When to fight or rest?

When dealing with anxiety, how do I determine the line between giving myself the rest I need and not letting anxiety rob me of living?

I'm dealing with a lot of pain and pretty fragile at the moment (my therapist told me to rest), but I still have some commitments that are important to me, and I don't want anxiety to keep me housebound. I usually choose the least stressful and force myself to do that- i.e yes to coffee, yes to movie, NO to party, no to volunteering somewhere extra.

I have an event tonight that will be stressful, but I feel guilty making up an excuse. ~sigh

Nickey, I usually go drag myself there a few minutes late and leave early....I know it isn't the right thing to do, but at least you have shown up....and if you leave early with a "headache" everyone understands

Hey Nickey, you have no reason to feel guilty for telling people "I'm sorry, but I am just in too much pain today and the doctor has advised me to rest". Some days the less stressful situations are a major accomplishment. Other days the more stressful situations are easier to deal with. Just take each day and each situation one at a time. The fact that you are going for coffee and going to the movies shows that you aren't letting the anxiety keep you housebound. With anxiety those things can be very hard to do...great job for getting out and doing them.
Jacki

jsr4711 wrote:

Hey Nickey, you have no reason to feel guilty for telling people "I'm sorry, but I am just in too much pain today and the doctor has advised me to rest". Some days the less stressful situations are a major accomplishment. Other days the more stressful situations are easier to deal with. Just take each day and each situation one at a time. The fact that you are going for coffee and going to the movies shows that you aren't letting the anxiety keep you housebound. With anxiety those things can be very hard to do...great job for getting out and doing them.
Jacki

Listen to Jackie, she is much wiser than I am; what I said is probably why I have chronic fatigue

Me time is important....don't ever think of it as an excuse thinking of you!!

Sorry I just saw this Nickey. How'd it go

Nickey

Thanks everyone. I did go to my obligation as expected. I have to learn to say no sometimes. But, on the other hand, I don't want to be a hermit. Some days I feel like I just can't win

The girls have two birthday parties to attend today. One I can handle easily, it's family and friends. The other I'm already stressing about. It's for one of Em's school friends, and I don't know any of the parents who will be there. I can't just cancel, that won't be fair to Em. It's her first party with school friends, and she is sooo excited about going. I've been doing deep breathing and am going to give myself bruises from the rubberband, but I will get through this.

Yes you will Jacki. Keep saying "I can do this". It works for me.

I made it through both parties!

Sorry I haven't been around to support you all. Jacki I'm so glad you made it through

Thanks Brianna. I'm proud of myself. I only had one rough patch during the first party when my car was blocked in for about half an hour. But I made it without having a major panic attack.

Yay Jackie! I am sorry I was't here to help you this weekend but I am glad you made it through Now, rest up for next week....

yes io overload myself with positive thought, driving is getting better, but i have got a ways to go, but baby steps............

baby steps are all we can do Ed. And it takes a lot of courage and strength to take those baby steps on a daily basis. I'm so glad that driving is getting better for you. I'm a white-knuckled nervous wreck driver, but I force myself to do it because I'd be up the proverbial creek without a paddle on a rapidly disappearing raft without being able to drive. I live way out in the county where nothing is within walking distance and the nearest store is several miles away.

Yes...not being able to drive sometimes isn't a choice!!

You're right Heather, it isn't always a choice. Some days it takes me several hours to talk myself into driving. And when I know I have to drive somewhere I stress about it for days. I keep going over which route I'll take, how much time I need to get there, which intersections scare me, can I go another way... I make myself squirrely about it. Wish I could tell my mind to just shut up and have it listen!

Yeah, I have the same thing, it's 53 miles to town.....I have to work up to it some days....

And now I'm driving 150 miles a day sometimes

Brianna wrote:

And now I'm driving 150 miles a day sometimes

Look into long term disability insurance?

Nickie, how are you doing? We miss hearing from you.

Happy Thanksgiving Nickey