Anxiety Control Center

Today we continue to look at the questions about G-d, panic and feeling weak and picked on. We’ll begin with a number of helpful tips for changing the negative feelings, into more enhancing one.   Let me know  how these tips work for you, and any other solutions you are using in your life use to stop panic and fear.  I hope the following tips help.   Audrey Sussman PhD, director of the Anxiety Control Center.

The following is a summary (collage)  of the email questions I have received in the last few days.

“Hello Audrey, First I want to thank you for answering my other emails. I truly appreciate your taking your time to answer my questions.  I reached out and was hoping to get a response even though I’m not one of your students or private clients.

Here is what is going through my mind today.  I really don’t want to feel this out of control with panic and fear.   I can’t help wondering why G-d chose to prey on the weak by giving us anxiety attacks?  Nothing prepared me for the devastating results worry, anxiety and fear is having on my life.  It stops me from moving ahead and it feels unending.   I thought the feelings would disappear over time, but it continues and gets worse every year.   I want to stop these feelings and the anger & sadness it causes, but I don’t know where to start.  Are there any tips you can offer me?”

Audrey’s response:

I can see you are reaching out for help because you truly want things to change.  It is frustrating when you’ve tried so many things and still panic and worry continues to plague you.  There are a number of different things that can be done to stop the downward spiral of feelings.  Once you see even a small change it will give you hope.

Old “stories” and patterns of belief:

When you think that G-d is preying on you, it creates more upset, anger and a “it’s not fair feeling.”  This feeds the feelings of hopelessness.   It also increases the feeling of being out of control.   These negative thoughts are just one possible “story.”  One that increases negative thoughts and adds to the spiral of anxiety, and loss of hope.

New “stories” and patterns that work better:

Imagine for a moment, how different it would feel if your thought was that G-d is giving you strength to deal with panic, instead of preying on you.  Or perhaps, the thought that G-d had given you the strength to survive the panic and anxiety all theses years.  Even though the panic might still be scary,  changing your way of thinking from “being weak or being preyed on,” to the more positive one, stops the negative spiral.  Remember, we don’t know for sure what G-d purpose is, so since it is your mind – imagine something else that would serve you better.  Something that doesn’t add to the stress you already feel.   I myself truly believe that creativity is one of the “gifts” people with panic are born with.   It may be that at the moment your creativity is going in the wrong direction (that of scaring you), but it is still a gift you can learn to use in a positive helpful way.

I write this in an effort to help in some small way.  Continue reading tomorrow’s post with the 3 tips for changing thoughts for panic relief.

Continue reading the post this afternoon for more tips.
Let me know  how they work for you.  I’m always interested in any solutions people come up with in dealing with worry, anxiety or panic.  Audrey Sussman PhD, Director of the Anxiety Control Center

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I received the an email from a person who is suffering from panic and anxiety.  She read something on my blog that stimulated her to reach out for help.  I can see she truly has tried to stop the suffering that anxiety, worry and panic are causing in her life.

As you read her questions, it might stimulate your own thoughts about why you are suffering.  As you will see she is feeling that G-d is preying on her, making her feel weak by giving her panic and anxiety.  What I hope you will find as you read my response, is that there is another way to see panic and to think about the “why” we have it.

The tips I am giving are a place to start.  For this article we’ll be discussing techniques to stop the thoughts (cognitive part) that feed the panic cycle.  When you use these techniques you’ll find that it puts a different “spin” or way of looking at panic.  I realize that it is horrible to feel out of control with worry, panic, bowel problems or anger.   And also how hard it may have been, in the past, to change old patterns and beliefs, yet there are ways you can use to change fearful, or negative thoughts.  Ways to get back in control, and techniques that can be learned to stop “feeding” these issues.

Continue reading tomorrow for the questions and tips I offered.  Let me know  how they work for you, and any solutions you use that work for you.   Audrey Sussman PhD, director of the Anxiety Control Center

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This a continuation of the post about hypnosis for anxiety, worry and fear.

Of course, the question remains, how do you know if hypnosis is right for you? And, what do I do if it isn’t?

The truth is that almost everyone can be hypnotized.  I tell my clients that if they can be curious, have an open mind and want to overcome the challenge or issue they are facing, there is hope, change can happen.  In our private sessions at the Anxiety Control Center, and in our online coaching workshops we give you the questions you need to find the techniques that will work best for you.

If you’re not comfortable with hypnosis, DON’T WORRY.  You can still overcome a challenge,  though it may take longer.  Sometimes, for some people, the long way around is what works.  Before starting therapy it is always good to ask us questions and talk about any concerns.  In this way we can evaluate you as an individual and help you to make educated choices.

Let’s look at why I so highly recommend using the techniques that are in the Anxiety Control Center’s Transformation System.  . . .  to be continued tomorrow.

If you are ready to learn more about hypnotic techniques and learn some new methods to deal with anxiety,
fear and worry  click here.   For only $10 you can get the 90 minute MP3 podcast of containing stress relief tips.
It will be available until the end of November, when our new online coaching sessions will start.

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Depression: Step 2 in the Step-by-step plan for getting back the spark of joy

In the last post we discussed the 1^st step for lifting yourself out of the feelings of
depression, anxiety, fear and worry.   In the next few posts we will continue looking
at the next steps.

Whenever we feel overwhelmed with any emotion or task, remember to practice
the first exercise.  Do this every day using the video guide I gave you.

Once you have changed your “state of mind” with the 1^st exercise, the next step is to
begin to look underneath the emotion.  To collect information that you might not be
aware of.

