So, this is something that gets to me pretty often, I'm wondering if you guys who experience anything like this might have any ideas on how to better deal with it.
What it is, is like symptoms or effects of a condition you already have, are familiar with, and normally okay with, but even though there's an understanding of it, they're still somehow scary.
Like, today's incident was that I'm sitting here, watching stuff and having a meal, when I abruptly become aware that something's gone wrong with my left hand. Specifically, my index finger had gone pale and weird, feeling generally strange. Now, this sort of thing isnt unusual for me. Doctors assure me that I'm fine (over and over again) and have explained, in great detail, how/why this and other similar effects happen. For instance sometimes I get weird tingly numbness, again usually in my hand/arm. And again, it's been explained to me by professionals who likely get a bit exasperated at my non-stop paranoia. That sort of thing aint exactly uncommon with the type of annoying nerve/tendon issues I have. Issues which, I should note, improve over time with physical therapy... it's one of the specific reasons I go to PT in the first place, to deal with that exact sort of thing. PT is quite effective (although it typically hurts a lot).
But even though I know these things, and even though there is a quite effective treatment, it doesnt take much to send me into total panic mode, and I'll start to do strange and erratic things to try to deal with it. In today's panic, I decided that the best solution was to run over to the nearest wall, and slam the palm of my hand against it as hard as I could (spoiler: this did not help). I'm not sure WHY I decided this, the mental chaos that happens during panic mode crumbles and is forgotten shortly afterwards.
Another incident was with my eye, it's hard to explain but Weirdness started to happen. Cue a panicked dash to the ophthalmologist (note: dont drive when in panic mode). After about 5 billion tests and a couple of photos that I unfortunately cant un-see, it was explained to me, in great detail, what it was, and that there's nothing to worry about... it sometimes just goes along with the nearsightedness (or was it the astigmatism?) that I already have. Fortunately everyone there was super nice (and they're aware I'm on the spectrum, as it's been noted in much earlier appointments) and are patient with me. Also did a typical exam while there, to make sure my glasses prescription was updated if need be, so... yay, convenience? I guess?
Yet still, on the occasion where it happens after that, the explanations are briefly launched out the window and panic sets in. Not every time, mind you. Maybe every one out of twenty. It's very predictable, too. Which honestly makes it even dumber.
Usually feel like a total doofus following an anxiety spike like that. But also, this sort of thing kinda derails anything else that I may have been up to prior to the incident, and that can be a problem.
Any of you guys have this sort of anxiety? If so, do you have any particular things that tend to help with it a bit?
I do intend to bring this up with my therapist the next time I see her, but that's a number of days away, I figure it cant hurt to maybe get a couple of ideas before then.
What it is, is like symptoms or effects of a condition you already have, are familiar with, and normally okay with, but even though there's an understanding of it, they're still somehow scary.
Like, today's incident was that I'm sitting here, watching stuff and having a meal, when I abruptly become aware that something's gone wrong with my left hand. Specifically, my index finger had gone pale and weird, feeling generally strange. Now, this sort of thing isnt unusual for me. Doctors assure me that I'm fine (over and over again) and have explained, in great detail, how/why this and other similar effects happen. For instance sometimes I get weird tingly numbness, again usually in my hand/arm. And again, it's been explained to me by professionals who likely get a bit exasperated at my non-stop paranoia. That sort of thing aint exactly uncommon with the type of annoying nerve/tendon issues I have. Issues which, I should note, improve over time with physical therapy... it's one of the specific reasons I go to PT in the first place, to deal with that exact sort of thing. PT is quite effective (although it typically hurts a lot).
But even though I know these things, and even though there is a quite effective treatment, it doesnt take much to send me into total panic mode, and I'll start to do strange and erratic things to try to deal with it. In today's panic, I decided that the best solution was to run over to the nearest wall, and slam the palm of my hand against it as hard as I could (spoiler: this did not help). I'm not sure WHY I decided this, the mental chaos that happens during panic mode crumbles and is forgotten shortly afterwards.
Another incident was with my eye, it's hard to explain but Weirdness started to happen. Cue a panicked dash to the ophthalmologist (note: dont drive when in panic mode). After about 5 billion tests and a couple of photos that I unfortunately cant un-see, it was explained to me, in great detail, what it was, and that there's nothing to worry about... it sometimes just goes along with the nearsightedness (or was it the astigmatism?) that I already have. Fortunately everyone there was super nice (and they're aware I'm on the spectrum, as it's been noted in much earlier appointments) and are patient with me. Also did a typical exam while there, to make sure my glasses prescription was updated if need be, so... yay, convenience? I guess?
Yet still, on the occasion where it happens after that, the explanations are briefly launched out the window and panic sets in. Not every time, mind you. Maybe every one out of twenty. It's very predictable, too. Which honestly makes it even dumber.
Usually feel like a total doofus following an anxiety spike like that. But also, this sort of thing kinda derails anything else that I may have been up to prior to the incident, and that can be a problem.
Any of you guys have this sort of anxiety? If so, do you have any particular things that tend to help with it a bit?
I do intend to bring this up with my therapist the next time I see her, but that's a number of days away, I figure it cant hurt to maybe get a couple of ideas before then.
. I have anxiety too, along with a bunch of chronic illnesses. I get a lot of new symptoms often. I found that, for myself, the more I knew about the conditions I had, the less afraid I was when something new happened because I knew what it was. I find Reddit really helpful for finding information and talking to others going through the same thing. I have gone to the doctors many a time and they havent found anything and ive felt the same but there's also no need to feel bad about going to the doctor—you're not a doofus; they are there to help.
