topic Re: Dear Anxiety in Anxiety

Dear Anxiety

CMF — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:26:05 GMT

At times I tell my anxiety to stop, go away, leave me alone. I thought it might be good to put it into a post. Feel free to write your own letter.

Dear anxiety,

I've has enough of you & you need to leave. I am a strong, confident, positive person & you come in & try to take it away. You always pounce when I'm a little vulnerable & you just keep pick, pick, picking at me until my thoughts go round in circles. Well, you won't win. I know your game & I'm not playing.

Go back into your little hole, you won't get the better of me

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

Bob_22 — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 07:27:12 GMT

Thank you CMF,

What a great post and idea.

Dear depression,

I've known you longer than most people in my life. You've seen my ups and downs. You've seen me grow and mature. You've taken away so much and for that I hate you. But you've also given me so much and for that I accept you. You taught me patience. You taught me hope. And you continue to teach me the value of happiness and living in the moment. I hope one day we can say goodbye to each other. And part as old friends.

Bob

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 12:18:25 GMT

Hi Bob,

I love your letter & how you've acknowledged what depression has both taken from & given to you.

I also hope you partner as old friends one say.

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

JED1980 — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 08:22:34 GMT

I love this!

Dear Anxiety (or Pedro, as i like to call you)

Why can't you just stsy in your box and leave me alone?

Some days you are not as loud, and others i struggle to get past your noise.

But.. im learning to live with you. You have taught me resilience, and that i can cope with situations even if you are in the background banging your drum.

The lid won't come off your box one day, and i hope this day is soon.

Jayne

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 08:45:40 GMT

Hi Jayne,

I hope writing here helps you seal that box on Pedro.

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 07:05:16 GMT

Dear Anxiety,

So you paid be a visit today. I took a day off work to have some time to myself & you decided to remind me of when I wasn't working & the stress I felt at the uncertainty of my life. You sat on my shoulder today, making me feel really down & guilty for taking a day to myself. Well you know what, I work hard & I deserve time to myself, to go shopping on my own, to not be rushing from school drop off to work to school pick up. I am allowed to have pleasures in life & not be taken back to difficult times. I am allowed to be happy, so go away. You will not take this from me.

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Fri, 05 May 2023 21:19:30 GMT

Dear Anxiety,

You know I was triggered yesterday so here you are. You've come to put doubt in my mind, go over & over things in my mind. You're draining me. You've done this before, many times & I've overcome it.

You know I'm tired & drained, it's cold & rainy & you want to make me miserable.

I'm going to flick you off my shoulder & watch you sulk away cos you're not welcome here.

I deserve better.

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

Bob_22 — Sat, 06 May 2023 08:09:36 GMT

Thanks CMF for sharing these. They are great. Hope they are helping you too.

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 20:06:07 GMT

Dear Anxiety,

How are you? I'm well but I know you're here to mess with me again. Just wanted to let you know that I'm choosing to be mindful & present. I'm choosing positive thoughts over the ones you want me to have. I'm choosing to look things to be grateful for over things to worry about.

Thanks for the visit, but it's time for you to leave.

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 06:41:19 GMT

Dear Anxiety,

Get lost.

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

Bob_22 — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:14:31 GMT

Dear Anxiety,

"“She stood in the storm & when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails.” Elizabeth Edwards

Bob

Re: Dear Anxiety

Annas1 — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 00:48:25 GMT

Hi Bob, CMF and all,

I agree, this personification of our struggles is very useful. For a long time I have simply wanted to expunge my anxiety and free myself from its suffocating grip. I still don't enjoy/want/seek being anxious whatsoever, though I have gained some important insights about how it shows up for me. First, anxiety can often be a warning bell that something is not right in my relationships or my expectations of myself. I'm trying to get better at picking up on its "ring" before it becomes deafening and I can't hear anything clearly. So, "hello in-built warning system, what do you have to draw attention to today?" I might ask myself when the ringing starts.

Secondly, accepting that an over-active nervous system is part of who I am is a lesson in humility. I have some great qualities and some real difficulties to manage, so I'll never be perfect. And this is a-okay. Anxiety helps me stay grounded, imperfect and human. Of course I struggle with this. Often. But philosophically I like the idea that to be human is to be imperfect. So anxiety can be my inbuilt grounding mechanism sometimes.

Thoughts for the day.

Annas

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 20:21:31 GMT

Welcome Annas1

I agree. Anxiety can be grounding. It reminds me to be grateful for what I have.

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 20:26:10 GMT

Dear Anxiety

You are niggling, niggling, niggling. You want me to feel alone but I have support if I reach out. You want me to feel lonely, but I have people if I want. You are like a Ferris Wheel in my mind. Spinning, spinning, round & round. Heart racing, feeling shakes. I would feel the same if I went for a long run. So I'll tell myself I've been fir a long run. You are, after all, just a feeling do I'll swap you out for something else.

See ya

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

Annas1 — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 21:59:36 GMT

That's fantastic CMF!!

I'm also getting that incessant "alert, alert, alert" at the moment from Anxiety. I'm pretty wiped after some heady days of preparing to travel. Not fun. So, Anxiety, despite your best efforts I'm going on my trip, going to let you come along if you insist, but I'm off and going to enjoy myself with my family in the sunshine. I've got lots of tools in the kitbag these days - you've taught me well. So, hang around, go away, whatever, I'm going forward into the future I have chosen. Adios!

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 12:21:16 GMT

Dear Anxiety,

Today I have been overcome with a sense of calm. I am exhausted. You have completely drained me but I am in the zone, had a productive day at work & enjoyed a walk in the crisp air on my lunch break. I am breathing deeply & slowly. I am calm, relaxed, my mind is clear of your chatter. I am so tired, no energy, but I feel calm. I'm looking forward to closing my eyes & allowing sleep to takeover.

Tomorrow is a brand new day.

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 06:16:22 GMT

Dear Anxiety,

So you're back. I'm trying to remember how I feel when your not around but struggling. Today is hard. I give up, you win.

I want the calmness, the stillness, the clear mind that makes no noise. I want you gone.

Go away, stop putting fear & doubt on my mind. Everyday life is a struggle.

Leave me alone. Don't wanna do this anymore.

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

Bob_22 — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 08:35:07 GMT

Hey Annas1,

What great insight! I never thought of anxiety like that. But yes its definitely understandable to not want anxiety whatsoever. Like yourself, I've learned to manage it sometimes with my own toolkit. I hope your trip goes well! 🙂

Bob

Re: Dear Anxiety

CMF — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:55:01 GMT

Dear Anxiety,

Just bugger off. You've been lingering for weeks & I'm sick of you. You make me feel isolated, drained, lonely, useless.

Just ger lost. You are a waste of my time & energy.

Yours sincerely

Cmf

Re: Dear Anxiety

Annas1 — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 11:45:57 GMT

Oh CMF, I hear you! I've also been on a long and windy jag of anxious days and nights. Exhausting, demoralising, unfair.

So yes, get lost for a while Anxiety, give me some reprieve to rest and recoup. I deserve the peace, I've earned it as I've weathered your icy blasts and constant thrum. I'm actually pretty resilient if I consider what I have endured, managed and shared. I'm trying to act in a way that I can be proud of, despite the extreme discomfort. I choose to be proud of myself. I'm proud of you CMF. You are strong and brave. All power and ease to you.

Take care,

Annas