"Hope and help for your nerves" helps ease anxiety..but isn't a recovery program

[losthobbit]

I've been reading "Hope and Help For Your Nerves" By Claire Weekes, and I'm more than half way through. I have found it to be one of the most comforting self-help books I've read as it really lays out what anxiety sufferers go through to the point. It is good to read all of the different symptoms or problems anxiety sufferers go through in one book, and to know you're not alone.

The reason I got this book is because I feel like I've been worse than usual in the past few weeks. Its been a roller coaster, as it is with anxiety, but more than usual. I thought I was on the upward swing of things a week ago and I was motivated to recover. For the first time in months, if not years I cried and was able to feel who I was inside. I felt motivated. I set a goal to run three miles 5 times a week, or at least exercise 30 mins each day. I've been doing  that for the past week.

 Of course I was set back, and now its like I don't even remember feeling better.Just recently I had the worst depression episode I've ever had, I literally prayed to God to help me even though I'm not religious. And I am so thankful I got through it.

I feel like I need a daily routine or regimen, set of goals for each day. I keep getting stuck on a new or old fear each day and I forget my progress. The book by Claire Weekes layes out all the problems anxiety sufferers have, but does not offer extensive advice other than too float through your anxiety.

A huge thing I hate about this "nervous illness" is that I feel so withdrawn from everyone around me. I can't participate or share happiness with my family. Some days, like today, I just wake up with the biggest feeling of apathy, like I could care less about doing anything with my family, doing anything that might help me. I can't find joy in anything or FEEL anything period. I thought I was motivated but I have no idea where the path to recovery is.

I guess I can sum it up with a modified quote: "The path to recovery is as thin as a razor's edge."

[LindaRK]

I think what's important here is to NOT kick yourself over your failure to follow through on your routine or regimen.  It's like dieting - you're doing great, then you have a big piece of chocolate cake.  There are some people that would say "oh well - I goofed" and start anew the next day.  There are some people that say "oh, I really blew that, I might as well give up this diet business".  We have to work at being that first person - sure, we might have bad days, but it's important to know that there are good days on our horizon.  Lots of them!

Don't be too hard on yourself or expect yourself to be like everyone else.  Try and accept the fact that you might have an anxiety disorder and you are who you are.  It's when we try to be someone we're not that gets us into trouble.

I've got all of Claire Weeke's books - they are very common sensical and good reading.