need some support

[kmwondering]

extra anxious today. having a very hard time not pulse checking and googling symptoms. I can trace the increase to two things: I had routine blood work done on Saturday and am scared of results, my pdoc also increased my dose of lexapro so i am anxious about starting. just posting here instead of putting my fingers on my wrist.

[floridaguy65]

just posting here instead of putting my fingers on my wrist.

Good:) Of course, it is not easy. We are trying to 'rewire' our amped up minds from believing that some of our actions and habits are necessary for our well-being. These faulty thoughts have been pretty well cemented into our minds as something that we should do to 'protect' ourselves. Ultimately, they aren't true, of course....but we sure can have a hard time pushing through the urges to 'protect' ourselves, once again. Our anxiety minds chirp in our ear...they say, "See, you haven't died yet...you doing OK by listening to me and by checking and googling and other stuff. You haven't had that sinister disease - YET. So, you better keep on doing what you've been doing all this time....do NOT change things or ELSE! Don't test fate. Think of your family and all that you would miss out on because you decided to stop being so vigilant about your health. Reassurances are what keeps us going. Don't listen to them, I AM helping you. I AM protecting you. Don't be foolish. Don't risk it."

Bunch of malarkey. But powerful, nonetheless.

What else can you do to distract yourself besides get on the computer?

Have you written down some affirmations that you can pull out and read when you feel stressed?

Ultimately, you know where falling back into bad habits will lead you. This is a guarantee. There is NOT a 'THIS TIME it will help me' scenario. NEVER.NEVER.NEVER. For your longterm healing path, this is never a winning scenario:)

Best wishes.

Peace and Feel Well:)

[gcalex]

"What else can you do to distract yourself besides get on the computer?"

A standard treatment for obsessional behaviors is to find a SPECIFIC, neutral counterbehavior that the person does whenever the urge to do the undesirable behavior strikes.  i guess the theory is that reprograms the mind faster. 

[kmwondering]

Thanks for the replys. Excellent on both counts. I do need a specific replacing behavior. And I do need to work on getting more of my healing down on paper