(Transcribed by TurboScribe.ai. Go Unlimited to remove this message.) In this episode, dealing with intrusive thoughts. Welcome to the Anxiety Road podcast. This is the involuntary journey of finding treatment options and resources for people that have anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias too. This podcast is treatment agnostic. My name is Gena Haskett. I'm still in recovery mode, but I'm doing better. The other day, I shared a whole list of things I needed to do.
And I do mean a physical piece of paper with all of the things I wanted to do that day and checking them off, making sure that I didn't miss anything important. Work things. Putting furniture together. I am not good at it, but it hasn't crashed on me yet. I'm not on the floor. Fully expect to be any day now. The last thing that I needed to do was food shopping. So I'm doing the transportation mass and load capacity versus time.
In non-math English, could I hit the supermarket at peak bus time and carry what I brought home, or would it be better to work, limit what I carry, and only get the essentials and make a shorter trip? If you're new here, really, this is the podcast that looks at medical behavioral health, meditation, relaxation, and x equals the unknown resources for those of us who have an anxiety disorder or a mental health condition. So, like an idiot, I chose to walk. And, of course, I bought too much stuff.
My feet were twanging when I got home. Now, non-anxious people might have had the thought of, I should have waited for the bus. I'll remember next time. Anxious people with anxious brains can create narrative dramas designed to hurt, humiliate, and harm the body and the spirit. Let me give you an example. So, my feet are killing me. I'm not going to be able to walk anymore. I'll be trapped in my apartment and die, and no one will know or care.
I should have worked harder to get over my fear of driving. This is my fault, and I'm paying the price for it. Now, I actually experienced this, and I'm giving you the deeply edited version because it got even worse. And even for me, this is a bit much. But I've also been under a lot of stress lately. I'm still figuring things out. These thoughts were mean, spiteful, and tap into some really ancient stuff.
But, and hear me out on this one, it was also trying to protect me, make me hyper-aware of the situation so that it doesn't happen again. For the record, intrusive thoughts are not a good thing. Some really icky stuff can come up, but there's a reason why they exist, and they really do pop up when you have hit your limit or you're experiencing a triggering event. So, what can you do about it? Plenty. It's totally doable, but it does take some practice. It's just a thought.
You can acknowledge that you had this particular thought, even if it was deeply scary or disturbing. You'll have to keep repeating it or be ashamed of that you had it. You do not have to do anything but reassure yourself that you're okay. Long-time listeners know that there is a musical touchstone of healing that incorporates one of these practices. From the cartoon Steven Universe, there is a brilliant visual example of how to do this. This is also a time to dip into your anxiety self-care kit.
This would be something that you'd want to maybe consider having a meditation break. Or for those of you who are on the tapping scene, this is an opportunity to reset yourself to safety. Some of you need physical movement to get back to base level, so yes, walking, running, or physical work is a good bomb. Affirmations, building a desk, or planning a trip. Almost anything healthy you can do to depower the intrusive thought, including ignoring it. As always, I do have some resources for you.
The non-profit healthguide.org has a full page on intrusive thoughts and how to handle them. One of their suggestions is to adjust the perception of your thoughts and let them be. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has a page on unwanted intrusive thoughts. One of the suggestions is to continue what you were doing before the thought. Put away the groceries, make the bed, sweep the floor, soak your feet. You could turn any activity into a meditative practice.
As for me, I just need to refine my travel and shopping plans. I do have a small rolling cart I can carry on shopping days. I can figure out what I need from store A, B, and C, or would it be time and cost effective to have groceries delivered. I don't like the option of hitting myself upside the head with an invisible hammer. And that's what an intrusive thought ultimately winds up being. Honestly, you and I have better things to do. I'll catch up with you next time on the Anxiety Road.
You can visit anxietyroadpodcast.com for links and other informational resources. You can listen, download, or subscribe to the podcast via any podcasting app. You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Gaana, Pandora, or on the web at listennotes.com. Links to other sites are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsements. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health disorder.
This podcast is intended for information and education purposes only, and nothing in the program is intended to be a substitute for professional psychological, psychiatric, or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.