Emotionally Gripping a Concept

[bfhopeful2]

So I am ready to intellectually chalk this up to a benign condition. What is the first step in making yourself emotionally grip the concept? Do you first just pretend to be ok with it and slowly it becomes reality?

 

[TimThomas24]

Jeff- I don't think there's a magic answer here. At times I think I've taken that step completely and feel like I've got a total and complete handle on this and then I have a flare up like the last few days, my knee hurts and actually gives walking up a flight of stairs, and I'm back to worrying and standing on toes. I think for some, like myself its a lengthy road with fits and starts, good days and bad. I can't speak for others, but for me I got to a point where I was having many more good days then bad ones which led me to believe I was truly okay and then its a matter of how I deal with the flare ups. The flare ups suck because they suggest the condition is chronic and you're not recovering completely. They can really knock down the confidence you've built up. But I think if you can get to a point where you just shrug at the flare ups and "yeah they suck but they're nothing" as opposed to freaking out, googling, or self-testing ad nauseum, then you're well on your way to emotionally accepting its a benign condition.

 

[MarioMasher]

The easiest way is to look back at your own posts and pay attention to how far you have come (and how nothing technically has changed in your symptoms). Once you realize that you are in the exact same boat in month six that you were on day one, you will start to come to the realization that nothing is wrong with you. Taking advice from others is helpful but being reassured by your own personal journey is the only real way to start the recovery.

 

[priorityhigh5]

Jeffrey ) It's two steps forward, one step back, two forward, one back, two forward, one back. ALWAYS remember this...and eventually you will get there. **H's & K's**Amy

 

[AllGoodHere]

Isn't it just like everything else in life in that you have to have acceptance of where you are? You don't have to pretend to be OK - you really are OK and can make yourself the best of the moment version twitching or not. You're not any less or more than you were before bsf or because of it; you can still be a great person, assist others through work and play, build relationships, so you have what you need to live your life fully. Focus on the positive (this is very helpful and is often under-rated but it is important to note that everyday you have this choice). Change your sign-on name - no more reason to hope for what you've got! You can have mine when I leave.

 

[simonw00]

I appreciate your post 'BFS Hopeful'... I too need to work out how to master going from the intellectual reassurance that all is well to the emotional peace of mind that I currently lack at times. Others seem to have done this and I think their advice is sage. I'm sure we'll both get there.RegardsSimon

 

[LisaQ.]

Well, the expressions, "act as if," or, "fake it 'til you make it," come to mind. For me, as I've mentioned in previous posts, it WAS a trick of reverse psychology, in a sense. I told myself that I was going to at least PRETEND that I was ok; that if I ceased breathing, stopped waking up in the morning, or became unable to function altogether, only THEN was I going to finally "face-down" my condition. I decided to allow myself to be in "denial," because I decided what was "left" of my life would be much happier, that way. In reality, the opportunity that I gave my brain to rest and recover from the constant onslaught of fearful, catastrophic thoughts was JUST the medicine I needed, and, over time, I finally began to actually believe the TRUTH; that I was absolutely UBER fine. Our body is SO dominated and powered by our mind, that once we get our thoughts under control, our bodies will respond in kind. Consider what happens when the brain perceives a threat. What happens? Of course, you jump into action and either run, or defend yourself, or do whatever is required. The heart rate increases, we get breathless, and our bodies rapidly engage. With health anxiety, we are constantly subjecting our bodies to that same "rush," except there IS no actual threat. Over time, once we are able to calm our constant calamitous thinking, our bodies FINALLY get a chance to recover, and rest, and repair. Ahhhh....The BOTTOM line is to refuse to allow ALL or ANY thoughts of **S or *S or any OTHER "S" into your consciousness. I used to literally talk back to those doubts when I would discern them, telling them to "go away, I know you are a lie, I've already been told that I'm perfectly fine," and so forth. Whatever works, no matter how kooky or nonsensical, DO IT. Blessings, Sue