Woke up this morning and started to feel anxious about facing the day. So, I gave myself a talking to, to remind me of some important points:
The world is not a cold, bleak, scary place – It only appears that way because I am anxious and thinking negatively.
Just because I have problems doesn't mean people won't accept me.
If I don't make the effort to do things which make me nervous, they will snowball into massive fears and I will find it harder to do them, later.
I'm trying to re-train myself to think positively. It's surprising how negative my thinking has been, without realising it. No bloody wonder I get anxious if I tell myself such things as: everyone hates me and they're going to be mean to me. I have the tendency to worry so much that issues grow bigger and bigger in my mind, until they are blown out of proportion.
Perhaps, if I re-address my fears with positive answers, I will feel better. Such as:
Not everyone hates me. Those close to me care about me and love me. Most people are too wrapped up in their own lives to even notice me much – let alone hate me or be mean to me. Even if the occasional person does take a dislike to me, I'm a nice person and I haven't done anything wrong. They've obviously got their own personal issues, and it doesn't mean they're going to try and ruin my life.
Maybe if I address my fears this way on a regular basis, it will help to take the power out of them and stop them growing. I have read that the brain tends to accept what we tell it as "truth" – So it pays to be mindful of my thoughts.
This post puts a big fat smile on my face. Its words like these that inspire others to follow your lead….and eventually see the light on the other side…even if just for a moment. You go girl!! There is so much right and true in your post. Awesome positive attitude thats definately going to carry you through the roughest patches.
p.s. Cool screen name, I adore Tim Burton…it's minds like his that make the world all that much more colorful. 🙂
Thanks everyone, for your lovely comments! Coming on Anxiety Tribe has helped me a great deal by encouraging me to look at and deal with my anxiety. Plus it really does help to know that loads of others are dealing with the same thing.
The exercise I described was from a book called: Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D Burns. It's really for overcoming depression and negative beliefs, but also works for anxiety. It's a good book, but I haven't finished reading it, yet, so not sure whether to recommend it.