Working Through Anxiety and Triggers
So lately I’ve been dealing with a lot of anxiety and trying to figure out my triggers. This past year, as I’m sure for many, has really taken a toll on me. I have been out of work since April, so I’ve had way too much time to sit and be in my own head.
I’ve started talking to a therapist. Trying to figure out my triggers. I’ve come to the realization, that I think my trigger is my husband. I think the way he reacts to situations and the way I feel about things is causing my emotions to spiral out of control. The thing is though, I don’t think he realizes it. When I talk to him about things, he just doesn’t seem to grasp what I’m saying and says the dumbest shit in response.
My therapist recommended I start journaling, bc I used to years ago, so I’m trying again. I had an OD that I had started back in the early 2000’s, but I’m having a really hard time getting back into it, because I no longer have access to the email address I had started it with. Which totally blows. I don’t even remember the name I had to look it up from this one. She also requested I meditate. I haven’t started that yet, but I would like to. I just started talking with her last week, so let’s see.
I’m not sure if anyone is going to read this, but if you suffer from anxiety, what techniques do you use to help calm yourself down? My husband bought me some hemp oil, but I’m not sure about it, so if anyone has used that, some insight on how you feel, how much you use, etc., would be greatly appreciated as well.
~M
Welcome Back. I lost access to my old OD as well. I’m accepting that that is probably for the best.
For my anxiety, I use distraction and Routine. Work is a great distraction, it alone helped me to get off of all of my medications (I was on anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, something to help me go to sleep). I have found that certain things cause me to think too much. So I play uplifting music while I do them. It tends to stop the thoughts from going so deep. Also, nothing beats a good schedule. When you know what you are going to be doing next, it takes a lot of anxiety out of things.
OD is a pay site now, not everyone realizes that because the old site wasn’t. Welcome back again. I hope you settle in. 🙂
@dragontears Hi! I appreciate the comment. 🙂 I’m definitely out of routine, so maybe it’s best I get back into one. I have no idea when I’m going back to work, so I guess I’ll have to figure something else out. I’m aware it’s a paid site now, but only $4, so I’ll deal.
@melissa-ann-0427gmail-com Yes, it is worth the cost to keep the riff raff down. I think you save 2 months by paying for the year. I’m not sure. I’ve been back a couple of years and have it set to take out automatically.
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Journalling a great tool. You can’t put the trigger on the Husband though. Our reaction to other people’s behavior is on us. Something they do or don’t do, gets you going absolutely yes but it’s the “why” in you that makes you feel the way you do. Find the “why”. My anxiety was because I was letting myself be driven by a person who was on the spectrum (we didn’t know this) and was setting unreasonable expectations for themself. You can’t make other people happy and it’s not selfish to find reasonable ways to nurture your own happiness. Saying NO is not a crime. When I started worrying about being “in trouble” with someone who would have an argument with me before I ever walked into the room because they had their own undealt with anxieties I became a much calmer person. You don’t have to be in control of as much stuff if you’ve identified your boundaries. You aren’t responsible for what other people think or do. It’s too much to ask of yourself. (IMHO)
If meditating seems weird try mindfulness walking. Burning a circle in the lawn has saved lives!
Hemp upset my stomach.
I meant “stopped” worrying.
@tunguska hello! I’m not so much blaming him, but more so his reactions to everything. So while I’m trying to vent and/or explaining things to him he just seems to make it worse. I think if he actually understood why I was reacting to certain things the way I do, it would help calm me down.
@melissa-ann-0427gmail-com Just my $0.02 (which isn’t even enough to clog the outfeed on the washing machine) but expecting anyone (even the ones we’re all warm and squishy about) to understand you is a recipe for displeasure. If it occassionally happens it’s a happy accident and I embrace the moment rather than make it a prerequisite for personal happiness. Oft times the ones that really seem to be on board are the ones who deliver the biggest blind side. Menfolk take a lot of patience. Hang in there.
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I do suffer from Anxiety I take pills that I guess help with me not wanting to kill myself. I dunno if I would ever really go that way. I am waiting for call for getting some help my thing is I fell like I don’t get any good sleep and so I am tired and I also never feel like doing anything I am happy to just stay in my room and not talk to anyone. I kinda stopped talking to my friends. I talk to one only b/c she calls me and I feel bad if I don’t call her back. But really we just talk and bitch about the old days. I just dunno what I think about stuff now.
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