Comments on: Anxiety: Embracing the Dark Emotion http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/ Practical advice for better living Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:13:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: | Luftschlossbewohner http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-592 | Luftschlossbewohner Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:13:47 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-592 [...] einem Blogeintrag des US-Amerikaners Jay Morrissey über den Umgang mit Angst und “Dunkeln Emotionen”, [...] […] einem Blogeintrag des US-Amerikaners Jay Morrissey über den Umgang mit Angst und “Dunkeln Emotionen”, […]

]]> By: Kelvin http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-285 Kelvin Sat, 01 Mar 2008 04:02:53 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-285 The painting analogy at the end, brilliant.... The painting analogy at the end, brilliant….

]]> By: Emily http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-273 Emily Sun, 17 Feb 2008 08:37:02 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-273 I agree with the commenter who said that anxiety shouldn't be called the dark emotion. You obviously are not Bipolar and have not experience dysphoria, the raging, paranoid, anxiety-filled monster that comes after the neurotransmitter for even a slightly hypomanic episode have run out. Bipolar is a mood disorder, therefor dysphoria is a mooo. Dysphoria is the most dangerous of the moods as it is accountable for the 20% suicide rate among people born with this kind of neurology. Plain old guarden variety anxiety is a piece of cake. Other than that, a great article, with informative comments. Thanks :) (I'm in a good mood today) I agree with the commenter who said that anxiety shouldn’t be called the dark emotion. You obviously are not Bipolar and have not experience dysphoria, the raging, paranoid, anxiety-filled monster that comes after the neurotransmitter for even a slightly hypomanic episode have run out. Bipolar is a mood disorder, therefor dysphoria is a mooo. Dysphoria is the most dangerous of the moods as it is accountable for the 20% suicide rate among people born with this kind of neurology. Plain old guarden variety anxiety is a piece of cake.

Other than that, a great article, with informative comments. Thanks :)
(I’m in a good mood today)

]]> By: Peter http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-208 Peter Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:25:56 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-208 "You need to taste the McDonalds burger before you’re really able to appreciate the good burgers in restaurants." This doesnt actually work out. Because the MacDonalds burger would only taste bad if you had eaten a good burger. But it wouldnt be a good burger, because you havent yet eaten a bad burger for which you can compare (Grammer is fun!). Or: People say you need to feel sadness before you can feel (true) happiness. But then, surely, you would have to have felt happiness before you could experiance sadness. Our emotions, therefore, must be hard-wired into us. Same for what we enjoy. But if anyone else has other theories, Id love to hear them. (Or is this too off-topic?) “You need to taste the McDonalds burger before you’re really able to appreciate the good burgers in restaurants.”
This doesnt actually work out.
Because the MacDonalds burger would only taste bad if you had eaten a good burger. But it wouldnt be a good burger, because you havent yet eaten a bad burger for which you can compare (Grammer is fun!).
Or:
People say you need to feel sadness before you can feel (true) happiness.
But then, surely, you would have to have felt happiness before you could experiance sadness.
Our emotions, therefore, must be hard-wired into us. Same for what we enjoy.
But if anyone else has other theories, Id love to hear them. (Or is this too off-topic?)

]]> By: Sarah http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-169 Sarah Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:14:38 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-169 This is an excellent article, but I disagree with calling anxiety the 'Dark Emotion'. I've lived with depression my whole life, and when it's bad anxiety would be a wonderful relief. When it's bad, it's literally like living in molasses. There feels like a physical resistance to every movement, and everything is too hard to even begin doing. The world even looks wrong.... like it's the wrong color or something. On the bright side, when I feel that way, EVERY task seems equally impossible, so I can handle any job at work without anxiety, and accomplish it well. But if given the choice, I would take anxiety any day. This is an excellent article, but I disagree with calling anxiety the ‘Dark Emotion’.

I’ve lived with depression my whole life, and when it’s bad anxiety would be a wonderful relief. When it’s bad, it’s literally like living in molasses. There feels like a physical resistance to every movement, and everything is too hard to even begin doing. The world even looks wrong…. like it’s the wrong color or something.

On the bright side, when I feel that way, EVERY task seems equally impossible, so I can handle any job at work without anxiety, and accomplish it well. But if given the choice, I would take anxiety any day.

]]> By: Will http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-150 Will Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:07:41 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-150 My <strike>battle</strike>war continues, also. A few things I've learned (though none of the bigger philosophy as above): If your fingertips are cold (distal bloodflow contraction response), you may be anxious. -Short of a Radio Shack temp probe that you can lightly scotch tape to the last digit of your index finger, you can touch your fingertips to your face. Most people can distinguish a ~5 degree change. Once your distal temp has increased ~5 degrees, you're relaxing. If your fingertips actually feel warm, you're good. There are some people who can relax So Completely, their distal temp is actually Above 98.6F. Also, ++CO2 levels increase relaxation, so if you take a deep breath and Hold it for as long as you possibly can, then exhale fully and then wait as long as you can to take another Very deep breath, it will increase your CO2 levels faster. On some days, I've been able to traverse ~12 degrees in about 5 minutes doing this. Joseph Wolpe's "Systematic Desensitization" is the structure that was taught to me. -basically, make a list of the realistic things you may do, break them down into tasks, give each a 1-10 rating of anxiety/difficulty, put them in order and then do the easy stuff, relax until distal is 90-95F, and then go back to same untill the #1 stuff no longer produces anxiety. Then move on to difficulty #2, etc. etc. etc. Hope this helps. Great post, Jay! My battlewar continues, also.
A few things I’ve learned (though none of the bigger philosophy as above):
If your fingertips are cold (distal bloodflow contraction response), you may be anxious. -Short of a Radio Shack temp probe that you can lightly scotch tape to the last digit of your index finger, you can touch your fingertips to your face.
Most people can distinguish a ~5 degree change. Once your distal temp has increased ~5 degrees, you’re relaxing. If your fingertips actually feel warm, you’re good.
There are some people who can relax So Completely, their distal temp is actually Above 98.6F.

