whichwayisup Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Would love to know people's thoughts on this. I ask this because of my anxiety disorder. Various people with anxiety learn how to deal with it on a daily basis, and each person also (in my own experience when talking to others who suffer from it) has their 'comfort' things which make them feel more settled during an attack or if anxiety is building. Each person also has different symptoms of anxiety - Which can mimick other ailments and fool you into thinking ya may be having a heart attack etc... With me, when my anxiety starts to build up it's like I feel a ball of energy in my stomach. Seems somehow I've allowed myself to create a way of relieving it, which is good...OR was good in the past as it made the anxiety lessen and go away...BUT, now I find it is quite annoying and everytime I feel any sort of anxiety (good or bad) the only way to relieve it is to gag. Embarressing as it is, it's the only real way I can rid of the anxiety. I've self taught myself to DO that, a learned behaviour! And now I would love to stop that! DO you know how stupid I look and sound? It's fine if I'm with someone I know and feel comfy with, or if I'm at home...But being out and about, fine and dandy, then the next minute I'm gagging away, sounding like some old man coughing. ( I make it more into a cough sound than an actual GAG. And ofcourse I never throw-up) It is just so embarressing!!! Even now, posting about it I feel self conscious about it. Talked to my therapist about this and she gave me an elastic band. So, anytime I feel anxiety creeping up and snap that elastic band around my wrist to distract and prevent a gag from coming out...Apparently the body can only concentrate on one thing at a time (the endorphins) when it comes to pain, so me feeling the anxiety and about to gag, will then be switched over to OUCH, that little sting (though she said to do it HARD) when I give that elastic band a good snap! She says it would be about a month of unlearning my previous behaviour (gagging) and learning to respond to the elastic snapping on my wrist. Honestly, I hope it works because the gag thing is really stupid. I don't do it all the time or anything, but it is enough that it is bugging me and making me feel self conscious. Nice helpful thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance. Link to post Share on other sites
basscatcher Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 I can understand your therapists point.. You need to train your brain to not substitute gagging for your anxiety. The anxiety causes tension which you carry in the pit of your stomach and all your bodys energiies are focused and target to that ball which gets tighter and tighter and it becomes more uncomfortable as it gets worse. It is kind of a slow process. When you gag reflex kicks in it gives your body a jerk and a rush of endorfins into a differnt direction and the tension in your stomach is released and you get that vomit tension and sensation instead--quickly instead of the slow angonizing tension built up in the pit of your stomach.. I know when I get the gag reflex my whatever it was that I was focused on before is completely gone.. By snapping the rubberband hard it will cause those endorfins and adrenaline to rush to the source of the pain in your wrist instead of targeting your stomach or gag reflex.. I would be concerned that you will end up with a habit of inflicting pain in your wrist to curb the aniety in the pit of your stomach.. Whats the purpose of moving the distraction technique to a different part of your body? Your still not resolving the problem that is causing the anxiety in the first place. I would rather get to the root of the anxiety and aleveate that instead of just relocating the anxiety. For example if a Alcoholic is trying to quit drinking why would he turn and use harmful drugs to stop the drinking. He still isn't resolving the addiction process..?? I guess what you therapist is doing I can understand doing that temporarily to train yourself not to gag but I would rather find the solution to the anxiety problem instead of just replacing the focus in a different area. Link to post Share on other sites
Author whichwayisup Posted March 1, 2006 Author Share Posted March 1, 2006 LOL I know, I asked her that too, trading one thing for another - gagging to elastic snappin' ouch! Then she said we'd move onto another way of handling it when the time comes, but not to worry about it now. Trust me, I know myself really well and I'm not one to 'endorse' pain in any way. If your thoughts were travelling to the place that I might cut myself or something, don't worry. It would never happen. I don't have any issues or emotional problems that could trigger such a thing for me to do. The thing is, I don't know exactly what sets me off. Could be hormonal some days, could be onset of a migraine, PMS, or just a really bad day. The regular stuff - Things that DO set me off I have more or less under control and can breathe through it all and do meditation. For the sudden anxiety that hits me, that is when the gags come... The whole thing is just bizzare and funny too. My sis makes fun of me (in a loving way ofcourse!) and does a cute immitation of me gaggin'. So does my bro-in-law! I can laugh about it, I rarely take anything personally anyway. Thanks for your reply Pada. It makes sense what you said too. Something else to bring up with T next week. Link to post Share on other sites
