Re: ACT and Hypochondria/Health Anxiety

[Guest guest]

I can relate to this. In these situations, I generally tell myself that, as a matter of historical fact, I have never had a diagnosis of anything, let alone the scary disease I thought was causing the bodily sensations. I also try to joke to myself about all the rare diseases I thought I have had. This is when I learn to see that my bodily sensations (tingling, sweets, shakes, etc.) are just products of anxiety. I then usually do 10 solid minutes of calming breaths, which usually reduces the bodily sensations, further showing me that the bodily sensations are made by me and not some illness.

Hope this helps.

To: ACT_for_the_Public Sent: Fri, September 10, 2010 2:13:19 PMSubject: ACT and Hypochondria/Health Anxiety

Hello all, first post here. If you don't have much time, skip to the bolded text. I will try and keep this as concise as possible, although be warned, that's not one of my strengths!

I began working with a psychologist earlier this year and he introduced me to the ideas of ACT and gave me a copy of The Happiness Trap. I have had limited success. I do agree with the ideas put forward, and it meshes with my beliefs better than any other therapy I have tried, however, I always seem to get hung up on certain issues and find myself spiraling downward over and over again. I spent all my money (which wasn't much to begin with) trying to get ahold of my anxiety via counselling and now I no longer can continue with my sessions at this point. I have been in rough shape for quite some time now. Since I am not working, I have been doing all I can to learn about ACT, and have found this group a wonderful starting point.

Without getting into too much information, I just finished a 5 month taper off of Valium (which I crossed over to for tapering after using Ativan 'as needed' for 8-10 weeks). My body is absolutely wrecked. People tell me it's withdrawal, and it's 'normal' and it will eventually go away -- although it could take months or even years.

My main problem is with my inability 'accept' these physical sensations. My anxiety has always stemmed from health issues (and an underlying fear of illness/death) and the state that my body is currently in is a constant flurry of scary symptoms and 'danger messages.'

I have been reading the recent topic of expansion and have found it interesting, I however struggle with the acceptance that these sensations 'will not harm me.' Where as it seems most people can go to the doctor and if he/she tells them these are benign symptoms, they can relax to an extent about them and begin to see them as the product of their anxiety. I have been unable to do this and here lies my problem.

My mind is always saying whatever sensation I have is the 'worst case scenario' and if I'm simply witnessing and accepting it I am in fact putting myself in danger, because I am not taking action to get it checked out/tested/diagnosed.

I realize there is probably not one technique or answer for this problem, but I wanted to put the question out there and see if it could spark a discussion that might be useful for people in my position, as I'm certain there are other people suffering with smilar issues.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Others are for more qualified to discuss your emotional issues but, speaking as a pharmacist with many years of experience, rest assured that the notion of months, much less years, of "physical" distress or permanent bodily damage after Valium (or any other benzodiazepine) cessation is nothing short of preposterous---avoiding relapse into substance abuse with these highly-addictive drugs is, far and away, your main concern at this point.

Good Luck,

Don Wolfe

From: njmartell@...

Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 2:13 PM

To: ACT_for_the_Public

Subject: ACT and Hypochondria/Health Anxiety

Hello all, first post here. If you don't have much time, skip to the bolded text. I will try and keep this as concise as possible, although be warned, that's not one of my strengths!

I began working with a psychologist earlier this year and he introduced me to the ideas of ACT and gave me a copy of The Happiness Trap. I have had limited success. I do agree with the ideas put forward, and it meshes with my beliefs better than any other therapy I have tried, however, I always seem to get hung up on certain issues and find myself spiraling downward over and over again. I spent all my money (which wasn't much to begin with) trying to get ahold of my anxiety via counselling and now I no longer can continue with my sessions at this point. I have been in rough shape for quite some time now. Since I am not working, I have been doing all I can to learn about ACT, and have found this group a wonderful starting point.

Withou! t getting into too much information, I just finished a 5 month taper off of Valium (which I crossed over to for tapering after using Ativan 'as needed' for 8-10 weeks). My body is absolutely wrecked. People tell me it's withdrawal, and it's 'normal' and it will eventually go away -- although it could take months or even years.

My main problem is with my inability 'accept' these physical sensations. My anxiety has always stemmed from health issues (and an underlying fear of illness/death) and the state that my body is currently in is a constant flurry of scary symptoms and 'danger messages.'

