Walking out of Worry

by Deborah Hogan, Massachusetts.  Due to technical difficulties we were not able to transcribe the chat.  Deb was kind enough to write up her talk for us.

Sorry that many were unable to join the chat on "Walking out of Worry" Sunday night due to technical difficulties... Here are a few tips that I have shared with others in my public speaking that you may find helpful: 

When you are worried or ruminating about something do these simple things:

1. Call a friend..(don't talk about your concern but ask them how they are)

 

2. Run up and down the stairs or put cold water on your face. Sounds crazy but it can stop the flow of negative thoughts!

 

3. Exercise. Exercise releases endorphins which help you to feel upbeat and this can last up to four hours according to Dr. Kenneth Cooper (the Father of Aerobics)

 

4. Sit on a "three-legged stool" the legs of which are.....

A. Trust your doctor 
B. Trust the procedure you are having done
C. Have Faith in God

Without any one of these, you will not be able to sit on the stool of peace and face an operation, etc. I found these three elements critical when I faced four surgeries in one year.

 

5. Create an Anxiety Box. If you cannot sleep, get up and write your worries down on a piece of paper and then put them in the box and leave them there (I say a prayer too!)

 

6. Laugh!!!!! " A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones" (Proverbs) Ten minutes of good belly laughter can give you two hours of sound sleep! (read "Anatomy of an Illness" ) 

 

7. Watch caffeine...I find that excessive caffeine can increase my anxious feelings

 

8. Memorize helpful phrases, or as I do Scripture, that you can use when you cannnot stop thinking about your concerns. Attack your worries with other thoughts: thoughts of peace and rest.

 

9. Ask for help when you need it. I had to seek the help of a psychiatrist when my panic attacks were out of control. I am much better now after his counsel. VHL is hard to live with and there are times when we need outside help.

 

10. Surround yourselves with a support system...people who love and care about you...This will help you not to feel alone and also will give you others to help, which can take your mind off your worries.