Weekly Prompt #40: What kind of behaviors do you think anxiety has caused you to engage in?
Hello all and welcome back to another discussion,
It has been a while since the new prompt was shared for discussion. Last prompt we discussed: How do intrusive thoughts impact your daily routines and activities? 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: Anxiety can lead to specific behaviors to handle overwhelming emotions. What kind of behaviors do you think anxiety has caused you to engage in?
Anxiety can manifest in various ways, often leading to specific behaviors as individuals attempt to manage overwhelming emotions avoidance behavior, reassurance-seeking behavior, and so on. They can often exacerbate anxiety in the long run. Let's get started to discuss and share these behaviors and I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences.
Did you join us in the Anxiety Support Chat? It is available every Wednesday for the entire day.
For the most part a true anxiety attack incapacitates me. I curl up into a ball on my couch and ride it out. Leading up to an anxiety episode I get extremely short tempered.
@reallyoverallofit you experience intense feelings of frustration before an anxiety episode. How do these feelings impact your relationships? Please know we are all here for you. You are not alone in this.
@ASilentObserver Thanks. I think I do a pretty good job at being loving to my friends and family when I'm going through an episode. I am sure if someone knows me well enough they notice I'm a bit testy but to the normal person they wouldn't know. I mask my depression and anxiety quite well.
@reallyoverallofit It is good to hear that you put so much effort into being there for others even when you're struggling yourself. How do you feel about seeking support for yourself?
@ASilentObserver I have a therapist and am choosy about what I talk to friends about. I don't want to wear my friends out with what I talk about and with my therapist, I pretty much tell her everything. Not sure how much it helps but I do really appreciate getting to dump once a week.
@ASilentObserver Hi
Whenever I’m really anxious I only want to hide/ runaway and be alone. Sometimes it helps calm my mind. But some other times I shouldn’t do it because avoiding situations won’t make me feel less anxious about them, it’s the opposite.
@nitaroxo you have noticed both short-term relief and long-term avoidance as a result of your anxiety. How do you feel when you avoid situations?
Relived at first but it doesn’t last long. After I feel less confident to handle things and avoiding situations sort of confirms in my mind the thoughts I was having about not being able to do things. Which is the opposite I want.
@nitaroxo I understand that these mixed emotions can leave you feeling uncertain about yourself. What thoughts come up for you when you feel discouraged?
@nitaroxo Hi
Hey eheh
@nitaroxo Yes it’s very important to acknowledge that anxiety can lead to missed opportunities. I understand how difficult it may be dealing with it, but you’re doing a good job.
thank you, i appreciate your words. That’s also what I think. Acknowledging things is already a step forward
@ASilentObserver I experience a lot of body focused repetitive behaviors as I've learned they're called such as cracking my fingers, cracking my neck, and especially picking my skin.
@StrawberryShaken I am sorry you have been experiencing some challenging behaviors. How do these behaviors make you feel?
@ASilentObserver
The neck cracking just makes me feel embarrassed because it's a lot more noticeable to others. I also have been doing my best to be mindful of my posture especially in bed so that I don't need to crack it as often and can instead use a pillow preemptively and gently stretch.
The skin picking I also feel really, really embarrassed about moreso because I do it to myself and find it so compulsive that's like out of my control, so I worry about others thinking I'm not a good person or I'm not trustworthy?? Like, you can't even trust me to have skin..
Thanks for replying.
@StrawberryShaken It feels like both behaviors cause you significant distress. What thoughts go through your mind when you engage in these behaviors?
@ASilentObserver
Just wanting relief and a short burst of control I guess?
@StrawberryShaken Hi
@ASilentObserver
Avoiding people or situations and violence when i can't.
@Gettingbettertoday Avoiding people and situations is a common coping mechanism, but it can also perpetuate feelings of loneliness and isolation.Have you found any strategies in the past that help you feel more calm and centered?
@ASilentObserver
I am dealing better with general anxiety. My social and performance anxiety when triggered still overwhelm me to the point where I am unable to process them.
@Gettingbettertoday I am glad you made some progress reducing your general anxiety levels. However, your social and performance anxiety can feel overwhelming at times.
