24/7 Worrying Trauma Loop

[[sw...]]

So I've had major depression for a year now and Klonopin has been part of the last six months. I hadn't reduced in months bc I was trying to get a better handle on my constant worry but now that tolerance is setting in, I have no choice. My brain was addicted to worry before this began and now gas ha been poured on that fire and more so with tolerance. Does anyone have advice on how to stop the nonstop worrying? I can't watch tv, hold a decent conversation, or anything without getting crazy anxious bc my mind prefers to worry. Walking is the best medicine but I get fatigued real quick. I know many of my symptoms are worsened bc my CNS is being racked by this worry... Feeling so hopeless bc I know it's all on me to fix it.

[[He...]]

If you can bear to read, Waking the Tiger, by Peter Levine. Our minds are addicted to constantly bringing up stuff and worry is really common, especially with benzo's in the mix. I've been using his tools and it encourages you to focus on your body feelings instead of the looping mind which is seeking a reason that is not there. Helps to calm the self. If you're worrying about something tangible, then do what you can about it for now, and do the best you can to let it go. Hope this helps. HM

[Guest [ba...]]

Try to begin deliberately inserting positive, compassionate thoughts into your mindstream.  In time, those positive thoughts will overwhelm all of those negative thoughts.  It will take time, and your ego (worrisome) mind will protest by telling you that this is stupid and that it's not working.  Just let those thoughts come and go and keep adding positive loving thoughts.

 

Start saying nice things to people even if you have to force yourself to do it.  And if they say something nice to you, accept the compliment(s) without any "yeah, but" comments.  Stop talking about depression and pain and all the benzo crap and start talking about something more fun.  Tell jokes.  Send nice compliments to 50 benzobuddies without griping about your symptoms. 

 

Your goal is to reverse this worrisome mindset by 1% per day, so start thinking/talking some good stuff and let the passion and compassion return to your life.

 

Exercise helps a lot too.

[[sw...]]

Thanks for the tips. Walking is definitely the best but I can't walk much bc fatigue. I had been doing better about being positive but today I feel trapped in the negative. It's hard to even use my hands today. I feel it all over my body. I'd be in a major panic attack if it weren't for the K. Thanks again.

[Guest [ba...]]

You can walk despite the fatigue.  Try it, and believe that you can do it.  Just go out for 2 minutes today.  3 tomorrow...

[[sw...]]

You can walk despite the fatigue.  Try it, and believe that you can do it.  Just go out for 2 minutes today.  3 tomorrow...

 

Oh I know I can a little. The sicker I feel the more I force myself. I always log three miles total within the day. The strange thing is I get fatigued after five minutes in the day but in the evenings I can walk a mile straight. It's so strange.

[[so...]]

Just wanted to chime in and let you know I'm struggling with the same thing. People perceive me as being very positive here because my taper has been a pretty easy one and I tend to put a positive spin on things, but health anxiety is what got me into benzos in the first place and I can obsess over symptoms so badly that my partner says it's all I ever talk about anymore. I'm going to try hard to put the suggestions in this thread to use. Endless worry... it achieves nothing. It does not make the road easier. It makes it infinitely harder. We can overcome this but it takes a lot of dedication to change an ingrained mindset. Daily work. It's worth it though. I want my life back and I know you do too!

[[tr...]]

I have the same problem, just had a big talk with my therapist about it. My worrying is so ingrained that I often don't notice it. Or, I should say, I don't hear it as the voice of worry, I just take those thoughts as reality. So my first step is identifying that. The second step is calling it out. My brain: "Everything is terrible, nothing is working, it's hopeless." Me: "... Waaait a minute, that doesn't sound right. Is everything really terrible? I tried out a new recipe today and it came out really good. I accomplished a bunch of other stuff today. I'm doing this taper, which is super brave of me. Maybe that's enough." That kind of talking back is a cognitive behavioral technique my therapist taught me. 

 

What works best for me is distraction. I've been watching a lot of Youtube, or sometimes listening to it while I do chores and take walks. I've found some podcast-style series on topics that are interesting enough that they take focus off my worries. It also works to focus on helping others in small doses (too much time around people is stressful, plus I don't need my co-dependency issues to flare up and turn me into a servant). Last night I helped my roommate chop some veggies for dinner and checked her son's math homework. That was enough and I retreated back to my cave, but for an hour I wasn't thinking about my problems.

[[...]]

I spend every hour of the day telling myself I'm going to die and constantly worrying about illnesses and diseases I find on the internet

[[Sh...]]

This has been me exactly through my whole taper with valium and now 4 months off. It is improving now. They are benzo lies and not you. But it becomes your reality and you forget what you used to be like.

[[Be...]]

Yep I think we all get this one.

[[Ce...]]

The constant intrusive thoughts drive me a little nutty...some days more than others. I have been trying to conquer them by replacing those thoughts with positive affirmations..it's been working, but it takes a lot of practice, patience and time.  It will improve in time and if you didn't have this before..it's most likely you won't once you are well again...

[Guest [ba...]]

The constant intrusive thoughts drive me a little nutty...some days more than others. I have been trying to conquer them by replacing those thoughts with positive affirmations..it's been working, but it takes a lot of practice, patience and time.  It will improve in time and if you didn't have this before..it's most likely you won't once you are well again...

 

Yes, it's a slow process to replace those thoughts, but like jogging or doing crunches, it pays off over time.