Also, ++CO2 levels increase relaxation, so if you take a deep breath and Hold it for as long as you possibly can, then exhale fully and then wait as long as you can to take another Very deep breath, it will increase your CO2 levels faster.

On some days, I’ve been able to traverse ~12 degrees in about 5 minutes doing this.

Joseph Wolpe’s “Systematic Desensitization” is the structure that was taught to me.
-basically, make a list of the realistic things you may do, break them down into tasks, give each a 1-10 rating of anxiety/difficulty, put them in order and then do the easy stuff, relax until distal is 90-95F, and then go back to same untill the #1 stuff no longer produces anxiety. Then move on to difficulty #2, etc. etc. etc.

Hope this helps. Great post, Jay!

]]> By: James http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-134 James Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:10:04 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-134 I just found this blog and I'm so glad I have. As a 17 guy at college I find myself relating to this article and when you talk about self realization. I'm a popular person but never felt happy with my social abilities. I think there was a reason I found your site at this time. And thank you for you great articles James I just found this blog and I’m so glad I have. As a 17 guy at college I find myself relating to this article and when you talk about self realization. I’m a popular person but never felt happy with my social abilities. I think there was a reason I found your site at this time. And thank you for you great articles

James

]]> By: KatieK http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-128 KatieK Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:12:33 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-128 Hi again, just wanted to add that deep breathing, as you say, is very important. When we are anxious, our breath becomes shallow, sometimes we unconsciously hold onto it-- and the rate of oxygen available to the brain decreases, making us want to flee, or fight-- the "fight or flight" reaction. Deep breathing gives your brain the oxygen it needs to functions to its fullest. Train yourself to breath like an opera singer, or a swimmer, with your diaphragm. Imagine your legs are hollow and when you breath, imagine you are filling them up with what your body needs most. Hi again, just wanted to add that deep breathing, as you say, is very important. When we are anxious, our breath becomes shallow, sometimes we unconsciously hold onto it– and the rate of oxygen available to the brain decreases, making us want to flee, or fight– the “fight or flight” reaction. Deep breathing gives your brain the oxygen it needs to functions to its fullest. Train yourself to breath like an opera singer, or a swimmer, with your diaphragm. Imagine your legs are hollow and when you breath, imagine you are filling them up with what your body needs most.

]]> By: KatieK http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-127 KatieK Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:08:29 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-127 Excellent article. It would be even better if you could add somethiing about the limits of anxiety-- what duration is "normal" and when someone should get help; when does everyday anxiety become Generalized Anxiety Disorder and call for medical attention. A normally calm and dare I say brave person, in my late 30s I became inexplicably anxious. I also developed depression. Eventually the anxiety became so acute that I was a weepy mess. I sought help and was diagnosed with a form of Bipolar Disorder known as Cyclothymia. I was informed that anxiety of this kind comes out of the depressive state and that "depression has its own biology." Chronic anxiety is what takes a lot of the people who participate on the forums of The Cyclothymia Collective (my website and forum) into the doctor for their initial exam and diagnosis. Your tips would have helped in the early days, but in my experience, all failed when the cards were down. So...it would be nice if you would add at what point someone should seek help. Excellent article. It would be even better if you could add somethiing about the limits of anxiety– what duration is “normal” and when someone should get help; when does everyday anxiety become Generalized Anxiety Disorder and call for medical attention.

A normally calm and dare I say brave person, in my late 30s I became inexplicably anxious. I also developed depression. Eventually the anxiety became so acute that I was a weepy mess. I sought help and was diagnosed with a form of Bipolar Disorder known as Cyclothymia. I was informed that anxiety of this kind comes out of the depressive state and that “depression has its own biology.” Chronic anxiety is what takes a lot of the people who participate on the forums of The Cyclothymia Collective (my website and forum) into the doctor for their initial exam and diagnosis.

Your tips would have helped in the early days, but in my experience, all failed when the cards were down. So…it would be nice if you would add at what point someone should seek help.

]]> By: Weekend Roundup - 42nd Birthday Edition | The Wisdom Journal http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-113 Weekend Roundup - 42nd Birthday Edition | The Wisdom Journal Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:04:40 +0000 http://www.jaymorrissey.com/2008/01/23/anxiety-embracing-the-dark-emotion/#comment-113 [...] Morrissey wrote a fascinating article on handling anxiety. He gives some very useful tips for handling it as well as understanding that it’s healthy to [...] […] Morrissey wrote a fascinating article on handling anxiety. He gives some very useful tips for handling it as well as understanding that it’s healthy to […]

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