I have been reading the recent topic of expansion and have found it interesting, I however struggle with the acceptance that these sensations 'will not harm me.' Where as it seems most people can go to the doctor and if he/she tells them these are benign symptoms, they can relax to an extent about them and begin to see them as the product of! their anxiety. I have been unable to do this and here lies my problem.

My mind is always saying whatever sensation I have is the 'worst case scenario' and if I'm simply witnessing and accepting it I am in fact putting myself in danger, because I am not taking action to get it checked out/tested/diagnosed.

I realize there is probably not one technique or answer for this problem, but I wanted to put the question out there and see if it could spark a discussion that might be useful for people in my position, as I'm certain there are other people suffering with smilar issues.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I suspect that no matter how much reassurance you get, no matter

how many times you have your symptoms investigated and they turn out to be

benign, your mind is still going to tell you the same story:

‘If I am not taking action to get it checked

out/tested/diagnosed, I am in fact putting myself in danger,

In fact, there is no way for anyone to disprove this story –

because even if the last ten thousand times you had your symptoms checked out

they always turned out to be harmless, the undeniable fact is, the next time your

symptoms could possibly be something harmful.

So here’s the situation: your mind’s going to keep

telling you this story, and no amount of reassurance or testing or proof is likely

to stop it.

This means you have a choice to make: the next time your mind

starts telling you the ‘Check it out, it could be dangerous’ story,

do you act on it, or not? Each time you choose to act on it, you will, in the

short term, reduce your anxiety (i.e. the fear that there could be something seriously

wrong) -- but in the long term, you increase the power of this story over

your life, and maintain your ‘Hypochondria/Health Anxiety’.

However, if you choose not to act on the story, you will be

taking a risk. The risk is, this time around, he symptom could possibly be something

serious, and by not checking it out, you could possibly be in danger. The risk

is, of course, very small – but it is not zero, and it never will be;

there will always be a risk involved in taking this action.

So the question is, are you willing to take a risk to get your

life back?

And if you are willing to take that risk, you will need to make

room for what human beings feel when they take a risk – feelings of

anxiety and thoughts about what might go wrong.

This then is the question you need to ask yourself: Am I willing

to take the risk of NOT checking out my symptoms, so that I can get

my life back and spend my time doing more life-enhancing things than visiting

doctors etc?

Until the day you are willing to take that risk, you are going to

be stuck doing what you are doing. If you are waiting until the day there is no

fear, no anxiety, no sense of risk, no thoughts like ‘If I am

not taking action to get it checked out/tested/diagnosed, I am in fact putting

myself in danger, ‘ then I predict you will be waiting forever.

So until the day you’re willing to take that risk (of not

checking out your symptoms), the best thing to do it to practice lots of

self-acceptance and self-compassion, and live by your values, and engage fully

in whatever you are doing, and practice your defusion and acceptance skills

until you reach the point where you are willing to take that risk.

All the best,

Cheers,

Russ

www.actmindfully.com.au

www.thehappinesstrap.com

From: ACT_for_the_Public

[mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of njmartell@...

Sent: Saturday, 11 September 2010 2:13 AM

To: ACT_for_the_Public

Subject: ACT and Hypochondria/Health Anxiety

Hello all, first post here. If you don't have much time,

skip to the bolded text. I will try and keep this as concise as possible,

although be warned, that's not one of my strengths!

I began working with a psychologist earlier this year and he

introduced me to the ideas of ACT and gave me a copy of The Happiness Trap. I

have had limited success. I do agree with the ideas put forward, and it meshes

with my beliefs better than any other therapy I have tried, however, I always

seem to get hung up on certain issues and find myself spiraling downward over

and over again. I spent all my money (which wasn't much to begin with) trying

to get ahold of my anxiety via counselling and now I no longer can continue

with my sessions at this point. I have been in rough shape for quite some time

now. Since I am not working, I have been doing all I can to learn about ACT,

and have found this group a wonderful starting point.

Without getting into too much information, I just finished a

5 month taper off of Valium (which I crossed over to for tapering after using

Ativan 'as needed' for 8-10 weeks). My body is absolutely wrecked. People tell

me it's withdrawal, and it's 'normal' and it will eventually go away --

although it could take months or even years.

My main problem is with my inability 'accept' these physical

sensations. My anxiety has always stemmed from health issues (and an underlying

fear of illness/death) and the state that my body is currently in is a constant

flurry of scary symptoms and 'danger messages.'

