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jimboob
Stranger
Registered: 08/13/10
Posts: 627
Last seen: 9 years, 14 days
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ANXIETY SUFFERERS!!!! LISTEN UP!!! (my 2 cents)
#19231771 - 12/05/13 03:28 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've battled with anxiety for 8 years now. 8 f*cking years. My anxiety was mostly social, but that sometimes bleeds over into worrying about car accidents, random shootings/terrorist attacks, and the safety of my loved ones. I've learned a lot about the way anxiety works, but most importantly I've learned this:
The only way out is through
That's right, the only way out is through. I know that's not what we wanna hear. It's painful, it takes time, it's not marketable, it's not sexy. But that's the only TRUE way out.
There's no pill, affirmation, thought, or whatever that's going to flip the switch and make you feel 'normal' again. Anxious thoughts are hard-wired habits your mind uses to keep you "safe." Your brain doesn't want to be hurt, embarrassed or killed. So the only way to UPROOT these anxious thoughts is to totally convince your whole mind that "this" situation is totally safe and that you can calm the fuck down. How do you do that? Repeated exposure. For example:
Scared of speaking up in class? Make the decision to raise your hand whenever you feel you know the answer. Did you say something stupid? Did you stutter or stumble over your words? Did you vomit all over the desk? Did the hot chick three seats in front of you get up, walk over to your desk and give you a blowjob? Doesn't matter, cause you need to raise your hand again the next time, and the next time, and the next time, and the next time.
Soon, you won't even realize your speaking up without even raising your hand. But you HAVE to be persistent!!!
I've suffered for 8 freaking years guys. I thought I was broken, now I'm facing my fears one by one. I'm often still nervous the third or fourth time doing something, but after that things get better. You have to push through over and over again. Trust me, when you reach that mountaintop in ANY of your fears you'll realize you can do this with ANY fear. Some of course are harder than others, but nothing is impossible here.
I post this because there's so much BULLSHIT about anxiety out there. Dumb-ass bloggers and shady drug-companies selling you books and pills, and us sufferers eat that shit up because we just want to feel carefree again. Then you got the spiritual crowd spouting their new-age dribble thinking one thought or idea is going to fix it all.
But this I feel is the only true way. Write down all your fears, figure out a way to conquer them one by one. It will hurt sometimes, that's what keeps us from doing this, but it's for the greater good.
Ohh, and one last thing. You can still be doing what your afraid of but 'running away' in your mind. When your doing something you fear you must stay present, center and you must do/say what you truly want to do. Anyone can be a people pleaser, it's much harder to truly say what you want to say. But that's how you grow.
Edited by jimboob (12/05/13 03:30 PM)
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DrugsRGood
Analytical Anarchist



Registered: 07/10/09
Posts: 689
Loc: Earth
Last seen: 7 years, 6 months
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Re: ANXIETY SUFFERERS!!!! LISTEN UP!!! (my 2 cents) [Re: jimboob]
#19231830 - 12/05/13 03:41 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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You're completely right.
We humans always look for the easy way out. Maybe that's why anxiety is so prevalent in society because it's hard to be persistent but hey it's well worth it in the end.
-------------------- Life is an adventure; not knowing what's ahead brings a great sense of anticipation; and meeting women is the reward.
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Tmethyl
Smear in the shale


Registered: 07/16/12
Posts: 16,431
Loc: Florida
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Re: ANXIETY SUFFERERS!!!! LISTEN UP!!! (my 2 cents) [Re: jimboob]
#19231852 - 12/05/13 03:44 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I agree completely, I have conquered my anxiety using the same exact methods. Except I also employed 2x/day meditation, which not only drastically decreased anxiety but also augmented and improved many other aspects and habits of the mind. I still feel awkward speaking from the heart but I'm improving noticeably, and I have gotten so comfortable in social situations that I actually enjoy them, and sometimes seek them out. (When I'm nervous, i visualize everyone as just a bundle of thoughts, and at their core, is me)
Well written and very kind of you to share.
Pills treat symptoms, meditation and your pushing through method treat causes.
-------------------- ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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SydFloyd

Registered: 10/18/13
Posts: 109
Last seen: 9 years, 8 months
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Re: ANXIETY SUFFERERS!!!! LISTEN UP!!! (my 2 cents) [Re: Tmethyl]
#19236032 - 12/06/13 11:16 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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i completely agree with all of you guys  i started meditating like 4 months ago,things are much better(i was depressd when i started spirituality and meditaing,now im completely out of depression,enjoying life as much as i can,not addicted to entertainment,i have an enhanced perception,,.)but im still havent removed my anxiety, im much less anxious but i still get it back time by time especially when i stop meditating or not have an effective meditation because very often i dont have the time and space to meditate.im especially anxious at talking to girls...its just fucking hard to do it...whenever i wanna speak to a girl that i like a get a shit storm of thought about how my reputation is bad,my past,im not able to talk right now because im not feeling well/social,what if i screw up,dont know wow to start a converisation and stuff like that the worst is that sometimes ive talked to her,done well and im still anxious anyway i will remove it by time and heres another great way to stop anxiety and feel better:dancing.just started recently and it is working for me and meditation after dancing becomes much easier and pleasant and therefore im being meditative the whole day i got inspired by this he was right when he said ''you gotta free your feet before you can free your mind'' watch the whole movie... thanks.
-------------------- “If the words ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness’ don’t include the right to experiment with your own consciousness, then the Declaration of Independence isn’t worth the hemp it was written on.” -Terence McKenna “The shaman is not merely a sick man, or a madman; he is a sick man who has healed himself.” – Terence McKenna - Only a few prefer liberty, the majority seek nothing more than fair masters
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