Interesting session.
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hello. I left this forum a while ago but I still suffer from anxiety quite often. Mainly I learned today, the fear of the unknown following bowel cancer surgery 40 months ago and a newish thing for me as well, OCD. Apparently the fear of recurrence and the future, is because I am not in control and the OCD routines are because I am trying to have control over at least something. I have no reason to be anxious about recurrence so far, as all tests, scans etc have been good, but 6 weeks or so out from the next blood test, the anxiety kicks in. Which is now!
This was my first visit to a councellor and I have to concentrate on the fact that I am ok NOW, I.e in the present. Stop the OCD routines, because nothing bad will happen if, for example, the table is not set exactly as it should be - every day. Also, stop using Dr Google as it makes things worse.
i just really wanted to write these things down and see if anyone out there has any strategies which help. Apart from breathing exercises, which I have been doing.
I'm a 71 year old male.
0 likes, 7 replies
borderriever TheToad
Posted
Iam in my mid sixties and I was told now to just live fo the day and enjoy the jouney.
Like you I find that my concens revolve aound been ill, getting better and what happens if it or soething else returns. In my situation it is all to do with progressing through my life as fit as I can and when something crops up I wonder if it is something that will see me over
Pensioners like us both just live for the day, look for distractions so we have something to look foward to.
We are going on Holiday in two moths time and my Wife has booked a trip to St Kilda out in the Atlantic. It is a place too visit befoe I die place so I will tick this off my list when I have been.
Be a bad boy and make your plans, any day now I am taking My Skippes for Powerboat sailing, seen the boat just have to pass my Tickets now.
BOB
TheToad borderriever
Posted
Thanks Bob. It looks like you are all set to have a great Summer! We have things we would like to do, including visiting my ancestors' graves and the area where they settled about 160 years ago. The problem here is that I have another mild anxiety which is not being comfortable being away from home etc. A security thing I suppose. Ironic when I think about the adventures I had in my 20's! My wife has to depend on a wheelchair, which makes things more complicated too. Or maybe that's just an excuse...
Anyway, we shall have a serious talk about getting on with life. She is 78 but apart from the disability, is quite fit.
Thanks again. John.
borderriever TheToad
Posted
My disability needs adaptations to get through my life, I was given my wheelchair about ten years ago and everytime I am low I go into storage and look at the thing and that gives me a shuggy to get onto life.
If and when I get my boat there will be a list of adaptations to allow me to do my new hobbie. The use of a wheelchair on starting a new hobbie or activity need not stop you doing what you want to do. Please do not get me wrong many disabled are affected by age and under that premis things become difficult and waring, Many people need to understand as well the young can also be disabled as well. They on occasions look for their own interests and follow that pathway with great diligence.
My ancestors have a old Graveyard away from the Kirk, some two miles in the hills and sometimes in the past I have been able to walk out up to the old Graveyard to look at my Ancestors Graves that go back over two hundred years, looking at the scripts on the tombs is a great leveler and that seems to push me on.
Throughout our lives we need to work out what we can do and go for the activity we wish to partake in, I look back thirty odd years to when I first became disabled, I became insular until I saw the Pain Clinic and they helped me to punch the envelope and clamber out of my restrictions.
Sometimes the actual planning of a new hobbie can be a positive activity, the fact that I find out the activity is infeasable is only a small part and if I become stuck I put my reseach down and look at something else to do. We do not need to do that we planned it is the experience and planning that makes us busy and distracted.
Like today, my Wife will be in the garden, sad to say I am in a Medium flare and will not be able to work outside. That has not stopped me planning for the day. I have several more fruit trees to plant and this will not be possible no matter how slow I would be. even the tools for gardening are adapted quite cheaply and can be purchased in most Garden Centres. We do what we can and work around any problems we have.
I am really sorry for your Wife, I used to visit my Grandparents and looked after them, I would push an get them out of their home in the garden it used to lift their mood and divert their feelings away from becoming old
BOB
TheToad borderriever
Posted
Thanks again. The annoying part about my wife's condition is that it was meant to be fixed after two hip replacements, but not successful. But she gets on with life, just now she's in the small greenhouse pricking out seedlings etc. She has a raised garden for her flowers and the greenhouse was adapted for the chair.
I'll see my councellor twice more while it's free and see how I get on after that.
Thankd for your reply.
John.
lisalisa67 TheToad
Posted
TheToad lisalisa67
Posted
Thanks Lisalisa. Yes, you're right, that's what the councellor said to do. Be aware of what's around you and of your own body, I.e. concentrate on feet and gradually work your way up. If I find myself starting to feel anxious about the blood test in 5 weeks or so (!), I mentally shout the word NOW! Meaning of course, to concentrate on the present. And presently, I am well and fairly fit and should be outside in the garden.
All the best,
John.
lisalisa67 TheToad
Posted