I have been reading the recent topic of expansion and have

found it interesting, I however struggle with the acceptance that these

sensations 'will not harm me.' Where as it seems most people can go to the

doctor and if he/she tells them these are benign symptoms, they can relax to an

extent about them and begin to see them as the product of their anxiety. I have

been unable to do this and here lies my pr oblem.

My mind is always saying whatever sensation I have is the

'worst case scenario' and if I'm simply witnessing and accepting it I am in

fact putting myself in danger, because I am not taking action to get it checked

out/tested/diagnosed.

I realize there is probably not one technique or answer for

this problem, but I wanted to put the question out there and see if it could

spark a discussion that might be useful for people in my position, as

I'm certain there are other people suffering with smilar issues.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

, my brother I know where you coming from. Last May was my 5 year

anniversary from my year long taper from valium. I was on Klonopin for 7 years

prior to that. So I do know what you are going through. One word of advice is,

if you belong to any of the benzo groups on the web, stop listening to them.

They are all very well intentioned, and have a very dangerous view of the whole

withdrawl process. I really believe if I had not been involved with them the

whole tapering process would have been easier. As a matter of fact I did figure

that out about two months prior to the end of my taper and stopped

participating.

Now on to the issue at hand. Yes you are going through withdrawl. Yes it sucks.

Yes it is possible your symptoms are caused by the withdrawl. However it is

possible you have been programmed by all the stuff you have been told that will

happen to you on those benzo sites. (I am still assuming you have been a part of

them, if not please forgive me.)

What to do about it? There is nothing you can do about it. Part of the process

is giving your body the time it needs to return to it's normal state. Months or

years? Who knows. could be hours, days, or weeks. If you believe it will take

years it probably will, or it won't. I found that sitting with the sensations

and really experiencing them, without trying to change them or make them go

away, helped me to accept what was happening.

Practice defusion and identify your values and set some goals to work towards.

It can be small stuff, just do something.

Feel free to contact me through the back channels if you would like.

Greg

>

> Hello all, first post here. If you don't have much time, skip to the

> bolded text. I will try and keep this as concise as possible, although

> be warned, that's not one of my strengths!

> I began working with a psychologist earlier this year and he introduced

> me to the ideas of ACT and gave me a copy of The Happiness Trap. I have

> had limited success. I do agree with the ideas put forward, and it

> meshes with my beliefs better than any other therapy I have tried,

> however, I always seem to get hung up on certain issues and find myself

> spiraling downward over and over again. I spent all my money (which

> wasn't much to begin with) trying to get ahold of my anxiety via

> counselling and now I no longer can continue with my sessions at this

> point. I have been in rough shape for quite some time now. Since I am

> not working, I have been doing all I can to learn about ACT, and have

> found this group a wonderful starting point.

> Without getting into too much information, I just finished a 5 month

> taper off of Valium (which I crossed over to for tapering after using

> Ativan 'as needed' for 8-10 weeks). My body is absolutely wrecked.

> People tell me it's withdrawal, and it's 'normal' and it will eventually

> go away -- although it could take months or even years.

> My main problem is with my inability 'accept' these physical sensations.

> My anxiety has always stemmed from health issues (and an underlying fear

> of illness/death) and the state that my body is currently in is a

> constant flurry of scary symptoms and 'danger messages.'

> I have been reading the recent topic of expansion and have found it

> interesting, I however struggle with the acceptance that these

> sensations 'will not harm me.' Where as it seems most people can go to

> the doctor and if he/she tells them these are benign symptoms, they can

> relax to an extent about them and begin to see them as the product of

> their anxiety. I have been unable to do this and here lies my problem.

> My mind is always saying whatever sensation I have is the 'worst case

> scenario' and if I'm simply witnessing and accepting it I am in fact

> putting myself in danger, because I am not taking action to get it

> checked out/tested/diagnosed.

> I realize there is probably not one technique or answer for this

> problem, but I wanted to put the question out there and see if it could

> spark a discussion that might be useful for people in my position, as

> I'm certain there are other people suffering with smilar issues.

> Regards,

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have no idea what a benzo withdrawal is like. Although from the little research I've done in the past, and what you and one other person said about it, I can imagine you must feel like you're going through hell.

When I tried to get off my old SSRI's my doctor told me that there would be a physical withdrawal process with symptoms that are a bit like having the flu. I found out that it was the psychological " withdrawal " that really got me. Nicotine is a physically and psychologically addictive drug. When you quit, the nicotine is metabolized within 3 days, and after 3 weeks there is no more physical craving. Yet for some people there can be a psychological craving for months after that. The point I'm making is that there is a physical and psychological withdrawal from drugs like these. From my experience the psychological withdrawal is just as bad. The good thing is you can choose to do something about the anxiety. The physical symptoms from coming off this drug won't be there forever.

