[Guest]

I read something a while back that made me think of all of you. I don't know if it will help or not but I guess it's worth a shot. It's as simple as this:

"Do something everyday that scares the heck out of you."

I try to do this to a certain extent because it helps me focus outward. This, for me personally, can be as simple as initiating a conversation, walking through a crowd, or speaking up for myself. What do you think?

 

[Guest]

i think i'm gonna get a heart attack everyday. I'm trying ti take a two week break not measuring my pulse and not caring. I think it's the opposite for me; someone at such a young age should not have to be faced with feeling they are 2 seconds away from death at every moment.

 

[Monkeydust]

I think that's actually very good advice, and that kind of approach is what's helped me more than anything else really.

 

[SillyPutty]

I think during a breakdown period is a time when you should be easy on yourself.

 

[Shadow Cat]

It seems like if you did something too "scary" everyday, it would make your life a lot more stressful, but I still think it is good advice. People should definately try to do something everyday that might help them get over their mental illness.

 

[Sojourner]

Silly,

You have to believe what people tell you: you will not die from panic attacks. I know it feels like death is 2 sec away, but it isn't. Haven't you survived enough attacks to know this for yourself?

Pretend your frightened self is a little child who's scared and pretend that you are that little child's mother. Tell the little child that everything is going to be fine. It works.

 

[Guest]

definitely. i think it's more of an everyday goal, i guess, probably on the better days. I have to give myself more space when things are rougher, though. good point.

 

[person3]

DO THIS DO THIS DO THIS!

This advice, in a post made by Des a long time ago, has accounted for a HUGE percentage in my improvement.

You check your pulse all the time and are in constant fear, and it's your brain tricking you into thinking fear is a bad thing.

What you're doing is using these symptoms to avoid the things you REALLY fear.

do something. don't think about it, just go out and do it. Do something you have never done before. Hit a karaoke bar and sing. Ask someone on a date. don't even let yourself think about these things. Just think: I should do it. and do it. Apply for that job you've wanted. Sign up for a bike race.

seriously, these things have improved me greatly. there is only so much "taking it easy " you can do and often times we take advantage of that and use relaxation to our detriment.

I would have never gotten better if I had not followed this advice. Not only does it WORK, but it gets easier every time, you love yourself and your life more, things are more fun and beautiful and it's fun to be scared and you see new opportunity and you feel new emotions.

TAKE THIS BLOODY ADVICE!

 

[person3]

oh. and if you can, do this on your WORST days too. If you can. When you are feeling god awful, go out and dance in public. don't give yourself an option. you will feel SO much more confident in the end and DP won't bother you.

edit: also i remember someone recommending the book "radical honesty" by brad blanton, and they largely recovered after following its advice. I suggest you read it...i would not compulsively follow every bit of advice, but I would suggest at least being open to it, and maybe opening up to people around you more.

once again its a bit of a radical book and somewhat pop psychology, so it's not the be all end all, but it will give you a good push into the scary world.

 

[Sojourner]

person3,

It's funny you should say this...I have at the same time as a mini-panic attack the sense that things that used to bother me no longer seem important. I feel oddly MORE real, even though the fear IS fear.
I can't imagine going out and doing anything, though, although I have.

 

[SillyPutty]

I guess I should have put that a different way. I definately agree with melissa, you should go out and make yourelf do stuff, this is what has helped me also. I thought you meant things that actually scare you, like riding a roller coater if you don't like them, jumping in the deep end if it scares you, or any other activity that maybe unhealthy for you in this condition.

 

[person3]

haha that's ok.

no, don't go on a rollercoaster. do the things that metaphorically make you FEEL as if you were on a rollercoaster!

 

[Ben]

This does make sense and something I think I've done in periods when I got better - really, I think it has a lot to do with what I talked about earlier when I said it's best to stretch yourself (by learning things, etc.). The point, in my opinion, is that when you're feeling the DP heavily, you're detached/distant/etc; and that you should basically throw the world back in your face as hard and as fast as possible. Whether it's by focusing in on something new and exciting or something dangerous, I think this may be a good attack method.

A good example of this was on a place ride I had today we encountered some heavy turbulence. Suddenly my senses were centered on "woah - this plane is getting a bit rough"; and for about ten minutes I lost all feelings of DP.

I'm a advocate of DOING SOMETHING ACTIVELY against this disorder as opposed to trying to think your way out of it.

 

[Guest]

yeah, i'm starting to distract myself whn i get those panic attacks. ITs just that being constantly frightened to death leads to PTSD many times, not being mentally healthier. Take a look at all those soldiers returning from Vietnam for instance.

My mind somehow always convinces me that this time is _really_ "it". Haha, i don't think all the stress is helping my heart either.

 

[mcsiegs]

Great suggestions - actually DOING something is awesome therapy.

I have a phobia of tall buildings. Well, my girlfriend works in the tallest building in the city. She took me up to the top floor. I was nervous at first, but felt great that I did something to smack a phobia right in the face.