In and out of anxiety

[boi]

I was in therapy the other day and I came to a realization about myself. I have a lot of anxiety. I was able to identify it. I was talking about something and was anxious then all of a sudden not, then it switched again. When I focus on the emotional side of things I get extremely anxious and self-conscious and then I start intellectualizing it and I can talk more openly and then it will go back again. Do I make sense?
Is this normal reaction in therapy?

 

[Daniel E.]

Re: in and out of anxiety

I was talking about something and was anxious then all of a sudden not, then it switched again

On a related note, I keep on reading that conscious thoughts last only about three seconds. Anything longer than that, and it's a new stream of thinking. A novella that makes this point very well regarding the effervescent nature of thoughts and moods is Memories of Amnesia.

Do I make sense?

Yes.

Is this normal reaction in therapy?

Certainly, it seems common that someone who goes to therapy identifies anxiety/fear as something that has been holding them back.

and then I start intellectualizing it

Welcome to my world

For me, intellectualizing has been a way to rationalize my avoidance strategies -- e.g. "I'm depressed because the world really is a terrible place" -- or to try to make things seem more predictable and rational:

You can experience the world through your narrative circuitry, which will be useful for planning, goal setting, and strategizing. You can also experience the world more directly, which enables more sensory information to be perceived...Noticing more real-time information makes you more flexible in how you respond to the world. You also become less imprisoned by the past, your habits, expectations or assumptions, and more able to respond to events as they unfold.

The neuroscience of mindfulness | Psychology Today

More positively, a lot of people (including myself) like to "get out of their minds and into their life" with music or physical exercise or meditation (yoga, qigong, etc). And so it's not surprising there is music therapy as well as mindfulness-based approaches like acceptance & commitment therapy to augment CBT.

 

[boi]

thanks Daniel for the links as well!!!

I think I will have to discuss how I felt with my therapist next session. The anxiety and self-consciousness

 

[forgetmenot]

Hey boi i find when i use logic thinking i too have less anxiety I think because rationally thought interrupts our emotions so we don't have to feel. Just wanted you to know i related to what you said take care okay.