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Will I ever be able to get rid of my anxiety?

1 reply

Lizbiz89 · 10/06/2024 10:11

I've suffered with travel anxiety all my life but I've managed to fight through it most of the time. I feel like since covid my anxiety has increased and now I've had my 3rd baby it's definitely at its worst. To the point where I can no longer drive on fast roads and am fearful of even being in the car on fast roads. I've got to fly to Portugal next month and I'm absolutely dreading it. I know that I will be able to fight through this and do it but I absolutely hate that I feel this way. Has anyone ever been able to get rid of their anxiety? It blows my mind that some people never suffer with any anxiety at all and yet I'm unable to even look forward to nice things like holidays because of my anxiety.

OP posts:
Eyesopenwideawake · 10/06/2024 10:57

Firstly can you remember when/why this anxiety began? There was a stage in your life when you weren't afraid of travel so it's helpful to try and pinpoint the origin.

Secondly fighting anxiety doesn't work. Ever. Anxiety is the emotion which is triggered when there is something your mind thinks you need to pay attention to, because it's too important to ignore - if you do try to ignore it, it will simply talk louder and eventually start screaming at you. It's why we make the appointment with a doctor, revise for exams or get dressed up for a first date. However the mind isn't infallible and can both get things wrong or hark back to outdated beliefs. Listen to what your mind is telling you and decide if it's being reasonable or ridiculous.

For example if a child cries in the night that there's a monster under the bed does the mother scoop the child into her arms and run into the night, screaming for help to deal with the monster? Or does she stick her fingers in her ears so she can't hear her child? No, of course not. She goes and reassures the child that there's nothing to be scared of, there's no monster and that the child can safely go back to sleep. Transpose the child for your subconscious and the mother for your logical mind.

Thirdly, ask anyone who has ever flown if they've ever had a negative, 'what if?' thought about it and all of them will say yes. But the vast majority will be able to recognise that thought as a notion that's passed through their mind and gone again - that's what happens to thoughts when we don't give them an inflated importance.

I live in Portugal and it's a wonderful, welcoming place. If I can help you get here in a relaxed state of mind ping me a PM. In the meantime this video might help you;

How to stop feeling anxious about anxiety | Tim Box | TEDxFolkestone

NOTE FROM TED: While some viewers might find advice provided in this talk to be helpful as a complementary approach, please do not look to this talk for medi...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZidGozDhOjg

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