Are you being held back by situations you can't control?

[Jaded_Jester]

I need some advice,

I feel that I've made some progress with my SA since I started to see a therapist in November. I even joined a public speaking course to attempt to overcome my anxieties.

I am currently on disability - which is a blessing and a curse lol. I get to stay home and veg out (albeit in pain, at least there's nobody around ) Also I work shift work that is usually routine, but my shift just changed again for the second time in as many months. I was actually starting an exercise routine to help boost my confidence, but with my current condition I can barely walk for a few minutes.

It just seems that I'm getting pushed back into my shell by situations that I can't control. I'm getting frustrated because I was actually going through some positive changes, but now they are postponed (I am a great procrastinator )

Sorry for the rant, anybody who can relate? with words of wisdom? I'm kinda bummed out right now.

[Helga]

Just because your routine changes doesn't mean that has to put an end to your progress.

You can fit exercise into your new routine, you just need to dedicate some time to figuring out the best schedule. Right down how all the hours in your day are spent and you'll see you DO have time for exercise, just maybe not in the same times as before. Also, you can do exercise just about anywhere, even if you work inside an office. You can go to restroom, drink water, basically, get up for a variety of reasons sporadically and you squeeze in some pretty good cardio this way.

At your house, you can do a lot of exercise too.


About you staying at home a lot, this seems like a choice you've made. What is your disability? If its not something that impairs you from *walking* outside, then you have no excuse for staying inside the house. Alone or not, you can do a lot of activities to help you out with your anxiety. You can catch up on literature. You can rehearse speeches; even though you are alone, picture an audience and you'll see if you do this vividly enough, it feels like the real thing. You may start to get a bit of anxiety, and when this happens, use the tools you've learned to combat the feelings.

If you can walk out of the house. Go to public places and just randomly talk to people. Basically, socialize. Do things OUT of your comfort area.

[dez]

I think I've gotten to the breaking point where my situation is not only holding me back from true progress but is also eating me up inside. The only way to take control would be to leave; something I've been working on for years without success. I'm still pushing for the control so I can relate, and I am getting closer to the end goal of leaving. It is difficult feeling trapped without an exit. You feel helpless.

[Jaded_Jester]

dez - I know exactly what you mean about feeling trapped. It's such a sick feeling in your stomach. I guess we have to start weighing the pros and cons of staying in our current situation and how much worse could it be if we left? Do you have a lot holding you in your current situation or is it mostly the anxiety that is keeping you there?

helga - thanks, you're right. I needed the pep talk! When it rains it poors, eh? Unfortunately I am very limited to what I can do physically right now (walking is still painful), but thankfully the pain is starting to slowly disappear.

[dez]

Originally Posted by Jaded_Jester

dez - I know exactly what you mean about feeling trapped. It's such a sick feeling in your stomach. I guess we have to start weighing the pros and cons of staying in our current situation and how much worse could it be if we left? Do you have a lot holding you in your current situation or is it mostly the anxiety that is keeping you there?

It's mostly bad circumstance, some of which is indirectly related to anxiety but mostly has nothing to do with it at all. Otherwise I would just leave without a second thought. It's diffinently something I didn't chose for myself. I guess when you feel trapped you need to dig your way out no matter how long it takes.

I suppose your situation is different and in that respect I agree with helga. A change in routine shouldn't put an end to your progress. Just do things a step at a time.