Anxiety- Slowing doooowwwnnn

[white knight]

Those with anxiety slowing down is easier said than done. How do you? Your pace is inbuilt, your walking speed for example, is natural to you right?. You get things done in fact you are your work managers favourite employee right? This all sounds great, but it isnt, it has ramifications that you might not realise until your anxiety needs addressing through medical attention.

In a workplace "flogging a willing horse" is what managers do. They want things done quickly, you're the employee to see. You then have a far more intense working day than the guy that does the minimum required and he/she will be there 30 years while you suffer burnout and leave in a short time. That's liufe but can you do anything about that... slow yourself down?

The first thing I realised as a young man was that although I had great work references I wasn't enjoying myself working so fast. A bit like looking for holes in a dam and plugging them up quickly. There would always be holes. Pacing yourself is a forced action so it doesnt come naturally with anxious people. Here is a few ideas-

• Assess your tasks and calculate what is a reasonable amount to achieve in a given period
• Once near that achievement seek out workmates to chat with even as you do your work but slowly
• Between breaks attend the bathroom to simply wash your hands. It's hygienic and gives you a few minutes break
• Remember, charity begins at home, over work will exhaust you and your private life will suffer
• One art is to use your imagination to mentally remove yourself from your environment. 
• Repetitious work? if permitted use music in hearing buds.
• Have a long term goal of running your own business as your work ethic could make you successful.
• Worry is counter productive
• Deep breathing- anywhere, anytime.

Do you have ideas on slowing down?

TonyWK

[ecomama]

Wow Tony WK, you're really pumping out the great threads! Another good one right here... 

Just a tad on my alphabet soup lol... I've been diagnosed with Complex PTSD, depression a long time ago which is more or less managed well, ADHD is a more recent diagnosis and I'd like to stop there please God! hahaha... 

I'm doing well. 

Anxiety you say? 
Well with PTSD "episodes" I couldn't take it any more so sought sessions with a Psychologist who specialised in Trauma. 
She did Exposure Therapy with me which helped mountains, especially being taught how to do it myself without her. 

This lessened my overall anxiety about going anywhere in our Community. One episode in 2.5y since. 

Breathing OUT. Yoga teachers. 
Many people say take deep breaths but yah... we need to get the CO2 OUT of our systems, not let it build up. Breathing techniques taught in Yoga help, nadi shodhana for those who want to Google it. 
You can do this silently in Staff Meetings as I sometimes do lol. 

Physically Stretching UP and OUT. My Chiropractor has been a huge part of my healing journey. 
Can explain if needed. 

Lastly, go with it. My Counsellor's advice. 
If all else fails and there's a high energy zone I'm in LATE into the night? 
I do housework lol! 
I Journal, do laundry, paint my nails, do a face mask.... whatever self-care I want to. 
It's nice to watch the sun rise some mornings :-))

That's all for post Number 1 here.. 

Love EM

[white knight]

Hi EM, love your replies

You've just proved there is so many ways to relax and recover even partially and who knows how many members of BB or not will read your ways to overcome.

Many prongs stoke the fire and I'm a great believer of this multi approach. Certainly medication has its uses but it is merely one tool for the job.

I was diagnosed initially with ADHD and tried over 10 medications over 6 years for it, but was misdiagnosed, I had bipolar2, dysthymia, depression and anxiety (in the past). It seemed my impulsivity, mania etc mirrored ADHD symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms are blurred, its likely I did have a little ADHD in there and no doubt I've had PTSD. My daughter had PTSD from her teaching profession and I from a fight against corruption in the 80's. I think there are some personalities that are more prone to fall into these illnesses under pressure from work or trauma. eg I should never have worked in a jail and my daughter, a school. Sadly there is no preventative advice for our career choices based on our then illness waiting to be awoken.

Prem Rawat "Maharaji" recommended to watch a sunset. So I followed his advice and climbed a nearby hill in 2009. I sat on a large boulder very still and watched as it set, it took 2 hours. Towards the end, tears had fallen and secretly I waited for something to happen... it did, momentarily a bird landed on my shoulder then flew away. I dont even know what bird it was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhrtbBrMQ1Y

TonyWK