Stress Center Peer Support

Hello everyone-

I decided to post because I have accomplished some things. Recently in the past few weeks I have decided not to say "no" to hardly anything. I instead "yesed" everything. I went to a concert, that was an hour and half away from where I live, and drove half way there and half way home. To some people this doesn't sound like much, but I always hated concerts because crowds made me anxious and going far distances also made me anxious but for some reason it all of a sudden didn't bother me. I went to a baseball game after just being asked to go..normally I would have said no because I didn't have a long time to think about it and examine every little detail and be ready for it, or I would have just got too scared to go and make up some excuse. It was a lot better not being able to think about it, because I went and we even met up with people there that I have never met.. and I was friendly and I had a great time! I also went to a party a few days ago and I wasn't anxious and I had fun there too. I've been doing really well. Just the past couple days though I feel as though I'm slipping back into my old ways..but I feel helpless almost. I woke up in a sweat this morning and my stomache sick and I felt clammy. This is what used to happen a lot, whether I had something anxiety producing to do that day or not. It's hard to figure out where this is coming from and why. I've felt lonely the past couple of days and I wonder if it's just a "let down" feeling of having done all these things I don't normally do and now I'm feeling exhausted..? I've been wanting to talk to someone, like my boyfriend..but I feel like I can't get the words out, it's hard to describe what I'm feeling. I used to talk to him about everything, and now I can't...I don't know if it's embarassment or not... and I don't even know why I'd be embarassed..we love eachother..I just can't seem to open up. I can't even take part in conversations lately, I have nothing to say...nothing! I'm not sure what is happening. I was so great for a few weeks there and felt like I could conquer this, and now I feel physically sick and emotionally stalled. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be happening or what I could do?

Carla -

First, congratulations on all your recent successes. Please don't let your current setback take away from all that you accomplished. You're doing great!

I'm not sure if this is happening to you, but often I have what I call "rebound anxiety". This is where I do something that is difficult for me, handle the situation fairly well at the time, and then fall apart afterward. Does this sound like what you're going through?

If so, just accept it as anxiety, float through it, and then continue pushing yourself. You'll get through the setback and will soon be taking more risks and having more success. You may be having some depression that is accompanying your setback, perhaps feeling as though you've let yourself down. That would explain the feelings of detachment. Once you get moving forward again in the positive direction, hopefully these feelings will go away.

Best of luck to you,
Jamie