And the way to do this is to use your mind in a different way.  Instead of blaming
yourself for the uncomfortable feelings of anxiety, depression, worry or  procrastinating
you instead change your state by becoming curious about your feelings.

Once you are in a curious “state of mind” you will find it helpful to ask yourself the
questions I will give you. . .

Next post in a few days.

I welcome your questions.  Get them answered by joining me for the “live” online
coaching workshop on October 5, 2011.

It’s only $10.  To sign up click here.

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Learn how to use the
part of the mind
that controls procrastination.

You can learn to overcome procrastination, fear, and panic.
Get your life and dreams back.

Take your first action step in making Procrastination,
Fear & Overwhelm a thing of the past.

Take your first step in getting your life back on track.
Don’t procrastinate, take action and
sign up right now !
Click on the “buy now” button.

It’s only $10 !!
So check it out.

Want more information
Go to Action Ends Procrastination

Questions ? Contact Audrey.
Link below will take you directly to
Audrey’s email.
Remember to leave your name and e-mail address
where you want to be reached.

Hope to see you Wednesday October 5th.

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My dad just gave me a note that he had been carrying around with him for the past 2 years.  I had sent him the  note  when he was grieving the loss of his wife of 32 years. I am reprinting it her in hopes that it can help others who are grieving, as it helped my dad.  I have removed the very personal parts and just left the information I sent him about how to change feelings  by  creating pictures and  thoughts that create pleasant scenes rather than ones of pain and sadness.

USING THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION TO GAIN CONTROL OVER EMOTIONS

Dad read this, I hope it might help in some way, with you pain and loneliness you are feeling.  Dad, in this very sad time I realize how hard it is to believe you will ever feel happy again.  And grief is normal and expected when you lose someone you love.  But, as the months have passed  I listen to you, and as you describe the pictures you are remembering they are about feeling hopeless because of the pain and suffering you keep seeing your wonderful wife going through.   I see how these “pictures”  affects you as you relive those traumatic memories.   Yet, I also hear you talking  about many wonderful times you had together before her illness, but almost as soon as you have those thoughts the pictures of pain and sadness, overtake you again.   I am sending you some thoughts that come from the book I wrote called, Power of Thought.   I know what a positive person you have been your whole life.  Always finding the “silver lining” no matter how hard the situation, and I hope as you read the words they will remind you of how to do this again.  Perhaps you will use you wonderful creativity to add to my thoughts on this and use your thoughts and memories in a way that creates sweet joy, instead of horror and pain.

Dad here is the excerpt, I’m not editing it too much.  First I want to say that it’s important to know that  emotions are brought on by the thoughts and pictures we create.  A thought is an image that you project.   It has force and energy and carries vibrations that move throughout the mind and body.  A vibration, as I am using the word  is an energy wave or feeling that comes from the mind of the thinker.  Vibrations that come from thoughts have an impact on the mind and body.  Thoughts and the vibrations attached to them, function like a magnet that attracts similar thoughts. So when you have painful thoughts they attract more memories of pain and sadness. And,  you can change your thoughts to ones that create peaceful feelings, and they will attract other memories and feelings of peace and balance.

Even if the images that are created  are not on the conscious level, they still vibrate within your system.  The more emotion a thought holds, the more impact the “thought, picture or vibration” will have.

No matter what is going on in life, people can learn to be in command of the thoughts they create.  Even when there are stressors and events outside of your control, your thoughts can be developed in a way that has a positive impact, even changing  how you interpret  events.  Dad, I know that you have used this technique many times in the past, like the time you went to get the wig for your wife, after chemo, and you were so touched and happy about how caring the person who helped you was, you came back from that appointment feeling uplifted, even though the situation was still a difficult one. So you already understand that, no matter what events may have transpired  your mind can  create thoughts that enhance your well-being.  Your own mind, and the thoughts you create, can be the most powerful resource for you when you use it in this enhancing way.  So continue to guide your thoughts with positive energy, putting a positive spin on even a “negative” event.

I haven’t sent you the previous chapters which have an introduction on how old events influence a person’s present outlook, because I know how you have used your mind in a positive way through out my growing up years. So, I’m not sending you the discussion on creating the deep change, by clearing out old limiting beliefs and repressed emotions.

I am reminding you that without even doing deep change work, to release those old sad memories and trauma of the past few years, you can make changes using your thoughts to re-program  the way your mind works, creating thoughts and pictures that work better that those of pain and loss. This is powerful way to reduce sadness, loneliness and stress.  So remember pictures and thoughts that lead to reactions can be changed on a conscious level (as you know we did some unconscious work to get rid of your headaches, and we can do some more NLP work if you want to change the mental images that are troubling you, but for now start being curious about new images you create.  For every negative one, create two that work better.   I know it is a “push” to do this when you are sad, yet it really can make a powerful difference in your emotional state.   I’ll talk to you more about this later.    Just wanted to have it in writing so you can refer to these notes when you want.

Remmeber your body is a complex living system,  every part affects every other part, including your emotions and you healing.  Your thoughts create physical reactions, such as the clenching in your stomach after a particularly traumatic memory.  Even a quick thought can generate a physical reaction in the body.  For example, just thinking about a fun vacation you had, remember the boat trip in the blue lagoon in Italy, I can see you smiling as you talk about it.   That memory created a reaction or vibration in your body, as if it were happening in the present.   What you think has an impact on the “vibrations” that are sent throughout your body.  So, the way a you think can lead to positive vibrations, which lead to feelings of happiness, joy and contentment.    So I leave you with this to think about, I know you have already created a path of positive memories, so this is just a gentle reminder in how to use your mind in this time a recovery.  With all my love. Audrey

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