Stress Center Peer Support

Lately, I feel like I've been "walking on eggshells" with myself--like I have this hyper-critical, moody boss inside my head ready to pounce on any perceived misstep, anything I say that comes out wrong, and especially anything I feel could mess something up. Little details--like the way I made out a check (what if I did that wrong and they don't take it?) or something I mentioned to my boss today (uh oh, I don't want to give a wrong impression and find my head on the chopping block!)
The thing that bugs me is, I have a hard time letting these little things go, even though they almost always turn out fine and I know it! I want to be able to let go of them sooner so that they do not dominate my thoughts for hours. It just seems I used to be able to shrug things off or forget them more easily but not these days. I guess maybe because there are a lot of underlying stresses--things are slow at work and a couple people have been laid off, the economy's shaky, we just refinanced our house--life seems a little fragile right now. I know at these times I just need to let go & let God, and stop putting so much pressure on myself to hold things together! It's not so much knowing WHAT I need to do to get over this, it's knowing how--or maybe just not having enough patience with the process--that is an issue for me.

JKitty - I can relate. You're on "worry about everything" overload. As you probably already know, people with anxiety tend to be over-thinker's, we're very creative and overanalyze everything we do. You need to get your mind off of these things, and think and do something else. I've got on the phone with a good friend, and got my mind somewhere else. I've turned on good music, worked out and got my mind off of these types of things. I've also done what Lucinda has suggested, and put aside a time to worry each night. Put a half hour aside each time and think about all the stuff that you worry about during the day. By the time you get to your worry time, most of the worry disappates or goes away all together.

Hang in there, figure out what works for you, and practice it. Behavior is learned, and you can learn how to react differently. Be patient, it does take time.

God bless, Suz

Jkitty,
You are not alone. I think the most frustrating thing for me is when in reality all is doing real good in my life, but that is only part of my head. The rest of me is thinking up all the bad “What if’s” lose the house, job, family, etc. and all the worst things imaginable. I am just now finishing week one. Everyone says the anxiety gets worse at first. I think the depression is worse after this week. (Yea, I learned just how depressed I am after week one) Anyway I am rambling, I am not good at responding, something in your post made me want to share.
Thank you,

The program and hearing about the same thing in others as well helped me with the same thing. Give yourself a break and find the humor in it. We gotta laugh about it. Stop beating yourself up. You don't deserve it.