Keep a record?

[LaurenCasey]

Hey guys!

Wasn't really sure which forum to post this.

I've had an idea, which I believe will help me with my anxiety and the symptoms that I relate to 'something being wrong'. I hope by posting this, it might spur others on to do the same, it may lessen the panic posts (not that there's anything wrong with them!) and it might help us all with our irrational thinking.

We all get those days where we just feel off, right? Maybe heartburn, reflux, unusual BM, cramping, etc. and whenever I have one of these days, it's usually my mum I turn to for reassurance. I usually say for example, "I feel really gassy and bloated today, I think there's something wrong with me" and she'll say "but you felt like this last week too!" Except, I always believe that this time, it feels different from the last 49328 times, haha!

Anyway, to the point. I've decided to keep an 'anxiety book.' Basically, everyday I'm writing down what I've had to eat that day, as this contributes a hell of a lot to how we feel and what affects us, what I've drank, how I felt when I woke up, what type of BM I've had (I suffer IBS so like to keep a record, grim, I know!) And then I have an anxiety section for that day. When I'm feeling slightly worried or something doesn't feel right, I'll turn to my anxiety book and write down in as much detail exactly what I'm experiencing and how it's making me feel. That way, when I'm feeling anxious or worried about a feeling or symptom in the future, I can go back through my book and think, "Oh yeah, I felt like that then too and I was absolutely fine so I absolutely don't need to worry. I just ate too much bread that day and it made me really bloated."

I don't know if this is a silly idea or even if it'll work but I thought it may help us to stop assuming we always have things wrong with us when we can look back and see we've experienced exactly the same thing before?

What do you think? Good idea? Any input or feedback?

[realdeal1818]

Really great idea! When it's written down for you to see, it makes us feel that much better! Also, keeping a food diary is really helpful so that you can avoid the foods that make you feel sick.

but yeah, totally awesome idea. I will use it!

[LaurenCasey]

Really great idea! When it's written down for you to see, it makes us feel that much better! Also, keeping a food diary is really helpful so that you can avoid the foods that make you feel sick.

but yeah, totally awesome idea. I will use it!

Aw, I'm so glad that you'll find this useful! I'm really sensitive to wheat and blow up like a balloon when I eat it. It's my sister's birthday so we've had lots of naughty food in the house today, as usual, I had to eat it ALL so now I'm paying for it, haha!

I've started my 'anxiety book' and I think it'll be great to look back on. I don't like to think of it as a reassurance technique, more so that we'll get used to the feelings in our body eventually and not have to worry about them, which in turn means less anxiety!?

[realdeal1818]

Omg I'm the same way. I'm lactose intolerant and I have IBS, so most things mess my stomach up but I eat them ALL anyway! Then I sit there at night feeling sick and panicking but in reality I just ate bad things for me.

But yeah totally about the non-reassurance thing! The more we feel things, the more we become okay and less panicked about them. It's a good step towards acceptance, which is something all of us emets can work on.

[amoriari]

This is a fantastic idea. I did one of these in the past similarly...should start again. But it always really amazed me because I would read things id written about my physical perceived "condition" from days before and not even remember being that miserable! I realized how awful my complaints sounded and how regular and similar they were when I wrote them down instead of just constantly voicing them to my poor mom. It showed me how dramatic and anxious I was being in the moment...writing about severe cramping, nausea, weakness, etc. and then not even recalling feeling that way...but TODAY I feel terrible! Lol. Vicious cycle. Thanks for Sharing.

[wiscomommy]

Excellent idea...time to buy a thousand reams of paper. Seems like I'm friggin' anxious all the time! Hahahahaha!!!!!

[XxLOVExX]

What a great idea thanks for sharing this brilliant idea!!!!

[LaurenCasey]

Excellent idea...time to buy a thousand reams of paper. Seems like I'm friggin' anxious all the time! Hahahahaha!!!!!

Haha! Me too! I bought a big, A4 notebook. I literally filled half a page with 'anxiety symptoms' yesterday :O Hopefully, we'll start to write less and less because the things we feel won't scare us anymore! Fingers crossed anyway!

[staystrongxx]

Omg, that is a great idea! I want to try it (: Thanks! xx

[Erica1649]

Yeah, I am guilty of this...not so much with the anxiety thing, but when I feel like my BM's are all over the place (cause I think I have undiagnosed IBS) I will keep a log just to see a pattern...lol

It is very helpful.

[Asil]

I think its a great idea. How about in addition to writing your anxiety down you also write down a positive for that day too just to kind of spur you on that you can still do things despite being anxious. Just kind of like well i felt anxious because i felt like blah blah blah but i still went to the gym/shopping/a party.

[LaurenCasey]

Wow, the response is overwhelming, thanks guys

Asil, that's a great idea!! It shows that we can fight this thing on a daily basis and will continue to spur us on!

[Asil]

Glad you like it. Im currently trying to turn all my negative thoughts into positives and looking at my negative thoughts to really understand why they are silly. Im gonna be writing those down so i can try and make a positive out of everything.

[SUM1]

Really great idea! When it's written down for you to see, it makes us feel that much better! Also, keeping a food diary is really helpful so that you can avoid the foods that make you feel sick.

but yeah, totally awesome idea. I will use it!

I tried keeping a food diary for a few weeks, didn't work, because I have IBS and everything makes me feel sick.

[LaurenCasey]

I tried keeping a food diary for a few weeks, didn't work, because I have IBS and everything makes me feel sick.

It's less about a food diary and more about keeping an account of things that make us anxious and how we feel when we're panicking so we can start to recognise these sensations, realise they are harmless and begin to overcome them. For me, food plays a big part so I WILL keep a note of that. Maybe for you SUM1, you could purely keep a note of your anxiety and how it affects you? Then you can look back on it and see that it was nothing to worry about which in turn, will hopefully lessen your anxiety.

Not sure if that makes sense to anyone else but it sounded right in my head as I was typing it, haha!

[SUM1]

I may try that, but just to let you know I was replying to realdeal1818's comment about food diaries, not anxiety diaries, that's why I replied talking about food diaries.