The Astral Pulse

Im working at it to, i get extremely nervous when im talking to strangers, its hard to even ask for help, but recently its been changing, im forcing myself to talk to people, i clear my mind and i talk to the person, but its only working for if i need help or if its anything like a serious conversation and not making friends or anything. I can talk alot easier to people now it seems like, but im still having the problem with making friends because im nervous to just start a conversation.

Whoa!

Greetings my emotionally identical twins[:D]

I too am the highly introverted type. Although over the past year or so I have changed enormously for the better.

I highly recommend holosync. It's a great product, and has really helped me.

http://www.centerpointe.com

You might also want to try shielding. (do a forum search)

All the best.

to the first two-

ok, I was once a social out cast.  Yup couldn't get a date to save my life!  That was high school, where everyone had to be "someone cool"  Whatever.  After High school, i went to this wonderful place called college.  This is where i changed into the person I am now.  Basically no one really cares who you are.  They don't look at clothes, or your hair style (yet mullets are not the best one ;))  In college there are 2 groups.  The people who don't care (me) and the ones who will never get far in life (basically the person who makes a dummy out of them selfs for trying to tell you that you aren't "cool")  Check this out:  If you want to meet people, go somewhere that is comfortable to you!  Don't go to a place that will make you nervous.  If you like to read, go to the public lib.  If you like music, go to a club.  Here is where you find the people most compatiable to you.  I find that most of my friends are those I work with, and people that I meet in classes at college each semester (only because if you don't know at least 1 person in college, who can you rely on for studying help??)  I hope my comments help you.  Be yourself, have a sense of humor, and DO NOT LET OTHERS BOTHER YOU!  That is the most important part.  Do no think "i wonder what she thinks of me?"  do your thing and don't worry about thoughts.  They are thoughts for a reason to, so that they can be WRONG! [:)]

-Good luck and pm me if you need to [;)]-

-Tenacious[:P]

I was a lot like that, I would walk up to someone and begin sweating and lose my train of thought.  What I don't know is if after your conversation is done with someone that you were incredibly nervous around do you go over the conversation in your mind as you walk away.  I used to do that and then one day while I was doing that I realized it made myself that much more conscious of what I said and freaked me out about the next time.  So instead of dealing with the interaction itself I would try to not go through the conversation word for word as I walked away.  Over time I got more confident that I would say the right thing and now I just don't worry about it.  I don't know if any of you have the same problem but if you do you might give this a shot.

Respectfully,
Link's Shadow

I would say that when I was younger I put a lot more emphasis into caring what other people thought, and that would give me anxiety. Now a lot older, I realize that what others think of me does not matter.

All we can do is try to think and act in ways that will help us progress spiritually, and this is hard work in itself. My view now is that everyone has a path and lessons to work out. So even if they appear 'cool' on the outside, they may have a lot of issues that need spiritual work. It all evens out.


Very best,

I still got that issue ...  Alot of people do.

I hate doing it, but I'm always thinking that other people think the worst of me.  It gives your self-esteem a big push the other way, and it sucks alot.

I don't even want to talk to people in "reality".  I'd rather not even be in school, but taking the class online.  Talking to someone in person... it's very hard for me.  It's hard to believe since you all know how I am here, but it's the complete opposite out there.  I don't call people, I hate receiving calls... I don't talk to anybody in school, other than the people that talk to me.

I hate the way I live life outside of the internet...That's why you should only call me by:

~Squeek

Hey guys,

Makes my heart bleed reading all the things you are saying. Hopefully I can shed a little light on the causes. I can only really speak from personal experience, and my experience has been as the obsessive/compulsive type, with a thick vein of insecurity, which IMO by definition must be related to other people. For me, all anxiety which displays outwardly comes first from an underlying level of anxiety which is always there within, although often seemingly undetectable (it caused my OCD). There are a few approaches - from the outside, and from the inside. But the former takes a lot of courage, and I cant say I know it works, and it is especially dependant upon the company you keep so we'll skip that. The latter, working on the inside to calm it, is the way I've gone, and is probably the most suitable here.
This sort of thing is intimitely linked to personal development, and the expansion of consciousness - a process which naturally leaves behind these things. So the best source of inspiration would be to look towards the individuals and organisations who have gone down this path (the mystic/magi/etc). It is generally accepted that the first rule before you can enter deeply into the mysteries is to fully understand the old axiom "know thyself" (which has primarily been my work to date). This should be understood as entirely as possible, that you should observe yourself as completely and as honestly as you can, until you get to know whats going on inside - eventually, you'll find yourself, and thats when the fun begins!
Another tool which helps a lot is meditation. This will help to calm your insides, produce peace, and is generally a *very* healthy thing to do to yourself. As you exercise to keep your body (externals) in shape, so we meditate to keep your mind and spirit (internals) in shape. Eventually, well hell, I cant say where you'll end up eventually, but I can say it'll be a better place than where you are right now!