.

 

Hello all, first post here. If you don't have much time, skip to the bolded text. I will try and keep this as concise as possible, although be warned, that's not one of my strengths!

I began working with a psychologist earlier this year and he introduced me to the ideas of ACT and gave me a copy of The Happiness Trap. I have had limited success. I do agree with the ideas put forward, and it meshes with my beliefs better than any other therapy I have tried, however, I always seem to get hung up on certain issues and find myself spiraling downward over and over again. I spent all my money (which wasn't much to begin with) trying to get ahold of my anxiety via counselling and now I no longer can continue with my sessions at this point. I have been in rough shape for quite some time now. Since I am not working, I have been doing all I can to learn about ACT, and have found this group a wonderful starting point.

Without getting into too much information, I just finished a 5 month taper off of Valium (which I crossed over to for tapering after using Ativan 'as needed' for 8-10 weeks). My body is absolutely wrecked. People tell me it's withdrawal, and it's 'normal' and it will eventually go away -- although it could take months or even years.

My main problem is with my inability 'accept' these physical sensations. My anxiety has always stemmed from health issues (and an underlying fear of illness/death) and the state that my body is currently in is a constant flurry of scary symptoms and 'danger messages.'

I have been reading the recent topic of expansion and have found it interesting, I however struggle with the acceptance that these sensations 'will not harm me.' Where as it seems most people can go to the doctor and if he/she tells them these are benign symptoms, they can relax to an extent about them and begin to see them as the product of their anxiety. I have been unable to do this and here lies my problem. 

My mind is always saying whatever sensation I have is the 'worst case scenario' and if I'm simply witnessing and accepting it I am in fact putting myself in danger, because I am not taking action to get it checked out/tested/diagnosed.

I realize there is probably not one technique or answer for this problem, but I wanted to put the question out there and see if it could spark a discussion that might be useful for people in my position, as I'm certain there are other people suffering with smilar issues.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

I appreciate the responses everyone. This is truly a great resource that I wish

I found ages ago.

Russ - You hit the nail on the head. It very much feels like a 'risk.'

Unfortunately, I have lived the majority of my 25 years without taking risks. I

have avoided them, and when I have taken them, they've been calculated. I am the

opposite of a dare devil. I see this carrying on into my resistance to take this

risk, although I do see as you pointed out - it's really the only way to get my

life back.

I want to take this risk so bad, but my old habits want nothing to do with that.

I am overwhelmed by an array of symptoms at the moment, and am constantly on

high alert. I'm aware many of these sensations will probably pass with the

withdrawal, but it is true that my mind will tell me that story as soon as

there's something to feast on. And I know well enough that there will be

something else.

If my doctor tells me I do not need to be getting tests done, I need to find a

way to commit to this, and take this calculated risk. I need to see it's not

'irresponsible' to give up some control, especially considering I never really

had it.

The way I'm 'living' right now is not a way to live. I really hope I can find

the courage to do this. I want it more than anything. I want my life back.

>

> >

> >

> > Hello all, first post here. If you don't have much time, skip to the bolded

> > text. I will try and keep this as concise as possible, although be warned,

> > that's not one of my strengths!

> >

> > I began working with a psychologist earlier this year and he introduced me

> > to the ideas of ACT and gave me a copy of The Happiness Trap. I have had

> > limited success. I do agree with the ideas put forward, and it meshes with

> > my beliefs better than any other therapy I have tried, however, I always

> > seem to get hung up on certain issues and find myself spiraling downward

> > over and over again. I spent all my money (which wasn't much to begin with)

> > trying to get ahold of my anxiety via counselling and now I no longer can

> > continue with my sessions at this point. I have been in rough shape for

> > quite some time now. Since I am not working, I have been doing all I can to

> > learn about ACT, and have found this group a wonderful starting point.

> >

> > Without getting into too much information, I just finished a 5 month taper

> > off of Valium (which I crossed over to for tapering after using Ativan 'as

> > needed' for 8-10 weeks). My body is absolutely wrecked. People tell me it's

> > withdrawal, and it's 'normal' and it will eventually go away -- although it

> > could take months or even years.

> >

> > My main problem is with my inability 'accept' these physical sensations. My

> > anxiety has always stemmed from health issues (and an underlying fear of

> > illness/death) and the state that my body is currently in is a constant

> > flurry of scary symptoms and 'danger messages.'

