Ruminating

[kaityo1]

Hey all, I’ve been experiencing excessive ruminating lately, this topic came completely out of no where and I haven’t been able to feel somewhat content since. Long story short, I’ve had anxiety, ocd and to top it off.. a stutter since childhood. Most of my teenage and adult life I had no confidence, was very uncertain of myself and my interests.. and just feeling very blank. In the past few years I’ve developed confidence when it comes to my job/career and a great work ethic. However, now I can not stop obsessing over ‘wasted time’ and ‘wasted years’ spent not working the amount of hours I should have after finishing high school, to the point where it affects me and distresses me in the present. I think this has developed from a fear of being perceived as lazy and comparing myself to others. I’m convinced no one else has experienced this.

I know I should leave the past behind, but it has become extremely difficult. Is this a common occurrence? Do many people with anxiety related disorders experience difficulty starting in the workforce? I feel so uncertain.

[Sophie_M]

Hi kaityo1, 

Welcome to the forums and thank you for your bravery and openness in sharing here. It’s a really good place to have come to hear from others. We’re really sorry to hear you’ve been having trouble with rumination, it can be difficult when our inner critic reminds us of the past. Please know that you are not alone in feeling this way, particularly when entering the workforce. It's important to be kind to yourself and remind yourself of all the strength you've had to get to this point.

If you want to talk through what you’re feeling at any time, the Beyond Blue Support Line is here for you 24/7 on 1300 22 4636, or online here. It’s ok to reach out when you’re feeling anxious or upset, they can talk you through some ways to find a bit of calm, and then help you to figure out some options for further support.  We’re sure we’ll hear from the lovely community soon, but in the meantime, here’s some strategies you might like to have a look at it. We understand you might have been through some of these in the past and it might feel like cold comfort right now, but they’re here in case they do pique your interest: 
 

• Another thread where the community have shared some strategies for managing anxiety 
• Beyond Blue Article: When your inner critic is giving you a tough time 

Thanks again for sharing. We’re here to listen and offer support, and you never know how your story might help someone else. 

Kind regards, 

Sophie M