some helpful things

[DJ873]

I am a 47 year old female who has been dealing with the whole schebang, anxiety, depression,, now menopause, teetering on agorophobia, ptsd, anyway, that is not why i decided to post, I have read a zillion books and the common thread is thoughts are only thoughts and can't hurt you. I decided this is where i would focus my attention. I have had a few days of momentum now and so i want to share,

Daily I have been excercising, first thing before I can "what if" myself out of it, just a simple Richard Simmons blast of video

Knowing today does not have to be a extension of yesterday, that God has blessed me with a brand new day (Ekhardt Tolle is a master at this and I highly reccomend his books)

That I CHOOSE where to focus my awareness, I don't fight the intrusive thoughts but do notice them and use a thought process of questions, what is so, so what, so what and find the worst that usually will happen is I will feel crappy for awhile but nothing huge will happen.

Write write write, I have seperate little books, one for crisis time reminding me of what helps, one just a daily journal, one of zen sayings that I like to write with art.

Each morning I meditate (well as best I can with thoughts flying :)) and it is taking time but I can start to get it just trusting the process now we will see how it goes.

Not thinking too far ahead... I have a choice, I can look at the past the future or now. Even just staring at a spot on the wall helps bring to now.

I have been "doing it anyway" oh my gosh those are loaded words, as I feel the need to curl in a ball. THis is the most difficult of all for me. I have been lost in my head and nearly housebound for a couple years now clinging to my safe person like glue. I am determined to break that one for all of our sake.

The heavy sadness can be so excruciating (sp?) but I am learning it is ok to be sad and not catastrophise to something more than it is, emotions are energy in motion.

It feels so good to write this and if just one person finds it helpful and wants to be motivation buddies friend me up!! Have a blessed day, beautiful here in Oregon.

[DJ873]

I too believe it is somehow in our hard wiring, how the chemicals move around and react otherwise why would things like PMS and menopause have such an impact on our moods and energy. I think the anxiety energy feeds off itself, that our mind frame can just start a whole chain of garbage that just won't end!!  I do have to believe we can somehow retrain or alter thru meds and understanding, I have to believe that or don't know that i could keep up the fight much longer. I think I am learning that if I think too much about thought I can really start the day off more anxious than if I meditate (tricky and takes practice) and then exercise. That seems to be key for me.  I am so stuck to my husband, I have been trying to change my thinking that instead of his absences being torture, it is now a chance to practice the tools I have learned. Its sooo hard sometimes. but each time I do something successfully reinforces the fact that thoughts can't hurt me

[MMahon]

Yes that was very good!   I liked your statement 'emotions are energy in motion'.  I believe that our nervous systems are the 'wiring' that transports that 'energy' that produces emotion as well as effectuating all bodily functions.  I used to think of emotions as sort of a spiritual thing but learned early just how physical they really are.  They are tightly bound together.
Just which one is responsible for anxiety?  The 'energy' harming the 'wiring' or 'bad wiring' sending the 'energy' off track?  For me I'm convinced it's the later but for others that may not be the case.  Do we have any control over either one?  Can we really effect that 'energy' or make some alterations to the 'wiring'?  Apparently you are finding that you can.  Which one do you think you're helping?
I know this sounds like the ranting of a lunatic but in some odd way it does make sense to me.  At least for this moment anyway!  :-)  
Thanks for your post!

[jenniferxor]

This was truely great, thanks (: