Springtime Anxiety - The Weather Is Better, So Why Am I Not Happy?

[nycowboy]

I have long had this issue when winter (very cold here) turns into spring.
I'm not feeling that bad this year, but my anxiety used to be HUGE HUGE HUGE in past years.
We go from nice quiet winter when all the noise and icky people around us stay cooped up in their houses to spring, when people come out again and life is "beautiful." The weathermen trumpet the glorious sounds of the birds that have returned, "festival" season returns, when every weekend has some awful craft show that "everyone" is going to, and I just hate it. I will have to see my annoying neighbors again...

First: does anyone else feel this way about the return of spring?

Second: I have told myself, and keep telling myself that I'm NOT going to give in to spring anxiety this year!
We had a very very mild winter, so I don't think the transition will be as hard for me. My question is: what other steps can I take to help myself transition from the quiet time of winter to the noise of spring?

 

[scout86]

That reminds me of something my T once said. One of my favorite quotes. LOL "You might want to find a better way of thinking about that."

He was talking about a flashback that involved pine trees. I eventually decided that the trees were innocent bystanders who were probably really on my side, but what could they do? They WERE trees, after all.

The cool thing about what he said is, it had never crossed my mind that I had a choice about how I looked at some things. Normally, I'm all about "being able to choose". In this case, I just accepted the bad, negative, scarier interpretation and ran with it. But I didn't HAVE to do that. You don't either. Your situation might be more challenging, but I'll bet it's possible for you to find "better" ways of looking at spring. Maybe even better ways to look at some of what you don't like (like your neighbors.) And, maybe you can find some ways to escape on the weekends too, somehow.

 

[nycowboy]

Escape on weekends: yes, it's called horseback riding :) !!!!!!

 

[Friday]

yes, it's called horseback riding :) !!!!!!

Superlike :sneaky: "Something about the outside of a horse, that's good for the inside of a man." :D T.Roosevelt

I'm not feeling that bad this year, but my anxiety used to be HUGE HUGE HUGE in past years.

It drives me a little nuts when my patterns start shifting about. When things start going bad? Well that's obvious. When things start going good? There's both the energy spent in feeding that (c'mon, c'mon, c'mon... Let's keep this one running, pour some strength into it, dig deep, let's do this) as well as the waiting... For the other shoe to drop. Takes some serious time before I can settle into a thing. To use the horse piece, a bit high strung, me. Takes quiet hands & steady pressure, and even then I'm prepared to bolt for some time.

As far as Spring goes? Not exactly. I'm not by nature a jealous person, but I am territorial as f*ck. When people start encroaching into my space? Doesn't matter how much sense it makes, like people out enjoying the sunshine, my irritation runs pretty hot. People who couldn't be bothered when the weather wasn't fair, now coming out in droves to my places? Snarl. Like @scout86 's therapist, I generally have to find another way to think about that. Which takes some head tilting. And usually, some rearranging. <insert British announcer guy voice> The migratory patterns of the hairless beach ape! Look how they congregate. Ah! Looks like we've got some mating displays over here!!! ;)

Humor & beauty are my 2 mainstays, in rethinking. If I can find what's funny? I'll be alright. If I can find what's beautiful? I'm damn good.

 

[nycowboy]

Thanks, Friday. I'm very territorial too! At least now, through work with my T, I'm able to realize WHY I'm being territorial.

 

[Ronin]

Sounds like progress, @nycowboy. :)

And yep, I'm relating. Me & weather of all sorts are seventy issues for a simple state. In case I can't just move through it and think emotionally instead of practically, I just deal with it by personifying. As in you weather, looking like that other weather that stole my friends, you move it the f*ck away and make space for some that's calming me and reminding me of happy times, instead. Oh, right, there were happy times. Good head, back to thinking of THOSE. :sneaky::banghead:

Anything leading to other trainwrecks than the ones I'm stuck with at the moment. Having moving space about at least that little.

 

[EveHarrington]

Sounds like you live in a touristy area? That doesn't sound like much fun to me, either! I prefer peace and quiet, venturing out into the world when I'm good and ready.