Over sensitive to criticism from people I know

[Annabel]

I decided to post how I feel because I know that my Anxiety is much worse then ever at the moment and I know it's been triggered by my work place. I work in a Government department and I've noticed the gradual decline of Staff levels over the last 10 years and we are working much harder now then ever. I have always been a reliable worker and never complain about my busy days and I work part time, 3 days a week. At work, I just kept on doing the harder Client service jobs but over the last month, I've noticed that I have not as much energy at work and when I get home I haven't got any energy left at all and my husband then just gets the dinner ready and thinks that I'm being lazy. Last Wednesday, I burst into tears to my Manager and said "I've had enough of this place, I can't stand that there are slackers here and I do their work for them when they ignore the counter and they don't give much support back." I told her this place is making me depressed and sad and then I realised that explains why I'm so tired all the time too! I already suffer from Anxiety and not only do I get the buttleflies in my stomach but also now for work related depression! I feel more sensitive then ever to other people's comments or criticism. I especially feel hurt from someone I know, eg. A Teacher shrugged me off with a comment about how she is busy and can't think right now while I was telling her something quickly about my boy. Another eg. Last night my brother in law made a comment"Just go to the car!" as I was telling him something while walking out. I always feel when people I know do this to me, that it's unjust and unfair as I would never talk to them like that and I'm not rude. I see a Pyschologist and I have meditation breaks. I do Yoga 3-4 times a week which has helped my breathing. I know that it takes practice and consistency but I hope that when I do get off guard by People, I won't feel the butterflies and hurt and I'll stop dwelling on those conversations! Fortunately, my Manager understands that I have anxiety and mild depression now and will put me less at the client service counter. I know that as I'm doing it all naturally without medication it's tough navigating through life with other people and their criticism and shrugging off rude attitudes but I will have times to myself where I will do my yoga or see a movie which is a great diversion from these people that are in my life! Thankyou. I hope there's other similar stories out there maybe?

Annabel

[Starwolf]

Hi Annabel, thank you for sharing your story with us.

Kudos to you for standing up for yourself and letting your manager know how you felt. It has obviously been a wise move and paid off. Suffering in silence often lets people think you're OK when it couldn't be further from the truth...

It is difficult not to take criticism on board, particularly when suffering depression/anxiety. Mental and emotional unrest make us more vulnerable to insensitivity. Keeping this fact in mind may help you realize that over reacting is a by-product of those conditions. People who are abrupt and inconsiderate are so mostly because of personal issues too. They're reacting themselves to having a bad day or other upsets. Often, they don't mean to be offensive, it's just the uncontrolled way it comes out because they're themselves cranky, under pressure etc...They're too emotionally wrapped up in their own concerns to take others into consideration. Sad but unfortunately rather common.

Mental conditions are difficult to understand for sufferers but even more so for those around. Due to ignorance, they often do or say the wrong thing without realizing it has a damaging impact on those at the receiving end. You can't change the world but changing your perspective can help you shift the blame where it belongs. You're not the one at fault.

Congratulations for taking the proactive approach. Yoga and meditation are effective tools towards reclaiming/maintaining peace of mind. You are on the right track... professional help, support and persistence will gradually help keep those butterflies in the stomach at bay. And so will having more time to yourself...thanks to your assertiveness. You're an inspiration.

I hope you will keep posting to let us know how you go.

Kindest thoughts.

[white knight]

Hi Annabel, welcome

I endorse the wise words if Starwolf.

I'd like to comment on other peoples reactions to you. "I would never talk to them like that and be rude"... We can breareally sensitive when we have an emotional disorder it we are inside crying out for support.

These people aren't being rude, they might be inconsiderate or distracted so its your perspective and thus has been do common with me that I wrote a thread on it that might help.

Please Google... Topic: The weighing scale of friendships- beyondblue

Take care

Tony WK

[white knight]

Oh, another one you can google

Topic: depression and sensitivity, a connection?- beyondblue

Tony WK

[Annabel]

Thankyou Starwolf and White Knight, I'm glad I described how I actually feel because you both gave me helpful advice and support for why I'm feeling like that. It's my emotional unrest and over-reacting being a by product of my Anxiety and it is my own perspective to other people's comments. That makes it more clearer to me now! I woke up the last 2 mornings and did my usual breathing exercises and this time I told myself that It's because of my Anxiety and these unhelpful thoughts that I get these thoughts and feelings. Also I have no real facts about these comments and so it is just my perpective and I need to shift that perspective away from me as it's not my fault anyway! These are my new "mantras" as I know that doing the breathing isn't enough to get rid of the Anxiety symptoms when you need to rest and sleep, look after children and be able to function at work so now I have been given something new to add to my list of natural ways to put the Anxiety back in it's place! I know that I need to look after myself and I saw a movie at the cinema yesterday and I'm doing Yoga today. I'm still feeling these symptoms Tired all the time, nervous tension and butterflies. The butterflies happen when the Anxiety gets way out of hand especially early hours of the morning but I'll just keep remembering your advice and helpful words when that happens. Tiredness and nervous tension just seems to be always there especially the last month but I have some good strategies to use now thanks to you both. I'll post again if or when I have get rid of the tiredness and reduced the nervous tension. I also will read those Posts you have both recommended. Thanks with kind regards, Annabel.

