Do any of these statements sound familiar? You worry too much. You must drag yourself out of the bed every morning and often wake up feeling sad for no obvious reason. You’re disposed to making negative predictions. You worry about the worst that could happen in any situation. You take negative feedback very personally. You’re your biggest critic. You avoid people more than you should. Anything less than perfection feels like failure. If they do, then there’s a chance that you’re experiencing some degree of anxiety and/or depression. Unpleasant feelings are a part of our daily lives (especially now). They are there to teach us a lesson. Once we’ve learned our lesson, they often move on, but might come back with another lesson later.
As a result of these experiences, you’re likely to feel sad and stressed. These are perfectly normal emotions to go through from time to time. Everyone feels low and apprehensive about something or the other at some point in their lives. But when these unpleasant emotions begin to consume you, then you must act before it’s too late. Fortunately, these feelings can be healed. They can be made to shift to a more positive and constructive space. And I am here to help.
Over the next few days I will be sending out a number of blogs with the intention of helping you with any Stress or Anxiety issues you may be having during these strange times. There will be worksheets you can check out and complete, and I will also be uploading a Drumming/Rhythm exercise you can practice on my YouTube channel over the next few days. So I hope you will all give it a try and let me know how you got on. But for now, back to the overview of Anxiety.
Anxiety can creep up on you in many ways from physical and behavioral symptoms that are obvious to subtler symptoms that mess with your emotional and cognitive state of being. Yet, each time, it can leave behind a somewhat similar and familiar feeling - the feeling of being a little more lost, battered, and alone. No anxious person has the same set of symptoms, which is why each person’s anxiety is unique, and therefore their individual journey. That said, most people have some of each type of the symptoms, only in different combinations, which makes understanding how it works more appreciable. My first few blogs will focus on personality concepts that will help you understand how your anxiety works.
The Multifaceted You
Now, you don't need to totally understand your anxiety. You need to understand the many dimensions within which you and your anxiety exist. Once you start identifying these dimensions which are mostly characterized by triggers and symptoms, you’ll be able to work around them, and in time, overcome them too. Ok, now grab a notepad and pen and write down honest answers to the following questions..
Worksheet 1 - What Do You See?
Here’s a quick worksheet for you. Do any of these situations sound familiar to you?
1.You dislike change.
2. Every time you are put into a new situation, you feel restless and worried.
3. You over process information, decisions, and possibilities before acting.
4. You tend to be pessimistic about the present and future.
5. You constantly dwell into negative past experiences.
6. You worry about everything.
7. You feel awkward when someone compliments you. You also believe they don’t mean their compliments or are mocking you in some way.
Great job. Now I will be back in a day or so to continue with this process, so please keep your notes, and look out for my next post.
Please keep well in these times,
Eddie.
