Journaling - The Write Stuff For You?

I had a lunchtime chat with my partner about what she says is her worsening anxiety. She says she was never anxious when she was younger. That's why she's finding her present day anxiety so alarming. Her biggest concern this morning is finding a sign at the base of a grand old tree a short ways from our house. The sign said the tree had been slated for cutting down. My partner admitted to being almost paralyzed with anxiety over the threatened loss of a favorite tree. (I was less anxious than angered.) I suggested to my parther that one way to lessen anxiety over a situation is to 'do something,' most anything, a phone call, and visit to a neighbor's to see if concern is shared. So the two of us starting making phone calls. Tomorrow someone from theforestry service is coming to talk to us about what might yet be done to spare the tree. I was happy to hear my partner say that the moment she began telephoning, her anxiety began to lessen. I think there's a lesson in all this: don't dwell, just 'do."

@pvctom2021 I don't claim to have a "magic cure" for your anxiety. In my experience, many of us seem to have different levels and sources of that anxiety, and how it affects us on a day-to-day basis.

What has often worked for me is write out a list of the causes of my unease. Take a good long hard look at that list. What can I do for some of those items, to lessen them or eliminate them? What proactive measure can be done? For example, I recently had a couple of medical procedures not experienced before. I was certainly anxious! Looking them up, reading about the procedure, what could be expected for the actual action. Applying it to my own health situation, determining what was critical for an uneventful time. Then advocating for myself when it came time, reminding myself and the technicians that while they do this everyday, it was my first time. And that I needed to be assured they were listening to what my thoughts were. Asking a lot of questions, thanking them for their attention. Was there still anxiety? Yes. But it was less due to dissecting the event, and taking some of that power away. I also journaled my thoughts and feelings, acknowledging what could happen, knowing that I would "deal with it", no matter what.

As we age, we might hear others' stories about what brought them anxiety. Remember, that is their story, their journey. How we respond is our journey.
Ginger

@pvctom2021 I don't claim to have a "magic cure" for your anxiety. In my experience, many of us seem to have different levels and sources of that anxiety, and how it affects us on a day-to-day basis.

What has often worked for me is write out a list of the causes of my unease. Take a good long hard look at that list. What can I do for some of those items, to lessen them or eliminate them? What proactive measure can be done? For example, I recently had a couple of medical procedures not experienced before. I was certainly anxious! Looking them up, reading about the procedure, what could be expected for the actual action. Applying it to my own health situation, determining what was critical for an uneventful time. Then advocating for myself when it came time, reminding myself and the technicians that while they do this everyday, it was my first time. And that I needed to be assured they were listening to what my thoughts were. Asking a lot of questions, thanking them for their attention. Was there still anxiety? Yes. But it was less due to dissecting the event, and taking some of that power away. I also journaled my thoughts and feelings, acknowledging what could happen, knowing that I would "deal with it", no matter what.

As we age, we might hear others' stories about what brought them anxiety. Remember, that is their story, their journey. How we respond is our journey.
Ginger

@gingerw

Thanks Ginger
For your reply and good advice…and I hope your medical procedures went well…I always appreciate your support and sound advice…this past couple of nights, the nightmares were terrifying…I could hear the clanking of the girls shoes coming down the corridor as I used the bathroom in the middle of the night and as I tried to shut the door, she or it got in and the eyes were too much… I screamed loud enough for my wife to scream me out of it…but I’ve heard back from some people on here and just the replies mean a lot and knowing that anxiety and nightmares are just to be experienced from time to time…anxiety (GAD) is something that I’m trying to overcome….by utilizing the advice I get so freely from the people on this wonderful forum…I wish your procedures the best outcomes….🙏
Tom @pvctom2021

Tom--not to minimize nightmares and anxiety--I've been plagued by both my entire life and never outgrew night terrors. My husband has had to wake me up more times than I can count. I'm usually embarrassed but so very happy to be awake and in my own bed! That said--I try to not be too freaked out by the experience. I figure it is just me--my personality, my brain. I've spent a ton of energy reducing the anxiety over the years, and it has worked well (everything from meditation to aromatherapy to gardening to talk therapy to having a good book on hand.) But I'm still anxious, and still yelling in my sleep! So I try to accept what is left. My big-hearted husband doesn't seem to mind--I feel he is glad to help. And boy am I glad to see him when I open my eyes! Thinking of you and wishing you the best.

This is great advice. It might be that the pre-thinking is a kind of rehearsal that makes the situation less frightening. Thank you!