Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
How do you keep your individuality when you are surrounded by people unlike you?
I’m going back to school in two weeks. I’ve noticed in past years that there’s a point when I begin to lose myself and become confused, then I spend the summer coming to terms with and being happy with myself again. Over time, being surrounded by these people every day, the atmosphere gets me. Healthy habits and thinking disappear and unhealthy habits develope. It’s like going backwards in the mental growth section.
I’ve talked to some others in my life about it and they either don’t have this problem or aren’t aware/don’t care that they do. But I treasure myself and the way I am, and I don’t like being affected this way.
Part of it may be a survival tactic I must have learned when I was young. I was unhealthily good at changing the way I acted based on whatever situation I was in. A way to blend in and minimize damages.
I’m also what I believe is called an “empath”, my environment and the feelings of people around me affect me greatly. High schoolers my age,in my experience, outwardly tend to be very negative, self-deprecating, and live unhealthy lifestyles.
I love my friends, but it’s gotten to the point that I’d rather stay away from people to preserve myself and my growth. Has anyone else had this issue, and how have you dealt with it?
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I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
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First, I hope everyone is doing well, and continuing to fight that good fight! Keep up the great work on yourselves; I'm rooting for all of you!So, I started doing therapy at the beginning of the year, when I was in my most depressed state, but with my therapist, I made big changes and steps in the right direction. But, over a month ago, she couldn't take my insurance anymore, and I had to stop...
I haven't found an easy handling for this phenom, but the strategy which I have gotten the most relief out of is to give what I wish to receive. When I begin to view the people around me as Borg, I start digging for evidence to the contrary. What makes *you* unique, my friend? May I have a tour of *your* unique traits? When I can view the people around me as unique individuals instead of a mindless collective, it is easier for me to appreciate and project my own unique qualities, myself. Still not easy, but easier.
Gentle empathy and continued support while you find what works for you, my unique friend. Vent freely. Vent often. Your own answers are in there.
Individuality is irrelevant...
opinion is irrelevant...
emotions are irrelevant...
you will be assimilated into the collective...
your knowledge will be assimilated into our own...
wait... Am I still pretending to be the Borg or the public school system???
I agree with Arfie, when you look in the mirror, there only one of you looking back. Your unique not only here but throughout the entire universe...except the evil dimension where there's a evil you trying to get into the good dimension... sorry way to many star trek references. best wishes to you my friend hopefully you could laugh at some of this. Love