I have anxiety and I don't go to things sometimes and I stand outside the door and vacillate between going in and not going in But... I've been to some parties before and enjoyed them. And I've been to interviews and some of them have even been interesting and constructive. So I try to look back at those times where I have had nerve-racking experiences and come out the better for it. Have you ever done something stressful, but afterwards thought "it was kind of an awful feeling but I'm glad I did it"? I think with anxiety that is sometimes the best you can hope for. Learning to perversely enjoy those oh-shit feelings and laugh about them after is a real help. But I agree it's super hard!! Yrs in anxiety, rjw
Yes absolutely, and sometimes I remind myself of having felt that before when I am dealing with a new situation/new anxiety, so I totally get what you are talking about here. It helps to remind yourself that you have done similar things or battled similar nerves before, and it turned out that it wasn't even half so bad as you thought it would be."it was kind of an awful feeling but I'm glad I did it"