1. You spend more time reading and researching the internet and bitching on anxiety forums about your anxiety than actually working on it (and count that as work).
2. You aren’t really very interested in your recovery from anxiety. That’s a lot of work after all. *Yawn*…
3. You spend too much time trying to figure out a way to AVOID situations. (In that same amount of time, you could have just gone out there and done something small – and achieved a little victory from which to build on).
4. You don’t take action because you worry that you have been anxious and sick for too long. You think no one has ever had it as bad as you (Taking NO action is a surefire way to avoid progress – and to avoid mistakes that will help you figure out what works for you and what doesn’t.)
5. It’s too scary. You figure it’s just easier to take pills and not think about it. Even if it makes you a shell of the person you once were.
6. You spend the majority of your day doing “busy work” instead of focusing on one thing you could do today to get out there and expose yourself and prove that you can take action despite anxiety and have success.
7. You make excuses instead of creating solutions. Someone who “should” be supportive isn’t, you have a tough marriage, your childhood was horrible, you’re too busy raising your family, etc…
8. You compare yourself to others and to what you think THEY have (perfect lives, perfect families, great social lives), instead of comparing YOUR progress against your own goals.
9. You think, how could some little outdated book like Hope and Help for Your Nerves possibly help me? It was written DECADES ago. My situation is far too complicated…
10. You think, What’s The Use? You tried therapy, pills, and books before and nothing worked. You never think that your perspective about the situation is what may need to change.
Self-sabotage can be a terrible enemy, right? Usually we need someone to tell us the raw truth, no matter how cold and cruel it is. Whatever the anxiety treatment we are trying, we need to work from our inner will to get better, there’s no other way.
Greetings!
I don’t think this post is cold and cruel, sorry you see it that way. It is really just the truth as I see it because I have done every one of these 10 things and never got better…
Oh no! I’m very sorry if I offended you, written communication can sometimes be a problem and I guess I didn’t express my idea very well! I don’t find your post cold and cruel, it’s actually very encouraging, as your posts always are. What I meant was that having someone tell us the truth can be a great wake up call. Happy holidays!
Ha! Didn’t I just comment on your last post about how positive and encouraging you are? I appreciate this post though. Having all that pointed out to me is a good reminder of what I need to be doing – and makes me want to fight back even harder against the panic monster!
Yay! you go girl!
Nothing bad about this post because it’s the truth and I am guilty of all ten. Thank you for reminding me what not to do
You are so enlightened because you have been there. Go go girl keep up the fantastic blogs
Maz xxx
Thanks Maz, more like a slow learner
Recovery from anxiety is possible but it does take effort, hard work and consistent practice. Much like exercise, you can’t expect to be fit and healthy if you don’t put in the time and effort. So, much like pretty much everything else in life, you’ll feel better if you actually apply the principles towards your recovery. It’s one step at a time, one day at a time and it all counts.
You’re right, it is hard. So hard that we can make all kinds of excuses to never even try or give up when the going gets rough (I know I have done both over the years). And it is very much like exercise- that’s a good way to explain it!