As I've previously posted, I find these questions very, very helpful indeed. They let me know it is only anxiety, and that anxiety never harmed anyone.
Cornish,
When I just started suffering from anxiety - whilst having panic attacks, I flew out to Spain to see my family. I had panic attacks in the airport, but not on the plane, and I was absolutely fine.
It did actually help. I constantly wondered what would happen to me if anything would happen to me, but having done it, I felt much better.
You do live in a wonderful part of the world, so it should be easier for you, and you won't have to travel so far, but I guarantee you - even if you were to have panic attacks every step of the way, the feeling you would have when you come home - the relief. It's incredible.
In order to help you with your fear of dogs and choking, here are ten questions you may find helpful in challenging your anxious thoughts:
When you have an anxious thought, answer some of these 10 questions:
1. Is it "true"?
2. How do I know it’s true?
3. Is it 100% true? (remember something that is 75% or 99% true is
not 100% true)
4. What's the evidence for it being true?
5. What’s the evidence against it being true?
6. Has it ever happened before?
7. What's different now?
8. If it were true, how bad would it really be?
9. What's the worst thing that could happen?
10. If the worst thing happened, how bad would it really be?
Members, please feel free to add any tips or strategies you find helpful when trying to challenge your anxious thoughts.
Dark blue i have been like this for a few weeks in a big way . Wasnt as brave you as i did stop eating certain foods . The last two days i have finally begun to eat the things i was dreading withoput being really anxious .
I still have that nagging voice/ feeling when i am eating but am trying hard to ignore it . I acually was having trouble eating because my throat felt swollen for weeks . Even before the endospathy i had nearly three weeks ago .
Still am afraid of travel which is hard because its half term here and the kids want to go places , and living in Cornwall nothings close to me ! still we are lucky enough to live near a beach so i am going to put some exposure into pratice next week for them .
As I do gradually get better, I seem to have a residue of anxiety symptoms. Very specific things, like my place of work, a fear of dogs and a fear of choking.
Is this commonplace among anxiety sufferers?
It has not stopped me eating certain foods - as I will not let it. I will never bow down to my anxiety. I will push it for as long as it lasts.
But it does concern me.
I can be fine one moment, and then I'll get the thought in to my head that I could potentially choke, and then I start to believe that I am going to choke.