> >

> > I have been reading the recent topic of expansion and have found it

> > interesting, I however struggle with the acceptance that these sensations

> > 'will not harm me.' Where as it seems most people can go to the doctor and

> > if he/she tells them these are benign symptoms, they can relax to an extent

> > about them and begin to see them as the product of their anxiety. I have

> > been unable to do this and here lies my problem.

> >

> > *My mind is always saying whatever sensation I have is the 'worst case

> > scenario' and if I'm simply witnessing and accepting it I am in fact putting

> > myself in danger, because I am not taking action to get it checked

> > out/tested/diagnosed.*

> > *

> > *

> > I realize there is probably not one technique or answer for this problem,

> > but I wanted to put the question out there and see if it could spark

> > a discussion that might be useful for people in my position, as I'm certain

> > there are other people suffering with smilar issues.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

There are a few things to consider that could possibly be

helpful.

1.You are actually taking a risk by having repeated tests.

Not one medical test - from commonplace blood tests to CT or MRI scans - is

100% reliable. Some tests give a ‘false negative’ – they

falsely tell you everything is okay but miss something pathological. Other tests

give a ‘false positive’ – they tell you something is wrong

when really everything is okay. The more tests you have, the greater the chance

you will eventually find a ‘false positive’ and then end up having unnecessary

treatment that caries risks, or unnecessary further investigations that due to

their invasive nature carry risks to your health. Furthermore, every time you

have more tests, you run the risk that your ‘hypochondria/health anxiety’

will get worse.

2. You already take risks all the time – for example, when

you go in a car, plane, train, bicycle, there’s a risk of accident,

injury or death. Whenever you gauge in any social interaction, you risk

rejection. Whenever you undertake any task, you risk failure.

3. What this means is you have plenty of experience of taking

risks – you just haven’t realised it. Your mind will probably find

some way to discount or dismiss all those examples I’ve given, but that

does not alter the reality of the situation. This also means that there is no

way NOT to take risks. Like it or not, you take risks all the time. The

question now: are you willing to take risks that could probably enhance your

life, or do you choose to keep taking risks that drain your life?

4. Finally, the most important thing in all this is

self-compassion. Regardless of whether you keep doing what you’re doing,

or choose to do something different, can you be kind and caring to yourself,

and treat yourself gently?

All the best,

Cheers,

Russ

www.actmindfully.com.au

www.thehappinesstrap.com

From: ACT_for_the_Public

[mailto:ACT_for_the_Public ] On Behalf Of njmartell@...

Sent: Monday, 13 September 2010 7:08 AM

To: ACT_for_the_Public

Subject: Re: ACT and Hypochondria/Health Anxiety

I appreciate the responses everyone. This is

truly a great resource that I wish I found ages ago.

Russ - You hit the nail on the head. It very much feels like a 'risk.'

Unfortunately, I have lived the majority of my 25 years without taking risks. I

have avoided them, and when I have taken them, they've been calculated. I am

the opposite of a dare devil. I see this carrying on into my resistance to take

this risk, although I do see as you pointed out - it's really the only way to

get my life back.

I want to take this risk so bad, but my old habits want nothing to do with

that.

I am overwhelmed by an array of symptoms at the moment, and am constantly on

high alert. I'm aware many of these sensations will probably pass with the

withdrawal, but it is true that my mind will tell me that story as soon as

there's something to feast on. And I know well enough that there will be

something else.

If my doctor tells me I do not need to be getting tests done, I need to find a

way to commit to this, and take this calculated risk. I need to see it's not

'irresponsible' to give up some control, especially considering I never really

had it.

The way I'm 'living' right now is not a way to live. I really hope I can find

the courage to do this. I want it more than anything. I want my life back.

>

> >

> >

> > Hello all, first post here. If you don't have much time, skip to the

bolded

> > text. I will try and keep this as concise as possible, although be

warned,

> > that's not one of my strengths!

> >

> > I began working with a psychologist earlier this year and he

introduced me

> > to the ideas of ACT and gave me a copy of The Happiness Trap. I have

had

> > limited success. I do agree with the ideas put forward, and it meshes

with

> > my beliefs better than any other therapy I have tried, however, I

always

> > seem to get hung up on certain issues and find myself spiraling

downward

> > over and over again. I spent all my money (which wasn't much to begin

with)

> > trying to get ahold of my anxiety via counselling and now I no longer

can

> > continue with my sessions at this point. I have been in rough shape

for

> > quite some time now. Since I am not working, I have been doing all I

can to

> > learn about ACT, and have found this group a wonderful starting point.

