Triggers
Hey everyone, I have not socialized with anyone besides the family in my household since January 2021, today the A/C repair guy is coming over to fix my air conditioning and I am so on edge. My anxiety made me wake up at 5am just sitting there, waiting and being unable to relax or do anything else. I can acknowledge this is a totally normal thing and all the guy has to do is fix my A/C and leave. But why am I so anxious?? It is so debilitating. To make things worse, he said he would be here “during the morning period.” Uncertainty triggers me so badly and the fact that I don’t know when he will be here also has me on edge.
Hang in there. I had someone come to my apartment to deliver a new cell phone last week. I was So anxious. You are not alone in feeling that way. Remember that fear is only an emotion. And no matter how intense it gets it will subside. 🌸
Thank you for the reassurance!
@a1locker
it's great that you wrote here. This is an important step and I appreciate your courage.
You write that you have not socialized with anyone besides the family in your household since January 2021. It seems to me quite normal to be anxious when you are not used to contact with other people. Your feelings are understandable. I can imagine a lot of people would feel like that. What we are not used to, we do not feel comfortable in it.
And how was it before January 2021?
The one thing that comes to my mind is to gradually look for contact with people outside the family. It doesn't have to be any big steps. No big goals. Slowly and gradually. For example, did you try telephone contact first? Do you have any friends?
Thank you!! Well the entire reason I haven’t been able to socialize with anyone is because of the covid lockdowns. Before that I would see other family and friends normally. However that still create a challenge for me generally. But after being cut off for a so long, my social anxiety has been heightened. The telephone contacts with friends and family aren’t that bad to be honest.. it’s just the fact that I cannot go outside or meet with people due to the lockdown. But yes I agree with you! Small steps and easing into socialization again would help best
@a1locker
I can imagine it was due to lockdowns. And it's absolutely normal.
It's great that the phone calls go quite ok. This is the first step.
I can think of just waving to a friend from the window can be another small step. You don't have to be very demanding on yourself. I hope you come up with your own ideas.
You can experiment. And whatever you try, you can appreciate yourself. Tap your shoulder. Because it takes courage. Each time challenge yourself little bit and slowly continue.
Try to do what is doable. Not what seems impossible to you at the moment. I keep my fingers crossed.
