve that
- Im worried about what tomorrow will bring

The above are the kinds of ruminations Ive gone through most my life, seeing myself as a competitive individual, striving for perfection. Pre anxiety, this didnt matter, I would never drop below a certain mood and moved on before letting things get to me. Post anxiety, these things really can trigger a fully blown episode! Now I dont think I suffer from GAD since 90% of the time I feel fine, experiencing anxiety in short waves.

With this in mind Im so shocked to realise how positive thinking can stop an anxiety episode in its tracks. Has anyone else noticed this? It seems that my anxiety only gets better if I think positive and stop thinking about bad thoughts.

I guess the brain isnt like other organs in the sense that its structure can be changed based on what we think. Its a muscle and to repair that muscle we train it, through positive thoughts! The silver lining in this is that hopefully living with anxiexty in the background will force a more positive mentality..

Now Im not saying being positive is the only cure but i really didnt think it would have such an impact. Keen to hear your thoughts.
-
Posted 5/1/2018 7:21 AM (GMT 0)
That's pure comparisons,I know it well .When younger momma would compare my marks to other child and absolutely hated it.
Everyone has different set of intelligence and home environment .

I hold that grudge for many years .

But know now as my ex compared his life with others and I would cringe with same old feeling as hate comparisons .

Its my personal story and sharing here .

I tend to be perfectionist at times and stress on it.

Lost a career because of it.

I have moved on and instead would rather finish the job .

Its hard to control cause mind runs faster than light .

I lose sleep cause of it......

Hope your trip is going great ~

Nice thought ,just my thoughts. turn yeah
Posted 5/1/2018 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Ox,

I has been proven that physical changes in our neurotransmitters happen when we think negatively...or conversely in a positive way!

Thoughts have a direct effect on mood...and this is the basis of CBT!

Like you said, positive thinking is not the end all be all of treatment. One can't simply think anxiety and/or depression away...

...BUT positivity is a POWERFUL tool that should be used to the fullest!

Thanks for your insights...and great work on reaching your goals! You ROCK!

S.C.
Posted 5/10/2018 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
Ox123 and Scardy Car you guys are my inspirations! CBT and mindfulness thinking beats any dug any time in any study comparing the long term results. Its really hard but having others post about it helps motivate me to keep trying.

Sometimes i get upset saying I'm not doing enough CBT techs but I counter that by saying were humans, we cant do 100% of ourselves we would burn out. We just have to do the best we can and even if we cant thats ok too. Lifes about trying to make little changes here and there to get where we want to go.

Its really hard and I know gonna take me a very long time. But the journey makes the view at the top mean so much more and through out our lives we find that minor things that used to upset us don't even make us think twice about it. I find the journey makes us stronger than we ever thought we could be and helps us to be the people we are meant to be.
Posted 5/10/2018 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
NAT,

^^^^^YES!!!^^^^^ All the yes!

Keep up the great work!

S.C.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply