i say hey - what's going on?
Sep. 3rd, 2009 09:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anahatasoundso i've really been trying to work on my anxiety this past week, and i definitely feel liked it's helped. everytime i've had an ANT (automatic negative thought) i've attempted to take a step back mentally and say 'hey, nobody else cares about this stuff but you, so it can't be as bad as you think it is."
one area i've really seen a lot of improvement in is, surprisingly, my hooping. free (for the most part) from thinking i'm ugly or uncoordinated or awkward, i've gotten so much better at putting tricks together in a flowing, dancing form. i also feel like i have more energy while i'm hooping which is great because it allows me to push myself for longer periods without feeling run down. i think i'd like to start incorporating some yoga into my daily routine, since all this hooping is starting to make my lower back protest.
i've also been working on making my physical body relax. most days, my stomach is in a knot which keeps me feeling keyed up and anxious. but oh god! the feeling of not having a stone in my belly is so wonderful! when my stomach's not tense, all the rest of my anxiety seems to disappear. so far, i've been trying to do more abdominal breathing instead of chest breathing, but it's tough when my abdomen is tight.
i've also been casually looking for a new job. since i started working at the call center in july, my anxiety has increased ten-fold. the customers i work with on a daily basis are incredibly rude, and dealing with them is wearing me out emotionally, mentally and physically. on one hand, i would feel so guilty leaving this job when two people from our original group have already quit, but i don't feel like i should have to sacrifice my health or well-being for any job. growing up, my mother always harped that even if i don't like i job i just need to suck it up because we all have to work jobs we don't want to. but when i tell her about this job, she remarks that this job totally isn't me (which it isn't). i'm not the kind of person who can just let things roll off my back and continue to keep a smile in my voice while customer after customer berates me. man, it sucks working with such great people and absolutely hating the actual job.
mm, i'll post more about this later. for now, back to the phones.
one area i've really seen a lot of improvement in is, surprisingly, my hooping. free (for the most part) from thinking i'm ugly or uncoordinated or awkward, i've gotten so much better at putting tricks together in a flowing, dancing form. i also feel like i have more energy while i'm hooping which is great because it allows me to push myself for longer periods without feeling run down. i think i'd like to start incorporating some yoga into my daily routine, since all this hooping is starting to make my lower back protest.
i've also been working on making my physical body relax. most days, my stomach is in a knot which keeps me feeling keyed up and anxious. but oh god! the feeling of not having a stone in my belly is so wonderful! when my stomach's not tense, all the rest of my anxiety seems to disappear. so far, i've been trying to do more abdominal breathing instead of chest breathing, but it's tough when my abdomen is tight.
i've also been casually looking for a new job. since i started working at the call center in july, my anxiety has increased ten-fold. the customers i work with on a daily basis are incredibly rude, and dealing with them is wearing me out emotionally, mentally and physically. on one hand, i would feel so guilty leaving this job when two people from our original group have already quit, but i don't feel like i should have to sacrifice my health or well-being for any job. growing up, my mother always harped that even if i don't like i job i just need to suck it up because we all have to work jobs we don't want to. but when i tell her about this job, she remarks that this job totally isn't me (which it isn't). i'm not the kind of person who can just let things roll off my back and continue to keep a smile in my voice while customer after customer berates me. man, it sucks working with such great people and absolutely hating the actual job.
mm, i'll post more about this later. for now, back to the phones.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-06 04:03 am (UTC)You mentioned doing breathing exercises; have you ever tried using a mala to count your breaths? Especially for me, who has trouble paying attention, the mala is EXTREMELY helpful. Basically every time you take a breath in and exhale, you pass a bead through your thumb and index finger. And of course you repeat until you make it all the way around the mala. For extra effectiveness, I do a relaxation technique where I imagine my whole body softening up and relaxing while exhaling. I literally can control my heartbeat significantly. So amazing! I made this one for cheap (wrapped around my little Buddha statue) : http://www.distant-ocean.net/may2009/cards08.jpg