And also, Nick is right, these things naturally calm as you get out of the teen years. Its a bumpy ride!

Oh, I'll mention quickly working on the outside, as this is obviously the quickest way to get things done - my biggest intro to all this stuff is "The Teachings of Don Carlos" by Victor Sanchez. Quote:
"...The stalker is a consummate practitioner who makes the everyday world a battleground in which every act, every interaction with fellow humans, forms part of the strategy.
Stalking is the strategic control of our own conduct. Its field of action is the interaction that takes place between human beings (warriors or not). Therefore the stalker, far from fleeing the social scene, immerses himself or herself in it, using it to temper the spirit, gain energy, and carry the self beyond the limits of personal history"
....<snip>....
"If we wish to trap prey, we must first observe it. We must silently percieve what the prey does in order to know its routines: where it eats, when and what time it sleeps, its movements, and so forth. If our observation is effective, we will become familiar with these routines, allowing us to later devise a trap against them"
- As you can see, its all about finding out our weaknesses through observation and then forcing ourselves to overcome them through action, one way or another. At least, thats how I see it :) For instance, I remember one example given in the book - a high flying businessman who took up selling papers on saturdays from streets corners to knock his ego down to size. Appropriate action formed through accurate observation of the problem.

Hope this helps in some way....

peace
Rob

hey everyone...

inguma-unfortunately,my anxiety didn't calm as I got out of my teen years (I'm 27,nearly 28).It just got a teeny bit better.

about Victor Sanchez-He writes from a toltec perspective? I've read all of Castanedas writing (fiction or not...),but I find it hard to apply-there's a lot of information in those books.I pretty much have to own copys of them, then read them over and over!

I understand the concept of stalking oneself,but I don't seem to have enough personal power to be able to do that effectively.It seems like it must take an incredible amount of willpower.

that's exactly where I always get stuck-between taking what I know inward, and expressing it into action in the world (between feeling and action).I guess I need someone w/an electric cattle-prod behind me[:D]

I guess stalking is similar to de-sensitisation,but I just don't have the energy to directly put myself square into uncomfortable situations,which could possible force the 'assemblage point' to move to a healthier spot.

how does one achieve this degree of personal power[?]

Well Jason I have some advise for you, but remember it is only my point of view. I get a strong feeling that you are the type who have a lot of internal dialoge. AVOID IT. It is in its nature negative. There is a old story about an man who packed a plastic sack in his backpack, so as he said "I wanna be ready just in case I get tempted to steal some apples". You will often talk yourself in to giving up the fight or do the wrong thing. I think you should take more charge of your life. This is how. First sign off from this forum and terminate your internet connection maybe sell your tv and make your home inviorment so uncomfortable that you will not like to be there.!!!!!! Look for ways to sign up for debating teams classes clubs or whatever and "just do it" ,just say to heck with it so what if they think I am a nerd idiot or whatever (they probably allready do,) I am gonna give it my best shot. Sign up for a public speaking class and go there. If you cant get up and speak start by watching all the other folks make an butt out of themselves and say Man I am gonna do it too. Psyck yourself up. One day you will. Go to an AA meeting and see the ones there struggle with themselves and look for the determination in yourself. Ask God for help and if anyone tells you you are crazy for doing stuf like this to yourself , saying you are masochistic, shun them. Those are your "enemies". Get in the habit of stating your name LOUD, and make it a point of ALWAYS shaking hands when you meet new folks, and repeating theirs. Practice by smiling to the clerks cashiers and saying thanks a lot "I hope you have a good day" or "man I like your shirt" and everytime you cringe in your self and feel like you are making a fool out of yourself say Ha who cares they will never see me again. Gradually you will become better at it and one day you will be out in the light with the rest of us. In the meantime I will put you on my prayerlist and send some cattleprodding love your way
Regards Mustardseed
PS and stop reading Castaneda. He maybe interesting on a mental plane but its not for you "you (dont wanna)live in a dreamworld Neo".

