Weekly Prompt #37: This is your Worry Jar
Hello all and welcome back to another discussion,
Last week, we discussed: How has anxiety affected your overall sense of self-worth or confidence? Thank you to all who participated and shared your thoughts with us. I appreciate you all. I hope all who may read it find it relatable too. If anyone hasn't shared yet, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you.
This week's prompt: Add your worry to this Worry Jar! Here's how:
Whenever an anxious thought pops up, write it and share it here with us. This thread will act as a jar. At the end of the week/month, take a look at the worries. Do they seem as scary anymore? Share with us
I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences!
@ASilentObserver I do a lot of meditation and mindfulness. It helps a lot. I worry less now, as an adult. When I was a teen, I was labeled a Worry Wort. I used to worry about everything, even something small. Now as an adult, I do not worry as much. If, I have worrying thoughts, I do some 5 min Meditation. I have been doing Meditation for a long while now. When I go into meditation, it is really easy for me to do. As I am writing this comment, I am meditating right now. I was wondering if your a big fan of meditation or mindfulness? With regards to Meditation, I have taken some courses on it. I was wondering if you have taken any courses on Meditation? I was wondering if by chance you suffered from worrying or anxiety, when you were a teenager?
@ASilentObserver I worry that my boyfriend does not love me, and I feel that my energy and time is going to waste, I know that I can have better and someone who fits more into my vibe but still I can't leave him because I love him
@neathemlock07 you are experiencing some difficult emotions related to feeling unloved and uncertain about your relationship. It is understandable to crave a deeper connection with your partner. What thoughts go through your mind when you worry he doesn't love you?
@ASilentObserver that he might lose interest, moreover we are often arguing a lot nowadays, sometimes I understand it is my fault, sometimes it his fault too. There was this issue which I faced yesterday about him lying to me regarding something, we sorted it out yesterday itself, but today suddenly the thoughts about that issue started lingering again, today his mood was not good, so at first I did somethings to make him calm, then later thought of discussing calmly about that issue, I did not even wanted to discuss, I just wanted to share. That I still feel disappointed because he lied to me. I understood that he is not okay with the mood, but he got angry, told me things which were hurtful, we were over facetime, he kept telling things and I became unresponsive, he just cut the call later on.
@neathemlock07 hmm, i hear you neat. It brings some difficult emotions related to feeling worried about losing interest and having arguments in your relationship. It is completely normal to have both valid and invalidating feelings in such situations. When someone lies to us, it can stir up strong reactions. You have all of us here with you to support. You are notalone in this.
@ASilentObserver I'm scared, well more upset, I try to answer as many threads as I can and suoport everyone I can. But the last couple of months I've lost two friends on here that got angry at me one for something I thought was a mutual joke between us😞 the other cause I wasn't quick enough replying to her, she got quite mean with her words towards me. I just apologised but she won't talk to me know😥 and today a reply I thought was supportive, was taken the wrong way, and he replied thinking I was making fun, but I wasn't, I just apologised, I hope we are still friends. I come on this site at the time of day when my pain levels are high as a distraction. But I'm sad, I don't know what I keep doing wrong😞 I feel like a failure, my self esteem right now is at a all time low
@Tinywhisper11 I love you. I will always love you, no matter what. We are still friends. In fact, we are best buddies.
@calmMango9611 ❤❤ thankyou ❤ I love you ❤ I think I'm not very good with my words, and I say the wrong things. But you forgave me, thankyou so much. The other two have not, it breaks my heart
@Tinywhisper11 
@Tinywhisper11 You're very welcomed. When I was praying for you, bestie, God spoke to me, and he said I should ask you to forgive me, as well.
So, I come to you with a merciful heart, and a hurt heart. I ask for your forgiveness.
See, when I was growing up, I had issues, with my wording. Just like you. I have a learning disability. Sometimes, I do not always understand what I read.
Let me tell you a short story about my growing up.