[Starwolf]

Thank you for your kindness, Annabel. Being able to get assistance and support depends largely on taking a courageous plunge to open up and share our feelings and emotions.This, you have done well.

Tiredness and tension are symptoms of overload, may it be physical, mental or emotional. You are quite right, taking care of yourself is a priority. Sometimes, radical surgery on excessive commitments and responsibilities is needed. Negative self talk, overthinking, too much introspection add to the excess baggage. If on top of this we take on board the pollution due to other people's issues, we end up with mental/emotional OD...and so we crash !

I once had crippling anxiety. I found that practicing breathing exercises was more efficient if done regularly when everything was OK. This regular practice when not under stress helps body and mind shift more easily to a non anxious mode when the pressure is on. A competition or sport match can only be won if techniques and moves have been thoroughly rehearsed before the big day. Repetitive situations/actions in your life can be used as cues. Some of my favourites were traffic lights, waiting in queues, the phone ringing, washing up, walking in or out doors etc... The amount should be gradually increased to make relaxation an integral part of daily life. I took a non forced breath, letting the air fill the lungs, letting a natural pause happen until the breath was exhaled spontaneously (this always happens slowly but controlled breathing often accelerates it), then feel the air wipe tension downwards, leave the body via the sole of the feet and being absorbed into the ground. Gone.

A peaceful day to you.

[Annabel]

You are so welcome Starwolf and I feel that you gave me a great start to eradicating this Anxiety once and for all! I'm glad I sent a post to Beyond Blue and it was because of the total sadness that struck me at work and it happened due to a combination of being over sensitive with other people and work stress. My Manager was very helpful to me and said she thought I sounded depressed probably because I was crying so uncontrollably. It was like a sign given to me that I needed to do something about this long term Anxiety and you and White Knight allowed me also to change my thoughts and I would like to say after a few more days of Breathing and Yoga classes I did feel a few rational thoughts filter through! I haven't thought like that for a long time. I then thought about my experiences lately that I've had with other people that have hurt me or have left me dwelling on their words and actions that my thoughts about them are actually a bit better now. I still feel tiny"butterflies" come and go but I now think that if I keep practicing my meditation and breathing and your further advice on breathing, I feel confident to wipe out these tense feelings and emotions and have normal thoughts about other people again! I know that I have a little way to go as these feelings and emotions can strike me off guard but I'm more determined now as I feel I have been in the minority among my family and friends and I think I'm intelligent enough to realise that and get myself better for good!

Thank you Beyond Blue and your wonderful Team! xx Annabel

[Starwolf]

Thank you for letting us know that peace of mind is gradually returning. You're doing a great job of reclaiming it.

Most of us have had such turning point in our lives. They usually come under the form of a crisis and certainly feel awful at the time. Being able to turn back and realize those stressful, painful moments were actually a blessing in disguise certainly does feel good. Kudos to you for taking the hint and taking action.

Your positive outlook and proactive approach will help see you through this. We'll be here for you to support and cheer you on whenever needed.

Have a great day...and thanks for making mine !

[white knight]

Hi Annabel

I'm so glad you have found my and the lively Star wolf's words helpful. Thankyou fir replying.

I have one further recommendation. Its to read one of my threads (google)

Topic: meditation-words of wisdom- it helped me for 25 years- beyondblue

it includes some YouTube links. My favourite us Maharaji sunset. Close your eyes and listen. Its peace at it's best.

Tony WK

[Annabel]

I thought I was going alright and now tonight at my In-laws for dinner, I was just being my happy self and talking about an idea for a school project for my boy and getting suggestions from the in-laws and they were each giving suggestions but after a while and my boy still hadn't decided, my husband was giving me really cranky stares and said "Just stop it now, Stop talking!". I then said It's Great, I'm getting somewhere now with ideas and this all been great suggestions and the others were still talking about the project topic. My husband got more annoyed and as we went to the car, he said "you don't know when to stop talking!" I said "I can talk when I like thank you". When we got home, he then said that I only care about myself. Being the age of 46, I have learnt not to take this from him or anyone and that it's just toxic and verbal abuse when I wasn't doing anything wrong! I immediately said to him that he is being a bully. I feel now that with all the natural therapy that it's all been wasted maybe? I know that I am not talkative and I'm careful what I say to people and I listen well and tonight at the in-laws, I was very polite and listened well to them too! I feel very depressed now because it does relate to being criticized by people but it's my own husband this time! I probably shouldn't have yelled back at him and said that he was being a bully, I guess I should've walked away from him and said Nothing in the car and just did meditation and breathing! He said that I need to see a Pyschologist and I knew then that he was making out I was the villain and I'm intelligent enough to pick up on that so I said "No!, you are now making me out to be the villain and you are! Also he said to me in front of my boys that I can't stop talking and his opinion doesn't seem to matter and that I only think of myself. I'm feeling like now I shouldn't even stand up to him anymore as it just makes it worse because we end up in an argument so I guess with people like my husband, also his mother and his brother that I just have to be so strong and be like "water off a ducks back" when they make their remarks to me in a hurtful way. I feel depressed now because my boys had to listen to this argument but I feel that I'm left depressed and sad because of how my boys might be affected instead I'm thinking I should've felt bad because I didn't stand up to him and just ignored him, better then my boys now having to take this on board too, it's sad. Thanks Annabel.

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