Health Anxiety - Let’s Laugh In Its Face!
Filed under: Anxiety Disorders, Anxiety Videos, Panic Attack Help
They say laughter’s the best medicine, right? I wonder if that works with health anxiety and other anxiety disorders too? I guess it’s not something we do much of when we have severe anxiety all day long.
I got to thinking about this subject because I came across a video on YouTube - a funny one, and it’s all about health anxiety. Take a look at it here:
It’s really funny, and it reminds me of myself so much. In the past, when my anxiety disorders were at their worst, my health anxiety was record-breaking. I had every disease and illness you can think of, and a few you couldn’t!
And maybe I even made some phone calls to my doctor a lot like the ones in the video above…Maybe!
Anyway, the video made me laugh, and I thought you might like to see it too. I definitely think it must help to laugh at ourselves and our anxiety, whether we’re going through it right now, or even if it’s something that’s in our past.
My New Podcast On AnxietyGuru.net
Filed under: Anxiety Books, Anxiety Podcasts, News & Updates
Have you ever been to AnxietyGuru.net? It’s a really good blog, and it’s all about coping with and dealing with anxiety. I started reading the blog a few weeks ago, and I ended up agreeing to put together a podcast for Paul, the guy who runs the site.
In the podcast I talk about fear, and how the kind of fear we experience because of our anxiety isn’t real fear at all.
If you’ve read part #4 of my course “Beat Panic Today” then you’ll be familiar with this idea already. But I think it would be good to check out the podcast too, because I mention some things in it that aren’t in the original version. Things like what book I read that inspired these ideas in the first place. And I also reveal a bit of my past, and what made me start my search for these solutions to anxiety 2 years ago.
That link will take you right to the page the podcast is on. Then just scroll down and look for the little orange play button.
Stop Anxiety…With A Dog!
Filed under: Anxiety Podcasts, News & Updates, Panic Attack Help, Personal
I always wanted a dog, for as long as I can remember. But my mum wouldn’t let me when I was little, and then when I was old enough to decide for myself, my anxiety wouldn’t let me. Half of my days I couldn’t even leave the house, so a dog was out of the question.
Anyway, a couple of years ago I finally overcame my anxiety-related problems, and then about a year ago I got my dog Millie. Even though my anxiety was pretty much completely gone when I got her, she’s been such a help this past year or so.
She’s like an anti-anxiety miracle!
I think one of the reasons I’ve been able to keep my anxiety away is because of her, the walks we go on, the peace of just heading off somewhere quiet and letting her enjoy herself.
I went for a walk by the river with her this morning.
The River A mile From My House
It was a pretty dark and dreary and rainy day, as you can probably see, but I still came home about 70% less stressed than I was when I left! I did my best to get a picture of Millie to post here, but she wouldn’t stand still for long enough to get a good one. So here’s the best I got.
My Rough Collie, Millie
Do you have something in your life that works as a kind of a natural anti-anxiety treatment? I think if we look hard enough, we can usually find one or two things that really calm us. And if we are lucky enough to find one, then we should milk it or all it’s worth!
Dealing With Anxiety - One Girl’s Story
Filed under: Anxiety Disorders, Anxiety Videos, Panic Attack Help, Personal
Did you ever try to explain your anxiety to someone? I bet it was tough. It’s the kind of thing you just can’t understand unless you’ve experienced it first-hand. I’ve driven myself mad in the past trying to somehow get “the way I feel” out there for someone, but I’ve never really come close.
Anyway, the reason I’m talking about this is because I’ve just seen a video on YouTube. It’s from a girl (she’s 16 or 17), and in the video she explains her own battle with anxiety and panic attacks. And even though she was having a really tough time at the time she recorded the video, I found it really inspiring.
Just how she was dealing with it. As we’ve all had to deal with it - quietly, in our own way. Battling through it, looking for answers.
Here’s the video, if you’d like to watch…
It’s one of those videos that just hits home when you watch it, and I couldn’t help but send her a message, thamking her for making the video. As she explained herself, anxiety can be a lonely thing to go through, even though there are so many millions affected…
But videos like this can be a great help, especially for anyone going through a really bad time, or feeling like they’re all alone with their problems.
Anyway, I’m really glad I found that video tonight, and I hope you got something from it too.
Anxiety Disorders and Helen Keller
Filed under: Anxiety Books, Anxiety Disorders, Panic Attack Help, Personal
Ever heard of Helen Keller? I hadn’t until a few days ago, when I came across a quote from her that stuck with me.
“The world is full of suffering; it is also full of overcoming it.”
That really made an impact on me, especially as far as anxiety disorders go. Because they really do cause a lot of suffering. I know it first-hand. But people recover from anxiety disorders too, and that’s sometimes forgotten.
Anyway, after I’d read that quote from Helen Keller, I decided to look her up. I found a book she wrote (her autobiography), which is called “The Story of My Life.”
Helen Keller: The Story of My Life
Just in case you’ve never heard of her before, she was the first American DeafBlind person to graduate college. I guess when you lose both your sight and your hearing at the age of 18 months you know a thing or two about suffering - and about overcoming it.
I’m reading this book at the moment, and it’s great. And very inspiring. Makes my previous years of struggling with my various anxiety disorders pale into insignificance. I’d really recommend everyone to read this book - it’s just one of those that changes the way you look at everything.
And I’m sure it can also do some good if you’re currently trying to deal with an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety Attack Help At Chirstmas
Filed under: Anxiety Disorders, Anxiety Videos, Panic Attack Help
I was just watching a couple of videos on YouTube, and I came across the one I’ve posted below, which talks about stress and anxiety, and how it can all seem so much worse around Christmas time.
So I thought I’d share it with you, because I know that my own stress and anxiety levels are always higher around the holidays. And I think it’s healthy to get this stuff on our minds now, rather than waiting for it to hit us and knock us sideways.
So this year I’m gonna make a real effort to plan ahead, keep my stress and anxiety levels down, and ENJOY Christmas!
Take a look at the video - like I said, it’s good, simply because it gets us in the right place mentally for the upcoming holidays.
A Hypochondriac’s Guide To Life. And Death.
Filed under: Anxiety Books, Anxiety Disorders, Panic Attack Help
A couple of years back I came across a book - “A Hypochondriac’s Guide To Life. And Death.”
A Hypochondriac's Guide To Life. And Death
It was a strange book to read as someone who’s had real problems with hypochondria and health anxiety in the past; this book kinda takes a “fighting fire with fire” approach to the problem, by running head first into all the potential diseases and ailments we may have at any point in time. It’s actually a pretty hysterical read, and I can see why the author took the appraoch he did.
By being so over the top in your face, and by going so far in the opposite direction to most books on hypochondria, it really makes an impact.
There’s so much to laugh at that I found myself laughing at things that used to terrify me. And this book reveals so many diseases and symptoms that we can potentially develop that it made me think, “What’s the point in fearing these one or two things I’m obsessed with?”
But like I said - you need to be brave to give this a shot. If you’re in a delicate state of mind it could easily tip you over the edge and set off an endless series of panic attacks.
I’m currently going through it for the second time, and that’s why I thought I’d mention it here and see if it’s something you’re interested in.
And I highly recommend this book…
But read it at your own risk, fellow hypochondrics!
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Be My Friend
