Great post & resonates completely… it can be hugely daunting as an adult to suddenly realise, in a ‘bingo’ moment, you’ve pretty much never figured out what you actually love to do in life (or wondered why you don’t have any ‘proper’ fun, cool hobbies, like most of your friends & family seem to have) because your whole life you’ve been living with one sole aim.. covering up/dealing with/trying to overcome (the wrong way) this thing called Anxiety, which has somehow permeated every micro-behaviour and facet of your existence, even if you’ve become expertly proficient at hiding it (in my case, Social Anxiety disorder). And now, a bit like being a child all over again, you need to start seriously experimenting with what might float one’s boat. But that’s a great starting point to grab onto.
PS. Drew, did I miss the latest Recovery Monday podcast (via Instagram) or did it not happen this week?? (always look forward to catching up on these).
What about when you are ready to get back to life but physical symptoms happen whenever you are doing things. They happen at home or even if I try to do things I want to do. It is the physical that refuses to back down. And I am tired of breathing and self-soothing jus to get through the day. I like my life, my family, etc. When will my nervous system calm down?
The hint here is that you see the symptoms as a problem and something standing in your way. This process is about learning that you CAN do things EVEN while you feel them. We want the physical symptoms because recovery is not about making them go away, its about learning to relate to them in a new way. First we learn to see them differently, then we learn that we don't have to treat them differently, then we learn that we don't have to fear them .... then they go away. That's the principle beneath everything I write and say.
You are on your way without even having finished your graduate studies, Drew! You sound just like my therapist. LOL. Yes, I see the symptoms as my problem. Some days I doubt they are just anxiety (it isn't the usual panicky type symptoms) and other days it is so clear. For me, they are connected to underlying emotions and things like control etc. When I connect with what those emotions are, the intensity goes way down. I know progress is happening because the days I don't mind the journey and symptomsare more numerous than the days I hate. Every day was a hateful day just a couple of months ago. Then there are even some days that I enjoy it to a degree. There are even days and times I feel like myself. Still on the journey, seeking to accept it. I am also working on being thankful for this journey.
I really needed to hear this one. The development and recovery process from extreme health and medication anxiety has made me truly forget what I love anymore and hearing that I'm not alone in that really made a difference! I gotta try and get back out there and rediscover what makes me happy.
I loved this episode :) Thank you, Drew! It also was fun to look at my old bucket list and try things that I used to delay due to lack of time. And it was nice to discover that I enjoy them. So I can say that thanks to anxiety I finally managed to start doing things that I always wanted to do but would find excuses not to :)
Thank you Drew… I really hope to find myself again. I hope to find things that bring me joy instead of sitting in all this fear and frustration. I have tried reading again which is something I’ve always enjoyed and it’s been good. I have let symptoms interfere with that lately but will try again. I miss the feeling of just moving about singing and being goofy…. It has to be in here somewhere…
I so so needed to read this today . Back story in brief, last two years lost mum and my business and diagnosed ASD and adhd and had meds thrown at me by dr. Slowly trying to get off of these , whilst seeking help with getting back into PAID employment after 4 years out . What do you want to do ? I get asked .. immediately I feel weird and broken when I reply I just don’t know ? Guess I will try any type of work ? This leaves me thinking wow, 47, and can’t put my finger on what I love or want to do , I must be a Mis fit . But after reading this , it gives me some re assurance that most of my life , I ve been staying where I feel safe , in jobs that I felt safe in , to avoid anxiety . Thank you again Drew , guess I’m not on my own !!
Thanks again Drew. I have been trying to learn Welsh. It's not completely new, because I did some in school, but it helps me reconnect with my school days. I still wish I could dance again like I used to and sing, but MS is restricting that.
Great post & resonates completely… it can be hugely daunting as an adult to suddenly realise, in a ‘bingo’ moment, you’ve pretty much never figured out what you actually love to do in life (or wondered why you don’t have any ‘proper’ fun, cool hobbies, like most of your friends & family seem to have) because your whole life you’ve been living with one sole aim.. covering up/dealing with/trying to overcome (the wrong way) this thing called Anxiety, which has somehow permeated every micro-behaviour and facet of your existence, even if you’ve become expertly proficient at hiding it (in my case, Social Anxiety disorder). And now, a bit like being a child all over again, you need to start seriously experimenting with what might float one’s boat. But that’s a great starting point to grab onto.
PS. Drew, did I miss the latest Recovery Monday podcast (via Instagram) or did it not happen this week?? (always look forward to catching up on these).
What about when you are ready to get back to life but physical symptoms happen whenever you are doing things. They happen at home or even if I try to do things I want to do. It is the physical that refuses to back down. And I am tired of breathing and self-soothing jus to get through the day. I like my life, my family, etc. When will my nervous system calm down?
The hint here is that you see the symptoms as a problem and something standing in your way. This process is about learning that you CAN do things EVEN while you feel them. We want the physical symptoms because recovery is not about making them go away, its about learning to relate to them in a new way. First we learn to see them differently, then we learn that we don't have to treat them differently, then we learn that we don't have to fear them .... then they go away. That's the principle beneath everything I write and say.
You are on your way without even having finished your graduate studies, Drew! You sound just like my therapist. LOL. Yes, I see the symptoms as my problem. Some days I doubt they are just anxiety (it isn't the usual panicky type symptoms) and other days it is so clear. For me, they are connected to underlying emotions and things like control etc. When I connect with what those emotions are, the intensity goes way down. I know progress is happening because the days I don't mind the journey and symptomsare more numerous than the days I hate. Every day was a hateful day just a couple of months ago. Then there are even some days that I enjoy it to a degree. There are even days and times I feel like myself. Still on the journey, seeking to accept it. I am also working on being thankful for this journey.
I really needed to hear this one. The development and recovery process from extreme health and medication anxiety has made me truly forget what I love anymore and hearing that I'm not alone in that really made a difference! I gotta try and get back out there and rediscover what makes me happy.
I loved this episode :) Thank you, Drew! It also was fun to look at my old bucket list and try things that I used to delay due to lack of time. And it was nice to discover that I enjoy them. So I can say that thanks to anxiety I finally managed to start doing things that I always wanted to do but would find excuses not to :)
Love this! Amazing how we can find silver linings in all this mess.
Thank you Drew… I really hope to find myself again. I hope to find things that bring me joy instead of sitting in all this fear and frustration. I have tried reading again which is something I’ve always enjoyed and it’s been good. I have let symptoms interfere with that lately but will try again. I miss the feeling of just moving about singing and being goofy…. It has to be in here somewhere…
It IS still in there. Letting it come out even while you might not feel so great is what will get you to where you want to be. You can do this.
Thank you so much! You are such an amazing person, I appreciate all you do.
I so so needed to read this today . Back story in brief, last two years lost mum and my business and diagnosed ASD and adhd and had meds thrown at me by dr. Slowly trying to get off of these , whilst seeking help with getting back into PAID employment after 4 years out . What do you want to do ? I get asked .. immediately I feel weird and broken when I reply I just don’t know ? Guess I will try any type of work ? This leaves me thinking wow, 47, and can’t put my finger on what I love or want to do , I must be a Mis fit . But after reading this , it gives me some re assurance that most of my life , I ve been staying where I feel safe , in jobs that I felt safe in , to avoid anxiety . Thank you again Drew , guess I’m not on my own !!
Thanks again Drew. I have been trying to learn Welsh. It's not completely new, because I did some in school, but it helps me reconnect with my school days. I still wish I could dance again like I used to and sing, but MS is restricting that.