Need help keeping stress from becoming anxiety!
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:50 pm
I've done this session four times in three years and still have yet to master it! I have been going thru drastic family changes since 2010 and have not managed it too well. I pretty much had a complete relapse early November. I've been going thru the program again and am taking 25 mg. zoloft to help me get through being away from my husband, selling our home, moving to a new, big city, and changing jobs, all while helping my kids cope.
I don't get how to keep stress from manifesting itself as anxiety. I mean, isn't all anxiety stress induced? Why is this lesson so late in the program? Is this just about recognizing that you're feeling anxious because you're not dealing with stress well? I feel like I need some kind of three or four step process!
An example: yesterday my family and I were packing up things and doing some house work to get our home ready to sell. I'm sorting through this stuff in our attic, feeling overwhelmed at the task, as well as putting the house on the market. To deal with overwhelmed feeling, I tell myself it's no big deal, go get a drink, text a friend. I go back to sorting, but feel more anxious. I see all these projects I started, some projects the kids started, I feel like I am some sort of loser for not finishing, and a bad mom for neglecting the kids' projects, too. I tell myself, I'm not a bad mom we've been very busy and picked up other interests and projects, these things don't matter in the long run. I don't believe myself. I go wash my face, I pace the house for a little while, I scrape paint off the floor. Each time I go back to sorting and packing, I feel the anxiety escalate. I felt like a failure last night, couldn't eat or smile.
I think the lies I was telling myself distracted me from thinking about moving and that my husband was leaving town that night. It effectively distracted me. The thing is the stress from the distraction is way worse than the thought of moving. What can I do when I don't believe my thought-countering statements? How can I stop avoiding??? I am avoiding painting right this minute by posting this. I am tired of this cycle! I don't want to avoid anything ever again!!! I am shortchanging my life! What else can I do?
I don't get how to keep stress from manifesting itself as anxiety. I mean, isn't all anxiety stress induced? Why is this lesson so late in the program? Is this just about recognizing that you're feeling anxious because you're not dealing with stress well? I feel like I need some kind of three or four step process!
An example: yesterday my family and I were packing up things and doing some house work to get our home ready to sell. I'm sorting through this stuff in our attic, feeling overwhelmed at the task, as well as putting the house on the market. To deal with overwhelmed feeling, I tell myself it's no big deal, go get a drink, text a friend. I go back to sorting, but feel more anxious. I see all these projects I started, some projects the kids started, I feel like I am some sort of loser for not finishing, and a bad mom for neglecting the kids' projects, too. I tell myself, I'm not a bad mom we've been very busy and picked up other interests and projects, these things don't matter in the long run. I don't believe myself. I go wash my face, I pace the house for a little while, I scrape paint off the floor. Each time I go back to sorting and packing, I feel the anxiety escalate. I felt like a failure last night, couldn't eat or smile.
I think the lies I was telling myself distracted me from thinking about moving and that my husband was leaving town that night. It effectively distracted me. The thing is the stress from the distraction is way worse than the thought of moving. What can I do when I don't believe my thought-countering statements? How can I stop avoiding??? I am avoiding painting right this minute by posting this. I am tired of this cycle! I don't want to avoid anything ever again!!! I am shortchanging my life! What else can I do?