> >

> > Without getting into too much information, I just finished a 5 month

taper

> > off of Valium (which I crossed over to for tapering after using

Ativan 'as

> > needed' for 8-10 weeks). My body is absolutely wrecked. People tell

me it's

> > withdrawal, and it's 'normal' and it will eventually go away --

although it

> > could take months or even years.

> >

> > My main problem is with my inability 'accept' these physical

sensations. My

> > anxiety has always stemmed from health issues (and an underlying fear

of

> > illness/death) and the state that my body is currently in is a

constant

> > flurry of scary symptoms and 'danger messages.'

> >

> > I have been reading the recent topic of expansion and have found it

> > interesting, I however struggle with the acceptance that these

sensations

> > 'will not harm me.' Where as it seems most people can go to the

doctor and

> > if he/she tells them these are benign symptoms, they can relax to an

extent

> > about them and begin to see them as the product of their anxiety. I

have

> > been unable to do this and here lies my problem.

> >

> > *My mind is always saying whatever sensation I have is the 'worst

case

> > scenario' and if I'm simply witnessing and accepting it I am in fact

putting

> > myself in danger, because I am not taking action to get it checked

> > out/tested/diagnosed.*

> > *

> > *

> > I realize there is probably not one technique or answer for this

problem,

> > but I wanted to put the question out there and see if it could spark

> > a discussion that might be useful for people in my position, as I'm

certain

> > there are other people suffering with smilar issues.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hello Russ,Thank you very much for contributing to this message board. Like many others here, I am trying to work my way through The Happiness Trap -- sometimes with some success, other times with less success. But, perhaps also like many here, I find most of your posts here helpful, even though they're not addressed to us specifically.In your most recent post, I find point #4 to be so very significant to most if not all of us. To say that many of us are 'our own worst enemy' is the understatement of the millennium, I think.Again, thanks for taking the time, it is greatly appreciated.Regards,Detlef> > > > >> > >> > > Hello all, first post here. If you don't have much time, skip to the> bolded> > > text. I will try and keep this as concise as possible, although be> warned,> > > that's not one of my strengths!> > >> > > I began working with a psychologist earlier this year and he introduced> me> > > to the ideas of ACT and gave me a copy of The Happiness Trap. I have had> > > limited success. I do agree with the ideas put forward, and it meshes> with> > > my beliefs better than any other therapy I have tried, however, I always> > > seem to get hung up on certain issues and find myself spiraling downward> > > over and over again. I spent all my money (which wasn't much to begin> with)> > > trying to get ahold of my anxiety via counselling and now I no longer> can> > > continue with my sessions at this point. I have been in rough shape for> > > quite some time now. Since I am not working, I have been doing all I can> to> > > learn about ACT, and have found this group a wonderful starting point.> > >> > > Without getting into too much information, I just finished a 5 month> taper> > > off of Valium (which I crossed over to for tapering after using Ativan> 'as> > > needed' for 8-10 weeks). My body is absolutely wrecked. People tell me> it's> > > withdrawal, and it's 'normal' and it will eventually go away -- although> it> > > could take months or even years.> > >> > > My main problem is with my inability 'accept' these physical sensations.> My> > > anxiety has always stemmed from health issues (and an underlying fear of> > > illness/death) and the state that my body is currently in is a constant> > > flurry of scary symptoms and 'danger messages.'> > >> > > I have been reading the recent topic of expansion and have found it> > > interesting, I however struggle with the acceptance that these> sensations> > > 'will not harm me.' Where as it seems most people can go to the doctor> and> > > if he/she tells them these are benign symptoms, they can relax to an> extent> > > about them and begin to see them as the product of their anxiety. I have> > > been unable to do this and here lies my problem.> > >> > > *My mind is always saying whatever sensation I have is the 'worst case> > > scenario' and if I'm simply witnessing and accepting it I am in fact> putting> > > myself in danger, because I am not taking action to get it checked> > > out/tested/diagnosed.*> > > *> > > *> > > I realize there is probably not one technique or answer for this> problem,> > > but I wanted to put the question out there and see if it could spark> > > a discussion that might be useful for people in my position, as I'm> certain> > > there are other people suffering with smilar issues.> > >> > > Regards,> > >> > > > > > > > >> >>