Worry

[Bookoffee]

I had a nice weekend keeping out of my mind. I decided after three months to finally unpack our apartment. I am not sure why I have been avoiding it. Maybe because we are not financially secured yet and I fear we will be homeless soon. I like what I have done so far and now have a couple of small projects to do.

I was amazed that I had a couple of triggers and was able to distract myself. I stopped what I was doing at that moment and looked for something new to do to make me think of something else. Change an action, change a thought.

Now my wife is asking me to stop cleaning and write to help stop the worry of having to return to work tomorrow. Thursday and Friday I couldn’t stay at work and started to have panic attacks at work. I am worried that is going to happen again tomorrow.

I am always worrying about what my co-workers are thinking of me due to my anxiety and panic attacks. I feel uncomfortable being around them. I don’t know how to get rid of the negative feelings that I know are just in my thoughts. My emotions are high and as soon as a fear comes to mind, my first reaction is flight. I know I am trapped at work so the trap feelings brings right into a panic attack.

I don’t interact with other people other than my wife on the weekends. The only time I do is if I am out walking my dog and someone wants to pet her. Tomorrow I am forced to interact with other people. I am scared I will not have the mental capacity to talk with others. Being in the present of another human being is extremely scary for me. I have no clue how to handle the fear that arise when people start to show up in my office in the morning.

I have a strict route to keep me focused throughout the day. Even though I know each step to take, I talk myself through it for help. I have my calm music on for calming sound outside of my head and calming pictures and toys.

I am working on a new goal list to help me through the day tomorrow. What are some of the coping mechanism you use at work or in social outings?

 

[KwanYingirl]

Here is today's FB post by the Dalai Lama:
If it can be solved, there's no need to worry.
And if it can't be solved, worry is of no use.

 

[Laurie McLaughlin]

For me what works is to work on staying focused on the present moment.

For me fear means I am worried about something that might happen in the future. If I can take one thing at a time and realize that in each moment, there is nothing really there to be scared of. Some times I don't want to believe that but I know it is true. So I work with keeping my mind focused on the moment and realizing that in this moment I am safe. And now in this moment I am safe. And now in this moment I am safe.

As soon as I get ahead of myself and think about the future, then the fear jumps up to grab me.

I hope you are able to find the peace of mind you are looking for to deal with the situations you are in.

I have been able to do it most of the time so I know with practice it can be done.

Many blessings - Laurie