Getting through the day

[Sober2007]

I'm learning so much from this community, and I wanted to say how much I appreciate it. Yesterday was pretty good, but this morning when I arrived at work I felt anxious right out of the gate. Instead of fighting it though, I just tried to accept that my anxious feelings were there and that I would be OK if I didn't allow myself to obsess too much about it. It wasn't easy to do, because of course I didn't want to feel what I was feeling. But in the past, I've always given in to even more fear and worry once I felt anxious. Now I'm learning that doing that just makes it worse - I'm just compounding the problem if I allow myself "to be afraid of being afraid." So instead, I wrote some reassuring messages to myself on post-it notes things like "you are going to be OK, this will pass, don't be afraid of what's happening," etc.) I tried to take things one at a time while remembering to breathe. I kept on going with work even though I didn't feel comfortable for much of the morning. Slowly the worst of the anxiety began to pass and now, nearing the end of my work day, I feel significantly better. I can still feel the remnants of anxious energy below the surface but it isn't dominating me. It hasn't been the most natural thing accepting how I feel and continuing to plug along in spite of it, but today doing that seemed to work for me. I'm very grateful people here have shed light on how to practice acceptance as a pathway to relief and recovery.

[brokenlight]

✨✨✨👏🏾👍🏾👏🏾✨✨✨

[deblhotchkiss]

I find what you said very inspirational. I always fight my feelings of anxiety and get depressed that they are so constant. I really like your idea of acceptance. Like they are just feelings, they may be uncomfortable, but they won’t kill you. I am going to try some positive self talk and tell myself that I will be ok next time that I feel anxious ( which no doubt will probably be when I wake up tomorrow). I do think the fighting it and “being anxious about being anxious” really doesn’t help at all. I found your post enlightening and encouraging. Thanks for posting.

[Sober2007 in reply to deblhotchkiss]

Thanks for your message and I am behind you all the way!

[JLoInCali12]

Well done! I’m happy for you! 😊

[gerg]

Acceptance is the key...