by Carolyn Dickman
I love the fall season. It’s “another chance at spring as the leaves turn into flowers” (read that somewhere this month).Post Agoraphobia Adventures
I love car trips, post agoraphobia. Last fall my husband and I spontaneously took off during “color week.” We went straight to Vermont. Oh, my! The trees were the most vibrant red I’ve ever seen. We only had one day of clear weather. A ‘nor-easter’ came through during the night and many of the leaves were blown to Pennsylvania. How fortunate that we were there at the precise moment of beauty for that fall. If I still suffered from the fear and anxiety of agoraphobia, I never would have had that marvelous experience.The Beauty of Fall and Winter
Many people look at fall and winter as depressing. They think dark thoughts. I used to do that. “Dang, more dark hours than light. Dang, more cold weather. Dang, rain. Dang, snow…” (I’m not sure about that “dang” word, but it was some-thing like that.)Now I look at fall as a beautiful prelude to a rest. Fall gets us ready. fall reminds us that there will be a spring. It is an inspirational thought, especially when you overcome the anxiety and fear that prevents you from going out and truly enjoying it.
Losing the Negative Perspective of Anxiety
Have the seasons somehow changed since my recovery from negative thinking? Have I somehow lost perspective? YES! I’ve lost the negative perspective by ridding myself of anxiety, fear, and depression. I’ve learned to look for the good. I’ve learned that I get more of what I focus on. I’ve learned that I don’t like how dark thoughts make me feel. I’ve learned that I control what I focus on. I can decrease anxiety by focusing on positive things. This is the aim of The Midwest Center's Attacking Anxiety & Depression Program. The program helps victims of stress and anxiety think about their stress and anxiety in a productive way.Decide What to Focus on to Reduce Negative Thoughts and Feelings
Have I become a “dyed in the wool” Pollyanna? NO! I am still as much of a realist as I have consciousness for. I do not tell myself the sun is shining when it’s not, but I acknowledge the good in a cloudy day. I decide what I wish to focus on. Those that are fairly computer literate… you are familiar with pop up ads, right? We all have pop up ads in our brain. “What if the dog runs away?! YIKES!” They pop up and spread viruses of anxiety throughout the mind and body.We can choose to read what follows the pop up thought: “the dog could get hit by a car…oh, gee what will that do to the family…oh no a funeral…the kids will be traumatized beyond recovery… they will need to be in therapy for years…they will be unable to attend college and will be vagrants by 20…” You could conceivably spend an hour or more on that pop up, just sifting through the anxious thoughts it creates.
Replacing Negative Thoughts with Positive Thoughts
What do you do with a pop-up ad on your computer- the wonderful “D” button, right? Well, I wish we could develop a delete button for negative, scary, pop up thoughts, but the closest I’ve come is an “R” button- “replace.” We can choose whether to open the pop up or close it and move on to something else. We can choose to exchange negative, anxiety-producing thoughts with positive life-affirming thoughts.Making a habit of thought replacement takes time. May I say that again? Can we get realistic about this? Making a habit of thought replacement takes time. You have the time, the knowledge and the ability. Review lessons: 2,3, and 10 of The Attacking Anxiety & Depression Program. With enough practice, you can replace the negative thoughts that make you anxious with positive ones that give you the confidence to face life’s challenges and see the positive side of things.
Carolyn
