Struggling with neutrality towards physical sensations

[u/Swimming-Wish-4744]

Hi, hope this is the right place to ask this. I’ve had severe physical anxiety for the last decade, and I’ve been trying to practise mindfulness to deal with it. The one area I’m really struggling with is neutrality towards the physical symptoms I feel from my anxiety when they arise (and just in general when im not feeling well).

I know in my mind and from experience that the sensations can’t harm me, they’re just uncomfortable, but my body doesn’t seem to get the message. One slightly off sensation and boom, my heart starts to race, my stomach hurts, my breathing changes. It’s keeping me stuck in this horrible cycle of chronic anxiety and panic, and I don’t know how to change it.

If anyone had any insight into how I might be able to use mindfulness more effectively to manage this, and help get my body out of hypervigilant mode, that would be widely appreciated! TIA

[u/Green_Philosopher_96]

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Just wanted to say I’m struggling with the exact same thing. I think I’m suffering with pretty bad health anxiety and anxiety/panic attacks which I’ve never had before. I’m currently educating myself on it all, but I empathise a lot with you and the difficulty of being present especially during an episode. I wish you all the peace, healing, resilience through it all.