I also used to have severe panic attacks.  Full body convulsions  I had a fear of going insane in public.  Don't ask, I couldn't tell ya, hehe.  Anyway, after years of suffering from them I started reading into the disorder and found out quite a few things.  The most helpful thing for myself was the idea of the inner monologue and how to control it.  You must be kind to yourself when you get into the situations that make you have anxiety.  I found that if I took one sentence that I could repeat in my mind over and over again I could get thru the building panic.  I chose the phrase "this too shall pass" and said it again and again in my mind.  Doesn't matter what the phrase is so long as it means somthing to you.
 It takes practice though.  So, you must go out and feel horrible for a while until you get the knack for it.

God bless and good luck,

Passionate-fool

OH!!!!!  And one other thing, IMHO  GET OFF THE MEDS!!!!!!!!!  You need all your brainpower to get thru this one.

God bless,

Passionate-fool

hehe[:I], one more thing.  Don't be ashamed to say your phrase out loud if you need too.

Passionate-fool

Jason, speaking as someone who overcame what you are suffering and knowing that my brother is just now recently doing the same in Western Canada... my heart goes out to you.

 In response to some of the posters...

 Passionate Fool, yes, Jason should get off the meds but there is a way and a method to doing that, it could take a couple of years or more and offering advice without a plan is just plain ill-advised, if well-meaning.  Good suggestion though.

 Mustardseed... I don't know where you went to AA but the last I heard, they don't allow outsiders to just "pop" into their meetings and listen unless they are alchoholics too.  As far as terminating his internet connection and getting rid of his T.V. that would be ill-advised and foolhardy especially since most folks suffering from extreme anxiety have the internet and T.V. as one of their FEW remaining connections to society.  What do you hope to accomplish with Jason?  Cure him via isolation?  Thrusting him into situations like debates and public speaking classes without knowing how severe his anxiety goes?  Irresponsible.  I get paid to work with people just like Jason, just like I used to be and as well-meaning as this is for you, it won't work, bottom line.

Sahlyn... great call, I was going to suggest that as a safe way to start.  And knowing what some "meds" are priced at back home in Canada, it can't be that much more expensive than a month or two's supply of meds to get him started.


 Jason, without knowing the specifics of what "exact" condition you're suffering (and I wouldn't share it online, (maybe P.M. it if you feel secure with that, if not, so be it) that information as it is fairly sensitive.
 Is it a chemical imbalance disorder?  Or is it a side-effect of another larger psychological issue?  Are you suffering from any addiction-related ailments?  

 I could ask much more, but without knowing more, I am leery to give more advice and as such it would be irresponsible and unethical to give advice as such without knowing more.  But I will tell you this, it is possible to lead a normal, medication free lifestyle for most people suffering with your affliction.  However the strategy you use to combat it and rectify your situation must be as thorough as the commitment to healing.  I hear your frustration, and know from experiance, what you are "probably" going through (I say probably because all our journeys are a little to a lot different in this life).

Good luck and keep me posted with p.m's on your situation.

"how does one achieve this degree of personal power[?]"

Like I said man - meditation, "know thyself" and if you have the will power, learn magick. The latter of those, if you get any good at it, can become a way of directly altering your mind, emotions, etc. The former is a way to still and settle the mind, calm it down, relieve tension and generally balance you out. "Know thyself" is a way to find yourself again, to watch and understand whats going on - thereby allowing new stretegies and methods to arise, and eventually a deeper appreciation for yourself and environment (eventually, it will foster kindness and a real love for yourself, and from there to other people).

all the best!

Rob

wow! a lot of responses!

I sort of forgot to check on this thread[:D]

Mustardseed-its very interesting that you reccomend to stop reading castaneda (but it just such interesting stuff[:P]).your approach sounds very much like what I would do if I were to stalk myself.thats exeactly the kind of thing I would do.It just seems like to much of a leap though-like a 'crash coure in brain surgery' (for want of better term).

Passionate-fool -I also love that phrase "this too, shall pass".I first read about that in a book about sufiism.one day a king requested a ring that would make him happy when he was sad, and at the same time,would make him sad when he was happy...
I wonder if I can get one of those somewhere?

Ghostrider-ya, I do plan to get off the meds eventually.I get them for free luckily through a government program.aaahhh...Canadian healthcare[8D]

I agree that holosync would be a great idea,but I'm kinda broke,due to my lacking of full ability to work for the past 2-3 years (duhh,guess why).as far as the nature of the problem,I can say that it is partly chemical/hereditary,and partly experience related.

Inguma-I...whopps,I'm running out of time,I'll finish tomorrow!

