Stuck in the past

Who says you can not escape your past experiences?

On the other hand, you are who you are because you have been through those unique experiences.

Do you make better decisions because of your experiences? Or do you keep on doing the same things you always did, even when you know they are not working?

Your perception of change plays a role how you view your control over your life. If you feel you have no control, then you will have none. If you feel you do have control then you will. Either way you are right.

You choose how you see the world!

I believe change is possible. Change how you feel about something and you can change your behavior.

You can learn to do more of the things you find useful and less of the the things that are less useful.

Feeling Too Much

An anxiety/panic attack is the result of high stress.

Many years ago I worked for a company in Northern Ontario as an accountant. I did not like the job.

My job was to streamline all the work and put it on computers. None of the people whose jobs I was eliminating knew anything about computers or even wanted to learn.

They thought computers were a something temporary, that they would never be able to replace workers. In a way they were correct, as long as they knew enough to operate the computers.

I was completely worried about my job and about the workers who were starting to organize to prevent my project from moving ahead. Many of them were young with young families.

The stress got so bad that as I was driving home, I felt a tightness across my shoulders. I felt very warm and flushed through my face and head. I was sweating and feeling very panicky. I thought I was having a heart attack.

Just when I turned onto my street I started to pass out. Luckily I was at a stop sign and a passing motorist stopped to see what was happening.

Later I spoke with a psychiatrist and he indicated that I had a panic/anxiety attack. I had almost passed out because I was holding my breath. I was so fixed in my mind about my worries I was forgetting to breath, a common symptom of anxiety.

He asked me if I had done anything about the stress. I told him that I had quit my job.

There is no shame in seeking help.

Changing how you feel

Think about how you feel when you are having a panic or anxiety attack.

Feel it your body, in your back, in your breathing. Really remember the experience. Relive it in yourself.

Now step back from that and see that happening to yourself on a TV screen, in living color, with all the sound. See yourself  as you actually looked and felt.

Now, Stop!

Think about anything else for a few moments.

Next, remember a time when you were feeling very resourceful, when you felt particularly happy, confident and in control. Relive the experience, every feeling you felt, every sound you heard, everything you saw at the time.

Feel it in your body just as vividly as before.

Now step back from that and see it happening to yourself on a huge Movie screen, in living color, with all the sound. See yourself exactly as you looked and felt.

Think again about the TV show you made about the panic attack.

Start to see it as black and white. Start to push it away from you. At the same time, start to see the Movie of your confident and happy self.

Bring it closer and closer. Now push away the Black and White TV Show until you can not see anymore.

And at the same time step into the Movie of your Happy Self. And feel yourself become stronger and happier. Let the ecstasy of happiness overcome you.

Finally, think ahead to a time when you might feel anxiety or panic. Does it feel the same as before?

You may want to try this several times.

Whenever you feel yourself beginning to worry, remind yourself of what you just did here.

Please consider this suggestion as a guide only. Never hesitate to seek professional help when you need to.