u/dontwanttoadult

I made an appointment with a priest to do Confession so I can take communion this Sunday. I’ve been going back to Mass after about 15 years of being an atheist. A lot of things led me back to the church, and it feels so good. I was really nervous to do confession after so long, but with it being face to face with the priest, it turned into more of a conversation. I feel so ready to be back.

And it's kind of what I needed to hear.

I've been seeing this therapist on and off for about 5 years, more consistently the past 4 months after my panic attack. He's really helped me see how traumatic (small t) my childhood was, how to heal my inner child, and think more healthy thoughts about myself.

Ever since my panic attack, I've been stuck in fight or flight mode, with some generalized mental anxiety thrown in for fun. He's been telling me that I need to process my emotions better and not let them run my life; question and challenge what's really going on in order to not let myself get so worked up that I spiral into another panic attack.

While I've intellectually accepted a lot of what he's taught me, it wasn't until today that I felt it on a gut level. The past is the past- I can be hurt by it, but I'm safe now. I don't need to keep retraumatizing myself obsession over my panic attack or the unhealthy feelings that led up to it. Bad memories are just memories and can't hurt me anymore. I can take an active role in healing myself if I believe that I can learn, heal, and grow. He sort of called me out for having a victim mentality and not fully accepting the skills and tools he's been offering.

I like this therapist because I've never really been challenged in my thinking before; never had someone teach me that I have agency to think healthy thoughts and cut out the BS of staying stuck in fight of flight.

Hi,

I’m probably overthinking this, but I’m hesitant to take propranolol to cut out my physical symptoms (tingly arms, throat closing, heart racing) because then I fear I’m undercutting the ACT therapy I’ve been doing. Like, when I feel those symptoms I tend to use my strategies like acceptance, allowing, breathing, grounding- all of which I’m hoping will cut to the root of the actual anxiety. I’m also doing CBT and Lexapro.

I’m almost afraid to mask the symptoms because then I may fall back into my old routines of falling into autopilot and procrastination. Does this make sense at all? Can anyone relate?

I have propranolol for “as needed” but my psychiatrist also told me I could take it in the morning to set a good tone for the day and avoid morning anxiety.

Hi,

One weird side effect I have been getting is the tops of my forearms getting tingly. I get it even when I'm not actively feeling anxious, but then it starts this whole cycle of "oh my god, my arms are tingly, I must be anxious." I you deal with this, what has helped? Breathing, meditation, walks- none of it really helps the physical symptoms.

Hi,

We live near the Packing House and just noticed our water pressure is basically down to zero. Someone made a comment on another post saying the same- anyone else having super low water pressure/ no water at all?

Hey,
We are visiting from Orange County, and having a great time. One thing we keep noticing is the crazy amount of honking and road raging in the downtown and cannery row area. Is this locals frustrated with tourists? We’re doing like 90% walking on this trip since we’re staying in a hotel downtown, so it doesn’t really affect us- we’re just curious.

Hi everyone,

I am currently doing CBT, but have heard great things about EMDR's ability to help with trauma. The problem is I don't really know if I have "trauma" in the traditional sense. I was raised by two alcoholic parents, and have realized through CBT that I had a lot of unmet needs during my childhood, and dealt with constantly putting my mom's needs over my own. Now, at 35, I have been having super bad anxiety and DPDR symptoms. I had to take a month off of work due to debilitating nervous system deregulation and physical anxiety.

My therapist is actually strongly suggesting I avoid EMDR because he fears I'm too emotionally vulnerable at this stage and it may re-trigger me into another panic attack state. I'm just hoping to get your insight on if my type of 'trauma' would benefit from EMDR. Thanks.

Hi everyone,

Sorry if this is a completely naive or stupid question, but I've recently development derealization that only occurs randomly, and only for like 30 minutes to an hour, so I'm not an expert.

I had a panic attack or DPDR episode so severe that I took a month off work. Through therapy I've realized that I had a very neglectful childhood and carry a lot of trauma, even though nothing like sexual abuse or violence occured.

I'm wondering, for those of you who have these symptoms from trauma, did working through that trauma ultimately help you get past the symptoms?

Thanks :)

Anxiety is new for me, I’ve been dealing with physical and mental symptoms for only like 4 months, so it’s still in the “scary new” phase.

I’ve dived into all the books, started therapy again, started yoga and meditation- all the stuff. And it’s been great. However, in the moments of panic it’s still really hard to remember all those things.

Something’s that’s helped calm me down in those really spiraling moments is just simply asking myself “well, what’s the alternative?…”. For example, tonight’s driving home in a new city I was feeling super panicky and almost dissociating. I initially told myself “remember to breathe, redirect your focus, remember that this will end”. But then the panic mindset came in and told me “that’s not gonna work! You can’t just breathe your way through this. You’re gonna faint while driving and cause a pileup! Pull over!” But, the alternative to doing those super simple things like accepting your symptoms and breathing would be catastrophic in some ways.

I’m no mental health expert by any stretch, but maybe try telling yourself that those simple things will absolutely help you get through those tough moments, because what’s the alternative! Just curl into a ball and die? Sometimes i feel like that, but it wouldn’t really solve anything. I really appreciate this sub and everyone’s input.

Hey everyone,

On March 27th, I had a panic attack at work that left me in fight or flight for literally almost 2 months (every day was filled with heart beating, throat closing, arms tingling). I've finally gotten past the physical symptoms, which I hopes means I've calmed my nervous system down.

The thing I'm struggling with so much is the feeling that this panic attack came out of nowhere. I had never felt anything remotely close. Through CBT therapy, ACT therapy, and support groups I'm learning so much about my unmet childhood needs, calming tools, and so on. However, I just can't shake the feeling that this all happened to me (like being hit by a car or tornado) rather than within me (like all the apparent built up pressure and unconscious stress boiling over).

Anyone else feel like this? Anything that has helped you?

Just curious if anyone else feels this way (based on nothing but guesses and observation). Do you think the recent years, the fireworks show relies more on projections (on Main Street, Small World, Rivers of America) and there are less actual fireworks than previous shows? It seems like during the fireworks, there are longer stretches of the show where it's just projections with fewer or no actual fireworks. Thoughts?

A lot of commentary I’ve seen around this is, “Pat Verbeek has probably learned his lesson that his negation style is stuck in the 80s- this won’t happen again for the Ducks!”. Verbeek strikes me as an egotistical hardass- I’m not actually sure this is going to change how he deals with RFAs in the future. The fact that the Samuelli’s called him intelligent in the press briefing regarding the OF matching, too 🙄