Question;
Hi there Jacob,
Well I was on Paxil Cr years ago and weaned myself off and well now my panic attacks and anxiety have been coming back. So I went to the doctors and got another prescription for Paxil CR 25mg and will be starting them tomorrow.
I have been reading your site and everything on it is me in a nutshell. I am really worried about starting them again and the side effects and I did read what you said about them not killing me, but as I am sure your well aware the mind is a powerful thing.
I will start taking them tomorrow morning because I want my life back! and am I ever scared! The doctor gave me the 25 mg because I was on it before and I suggested it but for 5 days I have been in worry about starting them again and what it will be like. My mind is in a tailspin I keep thinking maybe I don’t need to do this, or maybe I should have asked for a lower dosage, and so and so on. Like I said Tailspin.
What I do want to know is since reading your site, I noticed that everyone is talking about taking Paxil and well Im taking Paxil Cr is it the same thing?
I have bookmarked your site and I will continue to go to it for advice and for calming. I really appreciate it that you have this site and found relief while reading it as I knew I wasn’t alone in this that other suffer the same and have the same questions and fears. Which I always deep down knew this but like I said before the mind is a powerful thing.
If you have further advice I would love to hear it.
Thank you again
Betty
Answer;
Hello Betty,
Ah yes. Your mind has been playing a collection of fears again like an old movie. You are going to be OK. Try to not take your thoughts seriously right now. After a week and a half you will begin to calm down as Paxil takes it’s effect.
This time, when you are calmer (and you will be soon), start reading materials that explain how the mind can be slowed down.
We, sufferers of anxiety, are people that have had a life history of creating negative fantasies, and have spent long periods of time without reminding ourselves that OUR mind’s judgments and fears are not real. We need to re-learn what is real.
Reality is that you are OK. Reality is that you will be just fine. Reality is that you DON’T have to be in control of everything. Reality is that you can just let WHAT IS, BE as it IS, and not judge it. That includes judging yourself as broken, or somehow defective.
There is nothing defective about YOU – the REAL you. It’s only your mind that has been hijacked by your ego – scaring you.
In reality there is nothing to be afraid of. In reality you are never alone. In reality all is well.
Sure, “things happen” that will shake up our egos because our egos fear loss of form so much. Or egos fear losing friends, lovers, family members, money, houses, cars, social status, old age, health, etc. etc. etc.
When we lose a job, monthly income, a wife, a husband, a parent, a child, a home, or whatever…….our egoic minds go into tailspins. And EVEN IF WE ARE NOT LOSING THOSE THINGS AT THE MOMENT, our egos fear losing them some day.
When we learn to face the FACTS of life, losing these forms is not bad. It’s only natural.
Have you ever noticed that when we spend days, weeks, months, or years worrying about something “bad happening”, and when (if) that “bad thing” does happen, we find out that it wasn’t SO BAD AT ALL! In fact, the change in form, or loss of form sometimes brings us back to a place where reality lives.
The only reality is this very second. All that matters is this very second as you read this. Ask yourself this;
“At this very moment what is lacking?”
- is your body in pain (probably not)
- are you dying (no)
- are you homeless (no)
- is the world bad (no)
- are you losing your mind (no)
Our egoic minds want to ignore the present moment and keep you worried about the future.
Our egoic minds want to ignore the present moment and keep you believing the past was scary and bad.
Both of these egoic beliefs are false, false, and more false.
Burn up time. Burn up the past and the future.
Go out for a walk and take notice of how still the trees are that you see. If you live in a major city, walk to a park and look a the grass and trees and notice how still they are. If a willow tree to could speak English, and you asked it,
“What time is it?”
It would say, “Now, the time is now….there is nothing else”.
If you could ask a cow what his worries were, or tell it about your worries, it would laugh and giggle,
“What is worry??? I don’t understand…..everything is fine right now.”
We humans are the only living things on this planet that have MINDS and EGOS. Us humans are the only living things on this earth that make up fears and fantasies about the future, and create remorse of the past.
Shut that mind of yours off! When it kicks back to thinking it’s 60,000 thoughts a day again, be aware of it, and shut if off again.
I know that doing that may seem impossible right now, but that is OK. Even if you continue to worry this week, don’t resist anything. JUST BE AWARE of the fact that your egoic mind it trying to run the show. Just watch your thoughts and DON’T BELIEVE your thoughts.
At some point a quiet little voice will be heard whispering,
“It’s OK….you are wonderful, and life is not scary. Life is not bad. Life is good, and I have so many wonderful things for you to see. Be still darling. There is nothing to be afraid of – ever.”
That quiet little voice is the real you – that real you is who you can believe in. That real you is in all humans, and we are all connected. That real you is in the stillness deep in the ocean, or in the clouds silently moving by in the sky. That real you is in the willow tree that resists nothing and allows everything to be as it is.
So if any of these words have helped you, this is what you need to do more of. Find writings, videos, and audio CDs that point to the truth. The truth is good, perfect, and decent. Just like you.
When you get chance, pick up these audio books from Echart Tolle – they will help you SO much. I listen to these two CD collections every couple of weeks to remind myself of what is real. These two audio sets have changed millions of lives. Transformed mine.
- The FindHorn Retreat – You’ll Laugh, Snicker, and FEEL Really Good
- The Power of Now – Really helps calm our minds down and learn the art of living without stress.
Jacob