Woggle Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 I know this sounds weaird but playing with paper clips is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. Link to post Share on other sites
alphamale Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 anxiety disorders are chemically based imbalances in the brain of certain neurotransmitters. this has been proven even though we don't know why. this is a medical problem that cannot be treated by rubber bands. Link to post Share on other sites
basscatcher Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Depending on the type of anxiety I will do one or more of these things: I chew gum radically, play with my fingernails. or crack my knuckles. I concentrate on breathing deeply then exhaling slowly and just quieting my mind.. Prayer is something I do also. I will close my eyes and I will focus on a image of Jesus and remember the peace I felt when I went to Medjugoji. I will often think of myself as al little girl and I am kneeling next to him and I have my head on his lap and he is stroking my hair back comforting me. Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 anxiety disorders are chemically based imbalances in the brain of certain neurotransmitters. this has been proven even though we don't know why. this is a medical problem that cannot be treated by rubber bands. Don't EVEN get me started on how dirty benzodiazepines are. Link to post Share on other sites
Author whichwayisup Posted March 1, 2006 Author Share Posted March 1, 2006 anxiety disorders are chemically based imbalances in the brain of certain neurotransmitters. this has been proven even though we don't know why. this is a medical problem that cannot be treated by rubber bands. You must not be really understanding my post alpha, too blown away by the fact I'm a little past 10,000 posts, huh! Look, this isn't a way to get RID of what causes my anxiety...It is a way of STOPPING ME from GAGGING when I feel anxiety heading my way. I know that an elastic band isn't going to prevent the actual anxiety, but it WILL prevent me and get me out of the habit of gagging. That, my dear was the whole point of my post... Don't EVEN get me started on how dirty benzodiazepines are. Yeah, you just made me think of Antonio Benderez! I know this sounds weaird but playing with paper clips is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. Thanks! Hey and nothing sounds weird to me...If it helps then I'm all for it. As long as it has nothing to do with shoving things my ass! :lmao: Thanks again Pada. Though I don't pray as I'm not one for religion, I do practice yoga and deep breathing, and abit of meditation, positive thinking. That helps alot too. Link to post Share on other sites
serial muse Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 WWIU, when I first saw the title of this thread, I thought - elastic theory! Cool! Is that like stretching the space-time continuum or something? Anyway. After I read this I actually have started trying the rubberband method to curb some obsessive behaviors I've developed over the past year. I haven't actually used a physical rubberband yet, but the mental one is working so far...every time I start to do them, I give myself a loud mental SNAP. Oddly, it seems to be jolting me out of the cycle and get me back on track, at least temporarily. So thanks for the suggestion! Link to post Share on other sites
Author whichwayisup Posted March 3, 2006 Author Share Posted March 3, 2006 LOL you're too funny. So, you don't use the actual elastic, you use the control from your mind to make you stop certain behaviours? (Basically you're missing a step. Cuz in afew months I will have to stop snapping elastics and use my mind.) Why would you use elastic bands if you are OK without? Just wonderin'... If you're comfy telling me, I'd like to hear it or feel free to PM me. Link to post Share on other sites
serial muse Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 WWIU, when I first saw the title of this thread, I thought - elastic theory! Cool! Is that like stretching the space-time continuum or something? Anyway. After I read this I actually have started trying the rubberband method to curb some recent obsessive behaviors I've developed. I haven't actually used a physical rubberband yet, but the mental one is working so far...every time I start to do them, I give myself a loud mental SNAP. Oddly, it seems to be jolting me out of the cycle and get me back on track, at least temporarily. So thanks for the suggestion! Link to post Share on other sites
littlekitty Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 This type of therapy has a name - which I can't bloo*y think of right now!! However, it is a professional method of therapy and is proven to work. In fact this is one the the therapy's my Reiki lady also is certified in. This was also widely used by Paul McKenna a well known hypnotherapist on his recent TV show and was again proven to work. *If you believe what you see* I'll try to google and find more info for you. Link to post Share on other sites
