Keeping busy or avoidance?

Feeling Anxious, Down, and Depressed. I want to get a job, exercise, and try mixed martial arts. My question is, am I running away from something? I always feel like my time should be utilized more meaningfully and every minute I should be doing something to "fix" my problems. Am I making the most out of my life or running away from it?

[LoveforAll41]

Hi GoodandBad. I struggle with something similar at times. I look for self-worth in doing things. I seem to begin each day at zero and only gain value if I do stuff like exercise, have a productive day at work, and progress in school. I feel that I need to be doing those things to have value... and in a sense I am running from sitting and being I guess. My anxiety shoots way up if I don't do these things because I feel my self worth dropping I guess.

What I am trying to get at is that being self-aware is a great step that I think you have already taken. I wholeheartedly believe that we should do something that we enjoy every day, and it has been shown that exercise is great for health and mood. I think that working and exercising will probably boost your mood, but I guess that I would caution you to examine these beliefs and whether you feel you have self-worth now. Know that you have inherent self-worth just being, whether you are working and being productive or not.

We know that the threat of anxiety that we don't have worth if we aren't productive is not something that can drive us long term. It comes from having good self-worth and the values of wanting to contribute and whatnot. Sorry, this is kind of me vomiting up what I am working on in therapy.

I wish you peace, hope, and strength

[Artistfriend]

Thats a good question. Its definitely helpful to be involved with your life and have activities and work that are important to you. Theres a balance though and youll probably know when youre avoiding by staying busy or if its triggering deeper self worth issues. Are you working with someone in therapy?