Hyper vigilant, good or bad?
 

I have found that lately I am constantly looking for symptoms, sometimes it's hard to tell whether it's new or I've noticed it because I'm paying such close attention. This adds to the worry about getting worse, not being able to work and so on.

I'm trying meditation and have read a great book called Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn, which is helping a bit. Also the stories of people on this forum help.

My question is how do others deal with the constant worry and stop themselves catastrophising?

Not sure why you are looking for additional symptoms. Dealing with each day's is more than enough. Otherwise, you will put yourself thru something like it is happening before something might happen or not even happen at all. Don't do this to yourself.

Most of us here on NT try to take each day; one at a time. Each case is so different. See if a friend needs your help or someone to talk with. Thinking of others might help take the panic you are putting on yourself and possibly be there for someone else. Sometimes this can give you the reward of feeling good about yourself.

(Ger)

I guess its not so much looking for symptoms, but constantly scanning whether anything has changed or is getting worse. I know it is self defeating which is why I want to break the habit.

Knowledge, attitude, philosophy, distraction...

I find learning - being aware - of what's going on and what I'm (we're) going through helps me a lot. Are we talking about anxiety here? Anxiety can turn into depression. These can be psychological, some of which may be within our control, and they can also be chemical, which may not be within our control, and may need some assistance in overcoming from our doctors.

When I became pro-active in my own care (becoming one of my own, and others' advocates) I learned all I could about my various conditions (and I'm still learning). Along the journey, I learned about things like the stages of grief & loss (and how they can relate to chronic illness), the vicious cycle of pain, depression, insomnia (and others), the stigmas of chronic pain & illness, the politics of pain, and a potload of other stuff relating to being human.

I could ramble on about this stuff all night, but I'll try to keep it short...

Whether a person is of a spiritual persuasion or not, I think there's something to be said for the philosophy of the Serenity Prayer (or some version/modification/corollary of it.)

From a Usenet discussion a few years back:
http://tinyurl.com/2c642oa

A lot comes down to distraction - getting my mind/concentration/focus on something else, either entertaining or productive (and if/when you're worried/stressed enough, distracting entertainment can be productive!

If I can't (get back to) sleep, I don't fight it; I get up and watch a movie, get online and research something fun, interact with someone, write something (like I'm doing now) - whatever it takes.

HTH,

Doc

Thanks
 

Thanks Dr Smith, I'm sure I'll get there :)

Constantly looking at yourself, scanning for symptoms, is a recipe for having them show up.

Part of PN is the sensations you feel, the other part is how your brain interprets those sensations. Much research is being done, about how the brain creates pathways in chronic pain. It is much like learning to ride a bike or play an instrument. You brain will favor pathways to the learning task, so it becomes easier each time so you can master it. With pain, you are making pathways, to perceive pain more easily and faster.
This is a bitter unproductive cycle, and distracting yourself is going to be more useful for you in the long run.

What to do with all that energy? Look at your life, your house, your diet, all the things you put into your body, and see what could be a trigger for all this. Take this energy and find solutions, and avoid the pitfalls of focusing on symptoms or looking for symptoms. Find comfortable clothing, comfortable shoes, focus on your family, watch some comedies on TV to make you laugh, or shows or music that give you pleasure. This activates the brain in a positive way, and reinforces NON pain events.

One of Dr. Amen's suggestions for his patients who have anxiety, and ADHD, OCD and other disorders is to learn about ANTs. (abolish negative thoughts).
Dr. Amen appears on PBS with his books occasionally during pledge weeks. He is very down to earth, and sensible about living with mental issues and frank brain damage. (he is doing work now with athletes who have concussive damage from sports.)

Here are his basic tennents:
http://www.creativityatwork.com/7-wa...ain-your-life/
ANTs are very important, and as some others recently have shared, it is ultimately YOU who lives with yourself and how you decide to do that will result in either good responses, or painful ones.

PN for the most part is a sensory disorder. The more serious types, which will affect movement (motor) or autonomic, are less common. Just because you have odd or uncomfortable sensations, does not mean you have a terrible disease looming on the horizon. For the most part, those are not that common.
Medical students, are well known for reacting easily while in school learning all the diseases. Most people do not realize how complicated the body really is, and when they learn all the stuff that can go wrong, they rather freak out. Medical students are huge examples of this, and it is well known, and even laughed about by the teachers. But it illustrates the power of the mind, which can trick you into thinking all sorts of horrible things that are happening to you or may happen.

One just has to sit down and have a conversation with that part of yourself that is out of control. It sounds weird but it does work. ;)

mrsD I just had an amazing meditation and read your message straight afterwards. I can really connect with what you are saying,, I have definitely been 'learning' to look for and react to pain and I am determined to break the cycle. Thank you

There's another part to separating things you can control (or do something about) from things you can't: Timing.

It's common for people with chronic conditions/illnesses to experience normal everyday things piling up and losing control over them. Housekeeping, home maintenance, errands... Listmaking & prioritizing (organizing) can help a lot, but I can still find myself fretting/worrying/freaking out about getting things (that need to be done) done. When I find that happening, and interfering with functioning (or sleep), I (try to) stop and ask myself, can I do anything about this RIGHT NOW - this very second?

If I can, then doing something - anything - helps. If I can't do anything right then (like if I'm in a doctor's office, at some social engagement*, or more likely, lying in bed trying to get some SLEEP! :Yawn: ) then I can't do anything right then. It's out of my control right then, so I let it go until I can do something (about it). :Zzzz:

* Socializing, keeping social engagements, are important to people with chronic conditions - maybe even moreso than for normies, because it can be so hard for us to get them in the first place, and then to keep them dependably/reliably. We cannot allow ourselves to become isolated/shut-ins/hermits - even if it occasionally means letting something else slide. We (humans) are social creatures, and we need social interaction for our physical (as well as emotional/psychological) health & well-being.

Doc