In this dialogue Julie’s panic had been triggered by some bad news. I take her through the practice and you can see that this episode has made her fear that she is ‘losing her mind’
R – so where are u regards practice
J – the bad news triggered my panic to no end. trying to relax my stomach..and shoulders and neck.. can feel the tension.. still shivering a bit but trying to tell myself to relax.
R – have u got my booklet
u need to read it every day
J – please don’t give up on me.. this is the only fear right now in my head.
yes
R – i won’t give up – ok
but today – u need to do more your self
instead of hiding from everything
J – i am scared that if i told you that you will say.. ok .. now practice .. that if that happens what would you do.. and i feel more scared
i am too shaken up right now.. i will be able to talk more sensibly after i am out of this.. but i need to practice so please be patient.. i am sorry if i am talking complete nonsense… my brain is feeling very light.. and all the sounds around me are causing me headache..
R – so try your panic practice right now
J – yes
R – YOU are stirring YOUR adrenaline
J – yes
R – your body is not doing anything against u in any way at all
u are in no danger
no one with panic has EVER been in any danger because of the symptoms – ever
it’s a trick
it’s false information
a MISTAKE
right now – where u are – all is fine
but you have triggered adrenaline and you are going in circles with it
J – are you sure my mind is ok? that i have not gone mad?
even if all the sounds seem louder to me
R – try to remember i had panic disorder
J – yes.
R – ok – fight or flight – does it make good evolutionary sense that if the body
senses danger it will HEIGHTEN the senses
so you can HEAR any danger
J – yes
this minute i felt a bit better.
R – when the body senses danger it does its utmost to help you fight or flee
J – its funny what makes one feel better and calm
R – this includes – adrenaline – re-routing blood flow to vital organs
which causes tingling
J – yes
R – strange feelings
J – yes
R – the heart beats faster
the blood goes from arms and legs to vital organs so you legs can feel wobbly
J – yes
R – blood pumps to the brain so we might feel giddy – light headed
J – yes
R – which is all just FINE
J – ok
R – u would not even think about it being a problem if u were being attacked by a Lion
in fact u would REALLY appreciate it
if it helped you escape
J – dry throat and deep vacuum in stomach.
R – but BECAUSE there is no Lion and u have same symptoms
J – yes
R – u then need another reason
J – yes.
R – “maybe i am mad – ill – going to faint – collapse – etc”
J – i want to run away
yes
R – “maybe i will explode
maybe i wont be able to cope”
etc etc
J – yes.
R – all THESE thoughts create MORE fear
J – yes.
R – and your brilliant body – which is trying to help you – gives you MORE adrenaline
and so it spirals
and even with all this u are NEVER in ANY danger at all
J – can i interrupt ?
R – even when it feels the worse
?
J – at this moment.. suddenly i feel so alright that i feel . i would like to go back home and face the fear and send Melanie to school tomorrow.. and everything. .. why cannot i stick to this? how can i stick to this?
R – just do it
but not with ‘fight’
do it gently with understanding
J – ok
yes
R – don’t pile pressure on yourself by saying you are totally fine
remember – no tricks
just keep UNDERSTANDING
don’t pressure yourself
go for the middle path
J – yes
R – ok – well done
J – thank you
R – more proof that this is the cycle of fear
adrenaline cycle
J – yes.
R – that your body is trying to HELP
lol
God help it
such a friend it is
and you are terrified of it lol
J – are you sure about that? i feel there must be some trick that nothing would go wrong.. because it feels so horrible..
lol
R – how many times have u felt better JUST after reading the booklet / practicing / talking to me about it
J – and i really worry about my brain.. because i can see that the people on the road are normally going about their business.. and i am feeling this strange nervousness..
yes
R – that is called MISINTERPRETATION
you misinterpret the symptoms
because you can’t see any clear ‘reason’ for how you feel – so you try to come up
with other explanations which make you anxious
J – now when i type i am sweating. . but i should say whatever i am thinking right?
how ever crazy it is? you wont judge me because of that. .. ok. thank you.
R – so – right now – breathe deeply and when u breath out – let that go
J – yes
R – back to practice
J – ok
R – do it now
J – yes
R – let go all over
feet on floor
wiggle toes
J – no.. sitting down.
yes
R – tell your kind body that all is ok
J – all is ok
R – r..e..l..a..x..
SMILE 🙂
J – when you say that.. i start yawning.. its so crazy.. lol
R – come back into room
J – relax.. smile
R – LISTEN
J – yes
i am
R – feel at peace in life
J – again yawn.
R – let go into it’s arms
and remember it’s like a big BLUFF
you create your OWN panic lol
you panic about your own panic lol
like a dog chasing it’s tail
lol
J – yawn. again.. my god.. this is really crazy.. in the morning same happened.. i yawned constantly after talking to you.
yes
relax
relax
R – good that is your body relaxing
J – relax
R – getting more air
J – yawn
R – lol
J – feel so much better.
R – so – your ONLY task is to STOP STIRRING
J – yes
wow. life is ok .
R – forget about relaxing or thinking or worrying
J – yes
R – just stop stirring
J – just yawn
R – take out the stick
J – yes
R – lol
now – finally
very important
J – yes
R – you don’t have to stay this way
J – i am feeling SO relaxed
yes
R – because panic is no threat EVER
so even if u panic in the future
J – yes
R – SO WHAT
it’s STILL just adrenaline
it’s STILL exactly this now
just a matter of practice and it will come down
no need to fear it in the slightest
so if u DON’T panic – ok
if you DO panic – ok
no problemo
J – yes
no problemo … i could actually smile.
R – so you can TOTALLY relax and not even have to hang on to feeling peaceful
J – yes
R – u can even relax into ALLOWING panic to exist
because it’s JUST adrenaline
J – yes
R – so what
J – absolutely.
so what
R – no one in history has EVER been caused any REAL damage by a panic attack
except being scared
J – yawn
yes
R – lol
ok – see if u can go home
J – ok . yes.
i will . i want to get over this stupidity
R – if u can’t that’s ok too – keep practicing
J – thanks for saying this.
thank you so much – now i will go
R – u have been stirred up so it may not calm down for quite a while physically
so allow some sensations to come up now and then
that’s perfectly normal
J – ok
R – will chat later
J – yes – bye