@ASilentObserver Hi
I try to control everybody and everything around me. Carry on as normal. It's the only option I have
@intelligentSea9085 I am sorry to hear that you have been experiencing some difficult feelings related to anxiety. Trying to control everything around you is one common way people cope with overwhelming emotions. How has this approach helped you in the past?
Basically what a lot of people have said before. I keep myself isolated physically and in my thoughts. I avoid seeing people I know even if I have to cut them off. I even stay silent around my dad especially recently when he decided to wants to divorce my mom.
@wandamx26 I am sorry to hear that wanda. you have been experiencing some difficult feelings during this time of change in your family dynamics. How are you feeling about the decision for your dad to divorce your mom?
Well I feel upset but I don't want to get involved in it. Just today he said that it is not my fault they are both divorcing and that he will always love me. However I feel conflicted when he says that because of the way he has treated both me and my brother over the last few years.
@wandamx26 you have mixed emotions about your experience with your parents' divorce. I get that and it is normal to feel confused by these conflicting emotions. You have all of us here with you to listen to and support you.
@wandamx26 Hi
Back when Dad did the cooking most of the week and I went to day program I would eat extra food because of how bad my cooking was. I don't know if anxiety played a role in me wanting to buy food/drink at Bowling when I could since sometime it was a long time from having supper (4:30pm) to getting home from bowling (9pm or later).
should have been how bad my Dad's cooking was
@Disneywoman you have experienced some difficult feelings related to food and eating during challenging times. Would you share how have these experiences impacted your relationship with food and your body?
@ASilentObserver
Well when I go to the mall or if I'm going to get food from a restaurant that's not Tim Hortons, I automatically get whatever the company's cola product it. For some reason I'm addicted to the cola drinks (for McDonald's its Cola and for Taco Bell it's Pepsi)-in my head both going to the mall/or going to get fast food and/or getting cola for drinks I think is my brain is trying to in a sense "catch up" in how much drinks I would have had in my teenage years if I had access to the money to go buy stuff at the mall or such.
My bad views of my body are thanks to my Dad saying in 2014 "Fine get yourself more fat!" when he tried to give me a banana in 3-4 parts and I wanted a FULL banana w/ nothing on it. And when I told Mom later that February Sunday Luna (my sister) said "You're chunky kiddo". Two years later
in January on a Tuesday because it was suppose to snow and I didn't want to risk a bad place walking to and from the gym (my parents insisted on me walking to the gym which is about a 32min walk from my house)- I didn't go to the gym but that day after I got out of the shower and got dressed Dad bullied me onto the scale.
So you can understand why I didn't like the fact during 2020 that Mom has been making me step on the same scale Dad bullied me onto in 2016.
when i start to spiral i will look into things to see if i can form any sort of connection to what i fear. it definitely can make it worse. coming up with scenarios isnt fun but the unfortunate part is that many times they have been reality.
i can also get to a point where i have a really short fuse with specific people, if theres nothing i can do or say to make them see that what they are doing is having an impact on me or others.
@gddave it is understandable that looking into things that trigger these feelings can worsen them. How do you think we can support you better to address these issues?
@ASilentObserver im not sure to be honest. i mean, i know its a bad habit and all i can do is be aware of that and try my best to find other things to focus on. on the other hand i know im not alone in doing it and we live in an age where its sort of easy to keep track of things. replying shows all the support i need so i appreciate it!
@gddave it is nice you know your habit and want to change. What other things could you focus on?
@ASilentObserver ive been doing a lot of walking, writing music, and trying to better balance all of my hobbies.
@gddave that is a good start dave. i believe in you and here to support you. keep taking your small steps
@gddave Hi
@patientShell1003
hello
My anxiety increases because I don't use distractions or try to numb it. It becomes difficult when I have so much going on that it overwhelms me.
@patientJar2172 I am sorry to hear that, you are experiencing a lot right now. What's overwhelming you?
@patientJar2172 Yess I agree, anxiety can be extremely overwhelming, but it is important to acknowledge where you are and that you’re doing the best you can.
I am sometime anxious in life. I also feel depressed in life. To help me, I try to call helpline and I express my emotions. So I have more facility to find solutions to problems.
@patientShell1003 I am glad you found some relief by calling helplines and expressing your emotions. Openly sharing can help process difficult feelings. If I can ask you, what kinds of things do you usually talk about when you call these services?