Highly Sensitive People HSP Community Group
The highly sensitive person (or HSP) is someone who cares deeply about everything ... feels emotions with great intensity ... is highly conscientious ... has a rich and complex inner life ... is very intuitive ... is often creative in a variety of ways... is easily overwhelmed and/or overstimulated. A HSP needs lots of quiet time,space, and freedom. If this sounds...
Just wondering if anyone else there has to deal with anxiety and what you do to handle it?
Especially in the past year, I have noticed this trend where I will feel good for a couple of weeks or even a couple of months, but then I go through another couple of months where I struggle more with my anxiety. Sometimes I get really bummed out about it and this in turn makes me feel depressed. I feel like it will never be over and that I will forever be trapped in this cycle.
I have been taking medication for 9 years now and I also take Chinese herbs and get accupuncture for anxiety and sleep. Now, I am worried that the accupuncture and herbs no longer work. Maybe its because of my emotional tendencies. I think I grew up being taught to not feel my feelings and so I have learned to repress them--especially anger. Perhaps when this happens, it builds up and leads to anxiety. Also, sometimes I think I get anxious because I am not expressing myself artistically. I am a very creative person, but I hardly ever do art at this point because I feel tired, too busy, and unmotivated.
I wish I could just accept that this is who I am and what I have, but does this mindset really lead to recovery? Isn't accepting it sort of giving in and admitting that your damaged in some way? It is so tough because there is a big part of me that never wants to give up and to feel like one day I will not be this way anymore. Afterall, I remember going through a period of about a year recently, where I felt pretty good and in control. I was sleeping well and feeling happy. But then, I hit a rough patch and felt depressed for a couple of months and really struggled. Well, I got out of that and felt better again. I try to remind myself that I have gotten through hard times before and I will again, but sometimes I just get so tired of the whole cycle!
Especially in the past year, I have noticed this trend where I will feel good for a couple of weeks or even a couple of months, but then I go through another couple of months where I struggle more with my anxiety. Sometimes I get really bummed out about it and this in turn makes me feel depressed. I feel like it will never be over and that I will forever be trapped in this cycle.
I have been taking medication for 9 years now and I also take Chinese herbs and get accupuncture for anxiety and sleep. Now, I am worried that the accupuncture and herbs no longer work. Maybe its because of my emotional tendencies. I think I grew up being taught to not feel my feelings and so I have learned to repress them--especially anger. Perhaps when this happens, it builds up and leads to anxiety. Also, sometimes I think I get anxious because I am not expressing myself artistically. I am a very creative person, but I hardly ever do art at this point because I feel tired, too busy, and unmotivated.
I wish I could just accept that this is who I am and what I have, but does this mindset really lead to recovery? Isn't accepting it sort of giving in and admitting that your damaged in some way? It is so tough because there is a big part of me that never wants to give up and to feel like one day I will not be this way anymore. Afterall, I remember going through a period of about a year recently, where I felt pretty good and in control. I was sleeping well and feeling happy. But then, I hit a rough patch and felt depressed for a couple of months and really struggled. Well, I got out of that and felt better again. I try to remind myself that I have gotten through hard times before and I will again, but sometimes I just get so tired of the whole cycle!
I like this idea you wrote:
There is a book by Dennis T. Jaffee, Ph.D, and Cynthia D. Scott, Ph.D. called 'From Burnout to Balance' it suggests another technique to counter negative thinking. 'When you find yourself being self critical, write down a list of positive things about yourself, and things that you would like to happen," they say. "Place the list where you can read it often, on the refrigerator or bathroom mirror perhaps, and try to repeat these affirmative messages to yourself several times a day."
I will start by looking for this book.
I like what you wrote here: My anxiety became somewhat of habit and as soon as I started to back away from it right away it began to leave.
Yes, anxiety is a habit. Maybe almost and addiction. It needs to be quit just like any other addiction. It is a fall-back pattern that needs to be replaced with a new, healthier pattern.