Dear Ghostrider
What a crock. You sound like a pompous doctor or health care official allright. Nevertheless he asked me as well as everyone here and that was my opinion. I have seen people like you , doctors and shrinks keep people in bondage for years its your buissness as you said.

Jason listen to me. You can do it OK make something of yourself, what one man can do another can do. Life has no dress rehersel Buddy . I love you and I will sending love your way . Give it your best shot and if you fail lay there for a while and TRY AGAIN. Never give up never give in.

Take care
Mustardseed

PS Jason My wife just read your thread and my posts and as I was exiting, with a womans intuitive wisdom her comment was:

THE WAY TO BE HAPPY IS TO MAKE SOMEONE ELSE HAPPY

Interesting thought
wisdom is in simplicity

 Mustardseed, at the end of the day it will be hard work and a patient, realistic approach that wins out over 'fluffy-clouded feelings of good will' and mindless platitudes.  Don't be ticked off because I shot holes in your theory, that's not my main goal, it's just a side project...[}:)] But next time you go into an A.A. meeting, tell me if they don't set you straight about the rules of attendance.  It's because of the 'Anonymous' nature of those groups that most of them would rather protect the privacy of it's regular members and tell those who were merely interested to check out their 'newcomer's' meetings.

You said, "What a crock. You sound like a pompous doctor or health care official allright. Nevertheless he asked me as well as everyone here and that was my opinion. I have seen people like you , doctors and shrinks keep people in bondage for years its your buissness as you said."

 No, you're ego ain't fragile.  Do you distrust a rational alternative to the mindless platitudes that often accompany most people in this situation?  At the end of the day, I never see people like you at the patient's side, I see them, with their bag of clothes, and their bus pass and their broken promises they recieved from way-too-many 'part-time' feel-good, new age healers.  And in the quiet of the evening I or someone like me takes them in, we figure out what they can get from social assistance, etc... figure out where they're going to sleep, where they're going to eat, the real things they need first and foremost.  Then we worry about treatment.

And in case you're reading comprehension went the way of so many people in this under-educated country... I didn't say I relied on a traditional approach to healing.  I never said WHERE I stood on that issue at all!  In fact, I applauded one person for suggesting the Holosync CD's, I'm all in favour of spiritual clensing and healing.  As long as it's backed up with some practical treatments.  You may recall that in my post I stated that I had MYSELF been through a similiar situation in the past.  And I forgot to mention how I wasted many a year and many a dollar trying to "cure" myself with hokey, hogwash and bullsh*t new-age cures, only to find out that most of them were at best, a supplement to traditional counceling .....at best.  I also should say I strongly disaprove of most medications since blinding yourself to your problem takes you further away from a solution.  I don't class the folks here as new-age B.S.'ers but if I were you I'd brush up on my reading comprehension skills next time you reply to my posts.

Jason, I wish you the best of luck in your search for healing.

Hi everyone,

 I to have been suffering from social anxiety and mild deppresion myself for a while. But for a long time i didn't know why i felt the way i did.I began to myself isolate from the world. It got so bad that I had to quit my job. When anyone would try to talk to me I would seem to lose my whole sense of self and feel very small and it was hard to look them in the eyes.

 After I quit my job I prayed to God for help and an awnser to why i felt the way i did.

Sorry im getting low on time but i would like to give some advice from my own experiance.


 I eventualy read PPSD and came to the conlusion that I was being "overshadowed" by  an entity. they can cause alot of these mental probelem to a person to gain control and this should not be over looked. Im not saying its not chemical either because people who isolate themselfs can esly become a victim to a nonphysical being.

 I agree Physical exercise and meditation are powerful tools to help fight this disoder. I would recomend the book "The Power Of Now" it is a very powerful book and takes you to the essence of meditation.

take care

ok, I'll continue where I was at last time,then add some furthur comments.

I was going to say to Inguma that I do practice meditation on a fairly regular basis,and I would really like to have a more extensive 'reporatiore' of meditation techniques.I usually just practice 'pinpoint concentration',seeing how focused I can make my awareness.I also use meditation to bring enhanced awareness and a non-reactive state of mind (as much as possible) to daily activities.

the subject of majick is an interesting topic-not that I'm just looking for the 'majical cure', while totally avoiding the problem.please don't take it that way.It's just that I'm open to all avenues of possible help and progress.If you can reccommend a way into this subject via books,or preferably,directly from a teacher, any groups,etc,there may be around,please pass it on.

I also figured out one day, that the way to find self worth in society is to help others-I'm just not sure how to apply it yet.

