Hi Sunhot: Yes being sick with all its symptoms can be confusing. which is which? What I used to do is my relaxation techniques and listening to tapes. Every day, faithfully, so I could relax and let my body heal itself. Sometimes when the stress or anxiety was worse, I would listen to two tapes in a row. Whatever it took.
I seldom get sick, but since I know that my tools work for anxiety I just write off anything they won't work for as being sick, and you know you just have to ride out being sick, just like you ride out a panic attack. The important thing is to remember that it will pass in a few days which ever it is. One thing that helps me is staying as busy as I can, often very hard to do when one is sick. Mentally busy, not physically, since if you are sick you do need rest.
What do you think you should do when you get sick?
I know it sounds like a silly question to ask but by the way you are talking it sounds like you know the answer. You are able to recognize you are catastrophizing, that's good. Not challenge this thinking. You say it is difficult to use the 10 questions now but it will help. It is hard to challenge anxiety but overcoming this difficulty is important. The more you do that easier it will become. If you are concerns about your symptoms talk to a Health Care Professional.
having anxiety and panic attacks is a relatively new thing for me, about 12 weeks./ I have been coping well, doing my CBT and getting my life back on track but this week i have the flu. this is the first time i have become ill whilst coping with anxiety. it is horrible. constant tightness in my chest, my lungs hurt and i have a blistering headache. i dont fancy taking any cold and flu medication as it was Contact C that triggered all my anxiety and panic.
i cannot distinguish between the physical symptoms of the flu or the anxiety. its hard to do the 10 questions as in my mind the pain will not dissipate because it is due to the flu but then my mind works overtime and i start catastrophizing the whole situation and up in a near panic state. what do you do when you get sick? what can you do?
