Good news I have at last finalised our YourSpace Summer Social to The Forest of Dean. We will be meeting at 11am for a chat and Picnic at Beechenhurst, then from around 1:30ish we will be setting of to do the Trail. We are hoping for some dry weather! Come along and join us if you can, should be a nice day. See more on our August Notice Board
I believe our Evening Social at the Bank House went well a couple of weeks ago. So sorry I missed it. Thank you to Steve and Ian for being there for folks. I will be along for the next one!
Some of the issues I have been mulling over lately is how anyone can keep calm when stress levels arise!
In the run up to my recent hospital procedure, I thought I would be able to put into practice some of the stuff I've learned about keeping positive and relaxed when anxiety begins to grow. Well to prepare to reduce my own anxiety build up, I did mindfulness and I tried not to fill my glass too full of anxious thoughts. Well I'm afraid to say that as the day of my procedure grew closer, the more anxious I became and my glass overflowed. Although something did strike me and that was that I recognised the feelings as being the same as those I have when I'm facing any anxious moment, so I was experiencing the same as if I was going to talk in front of a crowd of people or doing something like adventurous like abseiling from a building. So what was causing these feelings? Thoughts of not being in control, being vulnerable, something bad happening, being embarrassed, being shouted at......so many thoughts I started having flash backs before I'd had the memory to flash back to, so more like flash forwards!
So recognising that these were only thoughts did keep me slightly grounded and I was able to keep a cool head when the time came. I made sure I asked all the questions I needed answered and made ALL the staff aware of my anxieties. I was offered sedation, which I declined. I don't do sedation, not with my control issues, so I opted for the wide awake approach. Although somewhat painful at one point, which didn't last that long, I made it through and felt fantastic when it was over! Job done I was able to walk out of the hospital with no assistance and drive home happy it was all over!
So what would I do differently next time anxiety rages? What did I learn from this experience? I would prepare in the same way, anxiety is anxiety no different in any situation so keep practising. I learnt that I was quite content to go it along. I had no need for support from anyone I was happy to support myself, which is quite a break through for me!
Hope the Summer is good to you all!
Ruth :-)