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  • Shared Experiences

    How do I managed my anxiety about fear and pain?

    I have anxiety for three years. It becomes worse when I have any pain - chest muscles, shoulder pain , tiredness etc. I relate these symptoms to heart problems but I've been tested and all the results came back normal. I don't know how to manage my anxiety especially when im out of the house. Thats why i keep myself in the house to avoid feeling panicked.
  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • Does your anxiety increase as a form of anticipation and fear of the pain, or do you mean that when your pain arises then for some reason your anxiety does too?  

    I'd suggest speaking to a counsellor and getting clear on how the anxiety arises.  

    If you can learn to become aware of the patterns of how your anxiety arises - the details specific to your case - then, with the help of the counsellor, you will be able to train yourself in ways of:

    > recognising when your anxiety is arising, and

    > undermining it as it tries to build.

    The Australian Counselling Association has a database of counsellors which will include some in your area: http://www.theaca.net.au/

  • susan33

    HealthShare Member

    Hi, me too suffering from the same problem pain and anxiety ,the pain make me more scared
    Im seeing a counselor but when the pain and palpitation hit me i go scared
    Any help ? Thanks

  • General answers to such questions are always very limited because every person is different (despite the fact we use these general terms such as ‘anxiety’).  For that reason I'd point you back to your counsellor, but I would like to acknowledge two aspects of the matter: change, and acceptance.

    Change: there are strategies and techniques for developing your understanding, awareness and skill in managing anxiety. There are counsellors and there are books that, if you work hard at it, can really help here.  

    Acceptance: Anxiety is often made worse by our inability to accept it.  Pain and anxiety are a normal part of life, even if they are present in different degrees and ways in different lives.  It's ok to be in pain, to be anxious, to panic, to feel out of control.  That's real life (despite what the happiness gurus would have us believe and purchase!).  

    The interesting thing is that when we accept our difficult emotions, moods and sensations then they often change a little.  But regardless, seeing that you are somebody who is clearly working on change I would like to add that you should also take it easy on yourself and accept your fear and feeling of being out of control as an inevitable part of being human.  

    The Australian therapist Russel Harris has written some very good books on managing such things as anxiety, pain and more.  'The Happiness Trap' is his best seller and I recommend it, I suspect it might help both of you (I have found it very helpful in my life, as have some of my clients). 

     

  • susan33

    HealthShare Member

    Thank you all felt bit relife now

  • Renee Mill

    Clinical Psychologist, Psychologist

    Empowering people is my passion and life work. I have been working as a Clinical Psychologist in private practice for over thirty years. I have … View Profile

    Since your medical tests confirm that there is nothing sinister happening to your body, we can safely assume that your aches and pains are stemming from anxiety. It is extremely common for chest pain, shoulder pains and tiredness to be symptoms of anxiety.

    A major factor in successfully treating anxiety is for you to realise these are just symtoms and that you are bigger than your symptoms. The mind and body are one and once you harness the power of your mind to overcome symptoms, then you will start to get better. 

    Anxiety thrives on fear and fear of being anxious exacerbates the fear. From today, simply say to yourself: "These symptoms are not a reflection of anything sinister . There is nothing to be afraid of. All I need to do is find some strategies to relive my anxiety and then they will go away."

    The next step is to seek psychological help from a trained professional who is experienced in treating anxiety. CBT, ACT, mindfulness, meditation have all been proven to successfully diminish anxious symptoms. 

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