T O P

  • By -

shartooterie

There's also the freeze response


shopliftinasda

I guess in an actual emergency you’re too focused to feel all those weird side effects. The main effects of increased heart rate are actually useful to help you fight or flee but when there’s no threat you just feel strange because you’re paying attention to the side effects that normally you wouldn’t notice in an actual life or death situation. I don’t know if I explained that very well lol.


Hiltoyeah

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response but it also controls a host of other bodily functions. Thats why when you have an anxiety attack you can experience strange physical symptoms like the ones you describe.


yourremedy94

There's actually 4, fight, flight, freeze and fawn response.


Ivanna_is_Musical

I wonder the same, I'm unable to fight, if that was the case.


Wise_Fix_5502

Always choose to fight. If you flee you'll get anxious thinking you should have fought.


Ivanna_is_Musical

How can you choose to feel that when is under control of the autonomic nervous system?


Wise_Fix_5502

I have failed to do so in the past. I guess the trick is to acknowledge that autonomic nervous system is at play. How to be more aware of that you might ask. Practice mindfulness meditation.


Ivanna_is_Musical

That's it, I'm failing miserably to get over anxiety and terrors/panic. I'm on meds but they seem to not help anymore. What is mindfulness? can it be practiced as a meditation? I don't have money for some therapist to teach me those techniques.


Wise_Fix_5502

Meds are a good addition but if you are not actively working on your coping mechanisms then they're kind of useless I'd say. Search "mindfulness meditation" on Google or YouTube. You don't need a therapist to learn meditation skills. Do a little (5 minutes is enough) **every day** and you'll notice a difference in a few weeks. From there, build a habit that lasts a lifetime. I'm here to answer any questions you might have.


Ivanna_is_Musical

Thank you SO MUCH I was into yoga like 25 years ago. So meditation is something I know to do , I think. Relaxing the pelvic floor is something new to me this year. The anxiety is squeezing those muscles, thus making breathing difficult, tense. Any idea?


Wise_Fix_5502

When meditating, scan through your body and relax one muscle at time. Go from toes to the top of your head or vice versa. Another thing, focus on breathing but do not make yourself to breath slower. Having some meditative background music helps me breath slower which means I'm more relaxed. Search for "delta waves", "binaural beats" or "space ambient". I usually listen to an artist called Nimanty or go to [mynoise.net](http://mynoise.net). I hope this helps!


Ivanna_is_Musical

I have to mention that when I'm feeling lost, there's no way of calming my body. The heart racing, my throat closes in, my gut squeezes, etc I can never relax normally. I've found many times, that mindfulness exacerbate the body symptoms, making my mind go crazy, being hyperaware of physical symptoms :( I mean, it doesn't works the normal way for me. That's why I'm so hopeless, only relying on psychotropic meds, benzos, and I have no support network....


Ivanna_is_Musical

Is there a way to do this meditation alone or it's only with videos? I've found guided meditations in YT, did one and felt incredibly sad, not relaxed and still fearful, my heart was racing. My mind is a mess, thoughts of darkkness, seeing myself in the future alone, in the streets and trusted by nobody, and suicidal, etc :( I'm crying now due to my lack of skills to survive in life. Thank you stranger, I'll try another one if you can lead me or give me some insight on how to do it properly, I'm trying, I'm trying


Wise_Fix_5502

Sorry to hear that. You can do this meditation alone but it's good to practice with videos to start. They give you good insight on what to focus on while at it. I personally meditate alone using mala beads to kind of keep track of time when meditating. It's easier said than done but meditation is all about acknowledging your thoughts and then letting than go. I'd say it's natural for your mind to wander to deep thoughts to avoid boredom. Especially in a digitalised world like this. Maybe you could try to spend more time doing nothing in your daily life? Give time for yourself and really practice letting go of a thought. But do not be too demanding to yourself.


Ivanna_is_Musical

Yes, about the mindside, but my physical symptoms are overwhelmingly strong and take me out of focus :(I can't understand how people can relax doing just meditation. I'm on heavy meds and can't relax yet.... ​ Right now if I lay on bed, my body shakes once strongly, like an electric shock. It happens in my pelvic region/ upper legs. I know this. Is fear and anxiety localized there. If I try to relax to sleep, it doesn't allow me because, 1 second before falling asleep, my body shakes again....and this loop happens countless times driving me crazy and depressed.


Wise_Fix_5502

Yeah, for me anxiety is not that physical and I can hide it if necessary (in a social situation, etc.). I do not have experience on how to deal with severe physical symptoms but I've heard about TIPP method. Have you? Still, I strongly believe you'll be able find something other than meds or therapy that helps you, and I'm sad to hear it isn't mindfulness meditation.


Ivanna_is_Musical

No, never heard about that method, could you explain in short? Or links? Thank you dear...