Ghostrider-I find traditional counselling to be very helpful in my case,and others would probaly say the same thing.but I have to disagree w/the issue of medication.I find that it doesn't blind me to the problem at all,it just covers half the problem area-the physical/chemical reactive side.medication helps to disrupt the ingrained 'superhighway' patterns of fight or flight response to stress-which,in the case of anxiety sufferers, is on full-time-overdrive!  the other half of the problem (the most important part) is the destructive cognative patterns that have been built through the years.no amount of medication can change that,only action can (and that's where I get really stuck).

hey alpine9-it's very nice to hear from someone who understands what it's like-it can be horribly lonely to live w/this problem!

and,being somewhat experienced in the field of astral projection,I also have an expanded idea of how deep these negative emotions can go.They can obviously be carried over/origionate from another part of our conciousness.

I have been wanting to read 'The Power of Now' for awhile,and now the library has a copy,so I'm going to sign it out when I can.

physical exercise is such a great kind of panacea for so many different problems.I don't drive and rarely take the bus,so I walk mostly everywhere (it's a fairly small town of 20 000+).I also go hiking around the foothills when I can.I absolutely love doing that.

comments?

holy crap-this is a long post! sorry![:D]

That's great Jason that you are as aware of your medical situation as you are.  Some people are completely lost, and mostly not of their own volition.  As far as drugs go, some people respond well, some bad, and some not at all.  At least you have one successful piece to unravelling your solution.  Might I suggest a completely free thing to do?  It's easy to learn and once mastered (takes two or three times to get it down pat for some) it only takes you 15 minutes or less of your day to do.  It's something you do daily and it's protective effects against stress and anxiety are cumulative.  It's not a cure-all, you'll definately have to do more, and what that "more" is is completely up to you.  But it is a great addition to your arsenal of techniques.  It is P.R.T.  or Progressive Relaxation Technique.  I will list the P.R.T. technique for all in my post "Physical Exercises To Supplement Spiritual Health".  Look for it there. It's easy, it's quick and best of all, it WORKS!

I've got the same problem too,its very strange how much in common astralpulse'ers have....

quote:

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Passionate Fool, yes, Jason should get off the meds but there is a way and a method to doing that, it could take a couple of years or more and offering advice without a plan is just plain ill-advised, if well-meaning. Good suggestion though.

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Point taken about not providing a plan.  On the other hand, I was on course to go down those years of "therapy" myself and I personally believe that it is not beneficial to do so.

quote:

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As far as terminating his internet connection and getting rid of his T.V. that would be ill-advised and foolhardy especially since most folks suffering from extreme anxiety have the internet and T.V. as one of their FEW remaining connections to society. What do you hope to accomplish with Jason? Cure him via isolation? Thrusting him into situations like debates and public speaking classes without knowing how severe his anxiety goes? Irresponsible

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The part of about FEW is exactly WHY he should get rid of them.  T.V. and the internet only enhance his isolation.  Why should he go out and talk to people when he can numb his mind with TV and computers?  I only healed when I abandoned these things.

 Yes, you must break under your loneliness.  You must understand your brokeness.  Break Jason!  GO FOR IT!  When the utter desperation sets in you will understand that unless you CHANGE you will be like this for the rest of your life.  All it takes is one DECISION and you will be changed.  Its hard I know.  Trust me my friend I know.

quote:

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how do i find the courage to put my abilitys into the world?

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FIND JESUS, and you'll have all the courage you could ever need.

Jason and all of you who have the same problem,

I would suggest that you try to do some creative visualisation. It helps working on your subconscious in a very positive way. You want something but can't do it? Well this helps and works. There are books about it with very nice exercises.

Here is one of them.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1577312295/qid=1065660675/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/103-8790718-6128614?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Val

I feel kinda lost,so I figured I'd see what you people think.I've suffered w/this most of my life.I've been on meds for a year and a half,still trying to de-sensitize myself,but it takes a looongg time,especially for someone like me.

I'm on social assistance and want/need to get off the system,but whenever I try to 'extend' myself into the world...BAM-massive panic attacks! the meds don't really help all that much.

now the social assistance people want me to sign up for an employment program that will basically give me the same old sh*tty jobs I've hated for years! (don't get me wrong,it's not that I'm lazy).the thought of this, makes me very depressed.

...I know I can do so much more than that.I am a musician and artist,and I will never be happy unless I make a living doing these things-I really feel a 'calling'-but the anxiety is REALLY getting in the way.[:(!][V]

how do i find the courage to put my abilitys into the world?

advice?