In early elem. school, kids would pick on me a lot, because I walked with a limp. They would put there feet out and I would trip and fall down, and they laughed and laughed and laughed about it. They thought it was funny. I would cry, when they did that. As I write, this tears are coming down my face. It was a very long time ago. But every so often, it brings back painful memories. They would also make fun, of the way I talked. I would stammer, when I talked. They would make jokes about that. Everything, was a big joke, to them. They also, would just hit and punch me for no reason, no reason at all. I went to a public school, I need spec Ed classes. I would pray before I eat, my lunch. I would also pray for other people. Well, they said your prayers are dumb. They also call me a r**** word. I told them, that praying is not dumb. They did not like that. So, I am kind sensitive, when people call my prayers, more than just prayers. God, is the one who helps me write the prayers, that I do. I am sorry, for hurting your feelings, and for the misunderstanding. I hope you can forgive me, in time. So, when I read it, I thought you were making fun of my prayers. When God spoke and told me I was in the wrong, I felt bad. I forgave you, but I was in the wrong. I do read things slowly and several times. But sometimes, my brain reacts sometimes. I know you have issues with your writing. I forgot about that. I am not perfect. I have made a lot of mistakes, in my life. But the one thing is, I learn from them and grow. I feel this whole thing has brought me and you and our friendship closer. We need each other, bestie. We truly do. One, thing I am not proud of, is I am a former listener, and I forgot, to ask some clarifying questions. Looking back on it, I wish I did. I will try my best to remember to do that, if there is something I do not quite understand.
I do not want to lose you as my bestie.
@Tinywhisper11 I am sorry to hear that Tiny and sending hugs, if okay. I understand how you are feeling discouraged after losing some online friendships lately. I get it that receiving misunderstandings and harsh words can really sting. What do you think might have contributed to these misunderstandings?
My biggest anxiety right now is school ! I feel like failure is around the corner just waiting to screw everything up so I'm obsessed over my grades and working hard everyday!@ASilentObserver
@ASilentObserver
This past Tuesday I was in a car accident with my youngest son. Thank God we were fine, but now having to walk everywhere I feel like a failure to my kids. Having a car is a privilege, and even though the accident wasn't my fault I feel terrible because my children don't have the luxury of the car to transport them. Sorry guys if this post seems shallow. I know there are bigger problems in the world.
@reservedTangerine9348 I am so sorry to hear about the car accident, tangerine. That is scary for both you and your son. How are you feeling after the accident?
@ASilentObserver
Scared to drive again honestly. Walking has been eye opening though. You miss so much when you drive and the world really does fly by. Lucky I can walk to work and the kids can get to school but I will be grateful to drive my car again.
@reservedTangerine9348 It is understandable and normal to feel scared after going through such a serious accident. It makes sense that it would take some time to adjust to being behind the wheel again. What thoughts come up for you when you think about driving now?
Freedom but also caution.
My main fear is that I am not going to get better. That I will never find myself. That I will live in fear and never be able to do anything worthwhile ever again.
@Gettingbettertoday That sounds scary 😕, Gtting. I can see why it would cause so much anxiety for you. What thoughts pop into your head when you think about this?
@ASilentObserver
That my life is effectively over. The best I can do is maintain a life that is not satisfactory. I see myself as getting older and less able so my life will go from not being satisfactory to nightmarish.
@ASilentObserver
I have two more weeks left at a toxic job and things vary. Somedays are good and somedays are incredibly tough. No matter what I do it's always my fault even though the circumstances are just impossible. I'm worried that one day I won't be able to take it anymore. I worry that I'll burst into tears and break down. I'm still holding out these two weeks because I have two friends that I work with that I can't leave behind. After that it's summer break and hopefully they find new jobs like I was.
@ASilentObserver thank you for making these prompts that gives me the opportunity to speak my fears. I worry about my future a lot, if I'll ever be financially successful to take care of my parents in their old age, I wonder if I can survive in my country when I grow up and my parents will be too old to protect can I actually fend for myself? I worry about how everyone sees me in uni, I mean some of my mates called me autistic without me hearing (which I'm not) I worry I might actually make friends in this my time in university and all in all my greatest fear if if 'I'm doing okay now and if I'll do better in the future' in all fields of life.
I'm worried my friend's upcoming cancer treatments won't work and she'll die within a year. She's had this cancer once before, but it seems like this time, the treatment isn't working.
@Zeraphim So, very sorry to learn of this. I truly am. You and your friend are in my thoughts and prayers.