The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I am leaving this post for the weekend. Any reading on anxiety from Courage to Change may help. This one particularly looked inviting to me from Courage to Change. p. 290 Sometimes, there is just too much going on, or too many folks around to think straight, and then I get all anxioius or wound up.
"When I am trying to tackle a tough problem or cope with a stressful situation, and I've done all I can for the moment, what then? I can do something that will nurture my mind, body, or spirit. Perhaps I'll take a walk or listen to music. Maybe I'll meet a friend for coffee and conversation. I could have something nutritious to eat or sit quietly and meditate, or read a book." ........................
......"when I treat myself with love and tenderness, I am better able to deal with the challenges that life presents. I have a chance to feel good when surrounded by crisis." ..................
................."I will find a small way to do something for my mind, body and spirit today."
Dealing with anxiety is a part of taking care of ourselves. If we don't deal with anxiety it can lead to compulsive behavior such as over drinking, controlling, and other such behavior.
Dealing with anxiety has been hard for me. I am so blessed to have a son who deals daily with obsessive/compulsive behavior, as a result, I monitor my own anxieties. I've learned to be calm and take life as it comes, so I can pass along that as a role model. Sometimes it helps him, sometimes it doesn't, but it always works for me.
Take it easy, enjoy the moment for what it is without expecting certain results. When I approach vacations, holidays, etc. without expectations, I find that my anxieties go away. I relax and take life on life's terms.
Thanks for the reading. It's a great one for me right now. Not only is the holiday around the corner but I am also watching my friend's two children for 12 days while she is in Mexico. Yikes!
-- Jessi
__________________
If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done.
This is the 1st 4th of July that my ex a and I are not together in a few years. The 4th was always a special time for us, as we typically spent it together with the kids watching fireworks down by the lakefront. :( The memories I have will always be special....
This post brought back a flood of memories for me. ABout 20 years ago my A was at some of his worst drinking and druggins. For some reason July 4th was a BIG day6 for him. In face....6 out of 7 July 4th in a row he either ended up in the hospital or in jail on the 4th of July. Things like holding a roman candle in his hands, getting in fights, taking 20 sleeping pills in one day until his blood pressure was about 60...etc. So i had great stress for many years jsut because the 4th of July was approaching. I gave myself a full blown ulcer one year over the worry. I also had vomiting and idarrhea some years jsut by worrying.
It's sad that the obsession over another's actions and what MIGHT happen can have such physical effects on thsoe around them.
the GOOD news...he got sober for 3 years. During that time i was able to really gain some strength. He recently relapsed, but has not drank in 2 weeks now. So this holiday is just another day for me. I dont have any anxiety. My biggest worry is keeping the dogs calm when the neighbors set off the firecrackers.
Reading my AlAnon books really helps me put things in persepctive. Listening to others helps me know it could be worse. Reaching out and helping others helps me forget my own problems.
I hope others will post on this topic and how you deal with the anxiety.
I remember being taught that anxiety is worry and worry is fear and often times fear means, FalseEvidence AppearingReal (I am afraid of something that is not in reality or I have just created it myself.) and then I learned that the opposite of fear is faith and in faith I let go and let God have the problem that is causing my anxiety so that I can be free of fear and faithful to the awareness that I and everything around me is okay.
Sounds kinda simple and then that is how things are done around here...aren't they.