serial muse Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Sorry for the double post there. Well, I've been struggling with these things for a while, in therapy, with medication, etc. Couldn't seem to stop myself, just didn't have the willpower, and before I knew it I'd be going down that road again. I'm really not sure why it's helping without the physical snap. I guess somehow I'm externalizing the mental snap, as though it weren't coming from me. It helps that it's so simple, doesn't involve thinking complicated rational thoughts to redirect myself (which I'm also working on but haven't mastered yet), and somehow just thinking the word (VERY sharply, mind you) jolts me out of the obsessive loop. If it stops working, though, I'm off to Office Depot for supplies. Link to post Share on other sites
Becoming Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 I've heard of the rubber band thing, too. For me, when I get anxious, I need to snap out of the bad thoughts running through my mind. From what I understand, the rubber band (or in your present case, your gagging) reminds you to tell all the negative thoughts going through your brain to just STOP! Is that right? Link to post Share on other sites
littlekitty Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 Ok, I think I'm slightly muddled!! But to me this is very similar and along the viens of TFT (Thought Field Therapy) or Tapping Therapy. This involves tapping certain parts of the body: While a trained therapist is present, the patient is first asked to think about a troublesome issue. They are then asked to quantify their feelings on a scale of 1 to 10, with a 10 representing maximum distress. Next, the patient is asked to tap on his or her own body in specific places, or energy points, in a specific order. Following the treatment the patient is once again asked to think about their problem or issue and rate it, indicating how much distress they feel. Typically, the patient reports that the distress is completely gone and even that they can't think about it at all! Of course, they are thinking about it because they are talking about it. However, the thought no longer holds the emotional charge that it once did. At this point the patient is now free of their problem, as they can no longer get back the original feeling of distress. Results seem to be permanent in most cases. This seems very similar to me, and I imagine it works in the same way... to a point! Link to post Share on other sites
Author whichwayisup Posted March 3, 2006 Author Share Posted March 3, 2006 Sounds interesting and I'm going to look into it. For me, I know what my triggers are most of the time, what sets me off and gives me anxiety. It's those days when I feel good and all of a sudden it hits me like a ton of bricks and there isn't any real reason for it. I'm pretty good at talking myself OUT a panic attack, I've not had a big one in a very long time...What my main issue is stopping that gagging. I mean, out in public it IS embarressing. I make it into a cough so it doesn't sound like a real gag. I just want it to stop...So I'm really hoping that elastic band WORKS! I also want to look into Reiki healing. I don't know much about it yet. If it stops working, though, I'm off to Office Depot for supplies. Really eh. I'll join ya! Thanks for the replies, means alot that others get what I'm going through! Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 EMDR Would work, from what I've read. look it up in wikipedia.org Link to post Share on other sites
bab Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 This is gonna sound kinda strange, but it works for me. When I was in high school, there was a boy that hurt me (emotionally) and at the time, it seemed as if it was the end of the world. Well, a few months later I was playing a game where you are trying to keep from laughing, and I wanted something that would curb my laughter, so everytime I thought I was going to crack I would say his name over and over in my head. I would win everytime. Eventually, I became numb to the pain and instead of sadness, I felt numb. So to this day, when I get really bad anxiety, good or bad, I say this guys name over and over in my head, and it calms me down. I don't even remember what exactly he did that hurt me so bad, but my mind created a natural response of numbness. I wonder if this is another version of the rubber band thing? Link to post Share on other sites
littlekitty Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 I think there's a really good chance of it working! Makes sense to me! But definately let us know how you get on with it! Fingers crossed for you! Reiki is definately worth looking into when you have some time. Any questions, just post them and I'll try to answer. It's saved me mentally and physically at times. Best of luck WWIU!! Link to post Share on other sites
Author whichwayisup Posted March 3, 2006 Author Share Posted March 3, 2006 Thanks! Yeah, my famous words when the anxiety hits is, F OFF!! I actually say it outloud too. Quite funny, especially when I"m in the grocery store, doing deep breathing and I say quietly outloud, "F OFF and go partner up with someone ya MF..." LMAO. I DO get some odd looks from people. My hubby is entertained by me when we go shopping. (One place that ALWAYS sets me off for some reason is Zellers and Walmart.) Link to post Share on other sites
Outcast Posted March 4, 2006 Share Posted March 4, 2006 That Thought Field Therapy thing is based on the same premise as EMDR. Neither is the equivalent of the rubber-band treatment, which is more like aversion therapy. If you get hurt every time you think a bad thing, it stops you thinking the bad thing. It would work the same if you had a cattle prod Link to post Share on other sites
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