Working on limitations

[maria9201]

My name is Maria and i'm on session 2 at the moment--i'm almost on session three-just one more day. My problem is anxiety and i've had it for about 9 years now--i also suffer with depression as well. I don't know which one is primary but i think it's the anxiety. Today i worked on my limitations. I went to the market and bought groceries. That was always a hard one for me-i just hated doing it. I always felt so stupid in a supermarket. You might wonder why i feel stupid there--i'm not too clear on that one myself-i will look into that later. Another thing I fear is seeing people that i know--acquaintainces. I feel like i have to put on a different face when i see ANYONE. I feel pressured in a way to fit in with others and be this person that they might like. It's annoying.
I'm not comfortable in my own skin which i think is the cause of the anxiety to begin with.
I truly hope that i can learn to be a little more in control of myself. Does anyone else feel like they have to avoid such things?

[Guest]

I know exactly how you feel. We're so focused on what we think other people might be thinking about us that we drive ourselves crazy with self doubt. One of the things we have to learn is that WE ARE NOT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE! Most people are just as self absorbed with their own thoughts to really be concerned with what we are doing. But more importantly, why do we even care what other people think? Does it really even matter? Be honest! As we work through this program, two of the things we'll be learning is self compassion and self confidence. Once we have a better handle on those two tools, I think we'll spend a lot more time enjoying life rather than worrying about how we appear to others.

Be well,
Jamie

[Guest]

Exsctly! I can't explain it for the life of me, but that is exactly how I feel when I go any where in public. Where I was raised, my dad was semi famous. I always felt like everyone was watching us like because we were his kids. I was always very careful in public never to do any thing to embarass my dad. I am all grown up now and live very far away from where I was raised, but still in public its like I put on some other persona. I was supposed to go to the grocery store yesterday and to the book store to get From Panic to Power - but I didn't go to either one. I put it off. Session two says move through your fears. I have to go back to work tonight and I really hate to go out in my work clothes. I feel like then foresure everyone is like is owns such and such. More pressure to fit in and be with others expect me to be. Maybe I'll go tomorrow.

Originally posted by maria9201:
My name is Maria and i'm on session 2 at the moment--i'm almost on session three-just one more day. My problem is anxiety and i've had it for about 9 years now--i also suffer with depression as well. I don't know which one is primary but i think it's the anxiety. Today i worked on my limitations. I went to the market and bought groceries. That was always a hard one for me-i just hated doing it. I always felt so stupid in a supermarket. You might wonder why i feel stupid there--i'm not too clear on that one myself-i will look into that later. Another thing I fear is seeing people that i know--acquaintainces. I feel like i have to put on a different face when i see ANYONE. I feel pressured in a way to fit in with others and be this person that they might like. It's annoying.
I'm not comfortable in my own skin which i think is the cause of the anxiety to begin with.
I truly hope that i can learn to be a little more in control of myself. Does anyone else feel like they have to avoid such things?