It's June 15th.It seems to me the country is like a rusty engine; slowly, grindingly beginning to work again. We should be calming down, right? Feeling like we're getting back to normal even. Unfortunately, I'm seeing upticks in anxiety. Worried, anxious thought, panic and anxiety attacks.
We've been staying home for a couple months. How to go out, how to be safe and just the anxiety of being out among people is creating distress. While I think everyone, including myself! have these worries and how to questions; the anxious mind is in high gear driven by the perceived, unsafe environment.
The anxious mind, especially people with social phobias and OCD, is more likely to have a hard time getting back outside (and inside) especially if being outside has been limited.
This is a good time for using self calming techniques like coaching yourself through venturing to stores and restaurants. Acknowledging your anxiety and worry rather than dismissing it or making worry be a weakness or character flaw. Do what makes you feel safe rather than trying to "tough it out." especially at first. If that means wear a mask, use hand sanitizer, yes, tolerate some discomfort but listen to yourself as well. Half hour in a big box store is all you can stand at first. Okay, next time try for 35 minutes. Remember to use the "safe" exercise, take deep slow breaths if that works, distract yourself or ride the wave. You can get through the wave of anxiety.
Give yourself time to adjust. It took time to adjust to stay at home. It will take a bit of time to adjust to feeling safe again. Take care of yourself through this process.
Home
Do you enjoy your life? I specialize in helping people define and achieve their goals in life.
Have you been trying to change a constant downward spiral of negative thinking? That is one of the hardest symptoms of depression and anxiety to overcome alone. Therapy can help you challenge your negative thoughts and increase your ability to motivate yourself. Learn how to overcome habits like procrastination, emotional eating and feeling stuck in your life. Figure out better ways to communicate and increase positive relationships with others. Give yourself the gift of therapy.
I treat failure-producing anxiety in social situations and at work. I also treat grief and loss. I use the whole person model. The client and I develop, test out and fine tune strategies and develop skills so, going forward, successes and life-satisfying changes and goals are more easily reached.
I have a certificate in personal coaching to better work with the many people experiencing transitions in career and relationships. I enjoy helping people learn how to self motivate and cope with discouragement. My training has helped my work with corporate clients wanting to change work relationships and be better leaders.
Are we there yet?