Anxiety about joint and eye heath

[Jimmy5]

Hello, this is the first time I have posted anything about my anxiety, I have had it for ten years and all was been a over thinker. My Anxiety all started when I was at the gym and we were doing a work out with squats in it and my coach told me at the end that my form was off and I would end up needing knee surgery because damage because of poor form. The word damage has hunted me for the ten years. From that moment I have been so movement conscious and struggle to get in and out of a car with out worrying about hurting myself, normal jobs I now think about and of course work.by the end of the day I am so tyred.

one of my passions is I draw,and my eye sight has all ways been not that great but my anxiety in the last six months has also been in my anxiety's sights and has created a fear of me damaging my eyes.i work in sales in a showroom that has a heap of glass and the sun comes through there fro 8 till 11 and I worry sick about looking at the sun and what it has done to my eye sight. It has become a problem as I am all ways on edge about getting the sun in my eyes' have found my self looking up at times ,as I wanted to reshoe myself that the sun was not were I looked and this causes more anxiety. Sounds very silly and I shake my had at what I have typed .I have posted this because I am 32 and have three fantastic kids all under 5 and a very understanding wife who I think deserves me to talk to someone else. I am tyred of been so stressed and worried each day that I have look at a computer too long looked at the sun, looked at my phone too much. I just want to be dad ..Not the dad that is to worried to kick the ball because some sun reflection or sun will cook my eyes or worry that I may hurt myself.i hope this makes sense and someone can relate . Thanks for reading.

[therising]

Hi Jimmy5 and welcome!

It's impressive that you care so much about your well-being. It sounds like you respect your body enough not to want to cause it too much dis-ease.

'Dis-ease'... it's definitely and interesting word (relating to unease). Of course, language plays an important role when it comes to how we process information. You mention the impact the word 'damage' has had on you, which is totally understandable, as it's a rather harsh word. I know I'm really playing with words here when I ask how you would have felt if your coach had actually said 'In time, your knee will express unease or dis-ease unless you begin to create an overall sense of ease in how you work your body'. Strange when we think about it but when we phrase things very differently, our brain can relate to pain expression in 2 very different ways:

• One person says 'You have a form of disease in this part of your body which is why you are feeling pain'

• Another says 'You have a form dis-ease/unease in this part of your body that it is expressed as pain, in order to get your attention'

The 1st statement may have a tendency to put us into victim mode whereas the 2nd statement encourages us to address solutions which could create greater ease for a part of us that needs extra attention. Hopefully thinking about it this way (the latter), you feel a greater more empowering sense of management in regard to your physical self. With your eyes, for example, is it possible your brain is actually saying to you 'Jimmy, consciously create situations which put your eyes at ease so that your eyes continue to work in tune with the rest of your body'?

I find it incredible, the type of research that's being done at the moment in relation to how we can use our brain to switch on or switch off gene expression, for example. I love all this kind of stuff by the way. How our brain interacts with our body on so many levels is pretty mind-blowing. One of my favourite guys in the way of brain science and epigenetics is Dr Joe Dispenza. If you get a chance, Google him. Also, I actually watched a Netflix doc yesterday called 'Heal'. There are bits and pieces in it that may not appeal to everyone but overall it's pretty interesting when it comes to the brain/body connection.

Jimmy, perhaps the anxiety (mental sense of dis-ease) may prompting you to 'learn the language' of the mind/body connection, a field of science which offers so much potential in the way of coming to better know ourselves.

Take care

[Jimmy5]

Thank you so much Therising's.

Your response makes sense. I am always looking for reassurance as most people with anxiety are.

I feel I am on my own with my symptoms and I wish I could move on. When the sun gets me in the eye s I get an onslaught of sadness and worry about my eyes and this image that the sun is burning my eyes. I know it sounds stupid but that's just what goes on in my head to be honest.

Thanks again, much appreciated mate.

[Nurse_Jenn]

Hi Jimmy5,

Welcome to the beyondblue forum. It is a fantastic place to start in gaining some support towards reaching your goal of being a worry-free dad. I do hope that you find comfort in knowing that you are not alone. As therising has put really well in their post, the brain and mind connection is incredibly powerful. Learning to know yourself better is a powerful tool and you have shown a great deal of insight already just in your post. Having this insight into yourself is in itself something that will work in your favour towards healing.

Sometimes people do want additional support in working through their worry. Like therising has indicated, it is a whole new language. You may find enough support on the forum to get you through. There are some really interesting threads here on the forum and by using the search feature above and typing in 'worry', you will find some interesting posts and solutions that others have shared. If you find you want further help in managing your worry, there are other supports available to you. Accessing a counsellor can be a start and you can do this by visiting your GP in the first instance. There are other programs where you don't need to visit your GP. One I have heard people access is an internet based is a program called Mindspot. It is free and has a number of wellness programs which includes learning how to manage worry/anxiety and can be found here www.mindspot.org.au

Another developed by beyondblue program is called NewAccess that focuses on worry and low mood and is delivered by Coaches who are specifically trained in a therapy called low intensity cognitive behaviour therapy. This program is FREE but is only available in select parts of the country. It can be found by going to this page where you can find out whether if is offered in your area https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess

There are so many ways to start to learn about your worry and reach your goals. Every single time I come onto the beyondblue forum I learn something new. For example by reading your thread, I will now watch the TV series 'Heal' as therising has suggested to further my understanding of the mind-body connection).

You have described a strong family structure around you and you can find the right path towards reaching your goals with persistence and some trial and error in your strategy.

Wishing you the best possible outcome,

Nurse Jenn

[Jimmy5]

Thank you Jenn,

I appreciate you taking the time to reply, It has been a long and tyred road. I am well untruly over it.I have been to my GP and he has a great understanding of what I am going through. I do feel I am banging my head against the wall some times with what people have told me. I have times were I just try and get on with things as if I have no worry but that only comes back and bits me. I get frustrated as I am on a high dose of medication and I feel it is not helping and I am just taking it because the doctor thinks it is working.I have taken this same medication for years now.Thanks for your time again