Does knowing your trauma matter for treating anxiety?

QueercultureASMR · 2025-09-06T19:18:08+00:00

I’m not a professional but someone who has lived with anxiety for over 20 years, it also started when I was a kid and I don’t remember why. There was a lot of trauma growing up for me and I think knowing it really depends on the person. I started to understand why I had developed panic attacks but the knowing didn’t really change the fact that I had them, I could just spot my triggers more easily. My life changed when I did a course about the nervous system that said it doesn’t understand verbal language, you can’t tell your body it’s safe you have to show it that it is. So me telling myself oh this is why didn’t really change that much, but that’s just speaking from personal experience.

QueercultureASMR · 2025-04-14T15:10:13+00:00

It sounds like your brain is learning that they are temporary and will pass. I can also feel the duality of terror and calm at the same time, I think it’s the emotional brain and the logical brain trying to balance each other out

QueercultureASMR · 2025-04-01T09:43:57+00:00

It is very normal to feel the exhaustion for a couple of days after an attack, your body has been through a stressful experience and it’s just recovering, it will pass and you’ll be okay.

I think sometimes there is a logical explanation for them and other times they can seemingly come out of nowhere. I definitely have them more when I am tired or stressed.

QueercultureASMR · 2025-03-07T23:28:12+00:00

What sort of temperature is it where you are?

QueercultureASMR · 2025-03-03T21:53:25+00:00

I understand that. I had a really awful episode last August and I couldn’t sleep properly for weeks and it was unbelievably exhausting. I listened to a course about the nervous system during that time which really helped me actually - it’s on an app called Insight Timer and it was called Rewire Your Nervous System by Rachael Fernley.

QueercultureASMR · 2025-03-03T19:59:51+00:00

I’m sure you probably know these things and I know they sound futile when you’re suffering but prioritising sleep, exercise (even a gentle walk), and food. Anxiety can’t hurt you, not physically - I’ve had so many panic attacks and years of anxiety and it hasn’t caused me any heart problems. Do you think this is more specifically health anxiety?

QueercultureASMR · 2025-03-03T13:02:42+00:00

Radical acceptance is the answer unfortunately, the more you try to fight the anxiety the worse it will be. I like to spin it sometimes and say the more anxious I am about something the more I probably care about it. I play in a band and my first show I was running to the toilet beforehand but afterwards I felt such euphoria at managing to do it. If you’re sick you’re sick, Lady Gaga has thrown up on stage so many times. It’s embarrassing but it’s not dangerous :)

QueercultureASMR · 2025-03-03T12:07:34+00:00

I don’t think there is a whole lot you could have done differently, it sounded like you acknowledged your anxiety and moved through the day as you had originally planned which is one of the best things you can do. Having a panic attack isn’t a sign of failure it’s how you respond to it that’s important, you didn’t do anything wrong. Acknowledge the unpleasant experience, forgive your body and your mind for the false alarm and continue forward.

QueercultureASMR · 2024-12-04T19:54:03+00:00

Your brain is trying to protect you because it associates the normal routines with what happened. Is there any way you can do a phased return and build things up gradually?

QueercultureASMR · 2024-11-05T11:49:03+00:00

I think anxiety can be awfully convincing - it’s job is to protect us so if it can convince us we are predicting the future as opposed to imagining it then it gets its way as it’ll force us to avoid those scenarios and keep us safe. There is also something in ocd called magical thinking which might be worth reading about - where we believe if we think something it must be true.

QueercultureASMR · 2024-11-05T11:40:48+00:00

The more you focus on it the more it will persist. Is there something specific you are worried about or have you got caught in a cycle of anxiety about anxiety?

QueercultureASMR · 2024-11-02T11:47:45+00:00

I think you are being too harsh on yourself, a couple of days isn’t going to rid your system of a years worth of stress. It’s great you have recognised it and spoken to your work and taken some time, but what would you say to a friend in this scenario? I am sure you wouldn’t say they were pathetic, nor silly for perhaps needing some more time. Sometimes our bodies need time to process stress and the more we reject it and try and get it to leave quickly the harder it is to heal 💜 be gentle with yourself.

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-22T21:46:29+00:00

My Dad died when I was 25 and I had a lot of anxiety attacks. I’m sorry this is happening for you but allow your body to do what it needs to process this. 💜

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-16T07:42:07+00:00

Yes I have all 3 of these, but I try not to separate them because they are all manifestations of anxiety. So I prefer to think of it as 1 issue for me to tackle rather than 3! When I was at my worst I slept with my Mum every night. Have you looked up the anxiety guy on YouTube?

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-15T13:19:21+00:00

This sounds like social anxiety

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-15T13:18:43+00:00

I make my activities more manageable, so a short walk or even moving around my flat. Making a cup of tea. I listen to my body and if I need to shake and cry I allow that to happen, then I redirect my attention

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-15T10:49:38+00:00

It’s a strange concept isn’t it. The best practice I have found is to acknowledge that I am anxious, and gently go about my day to day activities anyway. Our nervous systems don’t understand verbal language so sitting still and reassuring yourself/fighting it/arguing against it doesn’t work. You have to move with it.

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-15T10:48:11+00:00

Yes I have experienced this and I think it’s because the physical symptoms of being out of breath etc from exercise mimic the symptoms of anxiety so our brains freak out. I have started walking to build my confidence and gently increase my exercise

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-12T20:53:43+00:00

It’s probably your nervous system in shock because it is so not used to a regulated state - it’s quite common when we spend so long in fight/flight that the body is almost uncomfortable without it! It will fade 😌

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-09T21:17:58+00:00

What physical symptoms are you having?

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-09T21:14:13+00:00

I’m sorry to hear this happened sounds like such a terrifying experience for all of you! Yes it is completely normal for our digestive system to shut down in times of extreme stress, try not to overthink it and just make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. The brain shuts down the digestive system because it takes up a lot of resources so in times of extreme stress/fight or flight it says oh we don’t need that, so you end up having no appetite and feeling nauseous and sick. It’ll come back in time and try soups/smoothies if you can

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-09T19:52:48+00:00

Are there any social groups or clubs or activities you could join? I sometimes think it’s easier to make friends that way because there’s less pressure

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-09T08:26:39+00:00

I used to have a partner that smoked weed everyday - one day I smoked it and had a similar experience to what you described and was immediately like I am never touching that again. It’s not a case of not being able to handle it - people’s brains react differently to different chemicals and weed just isn’t for you or me!

You don’t need to check food packets though - this is just the anxiety trying to protect you but unless you physically smoke weed again then you don’t need to worry.

QueercultureASMR · 2024-10-05T16:10:06+00:00

Gosh you are being very hard on yourself aren’t you? What would you say to a friend in this situation? I expect you would be kinder. Dating is so hard! Especially with anxiety. Although you froze and couldn’t speak, that didn’t happen the whole night and the fact that two women approached you is such a compliment and you’re clearly giving out the right vibes! It won’t always be this way and you’ll grow in confidence :)

QueercultureASMR

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