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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsIs anyone else embracing their anxiety?
I have had lifelong anxiety. Some of it was for good reason when I was a younger. it became debilitating after college when I had a relatively easy job that should have been low stress. In addition to pharmaceuticals which I stopped taking relatively quickly, I went through group cognitive behavioral therapy to teach me to change my way of thinking and learn relaxation techniques. I was less debilitated, but still was more stressed than normal. Getting a more stressful job and becoming a parent helped me become braver. I eventually left that job as my anxiety was making me consider treatment again.
I got another job, which was lower stress and was pregnant again. In the meantime, I read a book from the library, which I cannot remember the title, about the science of anxiety and why it is actually harmful to suppress it. I also worked with someone else who has severe anxiety and although medicated, also deals with it everyday. She is a very good supervisor in spite or maybe because of this. Then I went into labor with my younger child. I didn't have an epidural, although I unfortunately let them talk to me into a narcotic, when my contractions were the worst. With my first child, I begged for an epidural earlier in labor despite not wanting to have one. Anyway, it occurred to me that the difference was that I was working with my contractions this time instead of against them.
After my brief maternity leave, there were changes in the company and I was promoted. With this and other changes, my anxiety has increased, but I am embracing it. I am using it to get things done. If I feel stressed about something, I take action. I go into some situations feeling anxiety, but I do it anyway instead of avoiding it like I did before. Maybe, I have anxiety that I can continue like this, but I think that this could be completely life changing.
Does anyone else do this? Does this work for you?
alarimer
(16,245 posts)I have a hard time making decisions.
Just this week I had to conduct interviews and make a hiring decisions. While all the candidates were good, two were particularly outstanding. Choosing either one would be fine. I could make a case for either one. Yet, it took me hours to write the memo. I was mindful of the fact that this was going to affect someone's life and the dynamics of our office, because both of them already work here. One I hired into a temporary position who has proven to be outstanding in the one month he has worked here. And the other worked for me briefly in a temporary position last year and who is also excellent but wants to come back to our project because she's better suited to it.
So kind of a win-win no matter what. Except that I know if she moves over to our project, my new guy will apply for that vacancy (which is permanent, unlike his current position) and I would lose him from our project, which I hate to do. So this caused me a great deal of anxiety, but I think ultimately it comes down to one person having just a little more experience.
This is completely new territory for me.
Nikia
(11,411 posts)A big change with my new position is that everyone is demanding decisions now: my employees, my boss, corporate, other departments.
Still, big changes shouldn't be made quickly and I think that it is good to contemplate decisions like yours. Maybe it was good that your anxiety was telling you to think about it more.
Sekhmets Daughter
(7,515 posts)of allowing your mind to control your emotions, the negatives ones at least. You are to be congratulated. That is a life changing skill.
LiberalEsto
(22,845 posts)for lifelong anxiety. Sometimes, though, I'm too wound-up to do the meditations.
The one I use most often is by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk and author. His writings are wonderful, I can't recommend them enough.
"Breathing in, I calm my body
Breathing out, I smile
Dwelling in the present moment
I know this is a wonderful moment."
Nikia
(11,411 posts)I tend to consider all alternatives when I think about the future. Some of them are catastrophic, which causes much anxiety of course. I also "rehearse" which can also be anxiety invoking. I not sure that it is completely bad because it has helped me out in some situations. There's probably a subtle difference between that and planning.
In my current position, I have many things to deal with and many decisions to make. I do try to focus on one thing and one moment at a time. It definitely makes things easier.
pscot
(21,024 posts)Look at the gun nuts and the Tea Baggers.