ArabiaNytes

@Loud1 Hey there - Seems to me that you have the signs of social anxiety disorder. It has been persistent within your social interactions and has significantly effected your daily functioning. Perhaps it took root most severly when, as you mentioned, were being bullied in school but with some other predisposing sesitivities to how you approach situations, i.e. not respected or valued at home, pushed around by family members as well, spending a lot of time alone, (I find isolation to be a strong common theme). There is hope. With your willingness and a great therapist, you can work together through various therapies and perhaps medication --- maybe just to get you started on the process of psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, etc. If you feel that the fear is suffocating you on a constant basis, then you have a real problem that has various possible answers; this is jus like learning to walk again. Growing up, you didn't get that chance to be yourself and feel supported, so you never learned social skills, like to never learn to walk. Behavior plus emotion affects who we become, like molding clay. With adequate attending, you can relearn how to start anew. It's not fair how certain situations occur in our lives that gets in the way of growing up happy and healthy... It can't be easy to feel like something is out of your control, but you do have control: you care and you're seeking help. Strong qualities that sound promising to me. After all, caring is like fuel to the soul. Note, I am not "diagnosing" you but I feel that I can identify what you're experiencing based on your statement; and, it just so happens to have a name. If you really want an answer of merit, perhaps having a consultation or two with psychologist/psychiatrist could give you some insight, in the least. Stay Loud

OMG I jus realized that I have a jar and I only had a few teaspoons since I bought it months ago .... fuuuuuuuuck. It tastes truly AMAZING and I'm sure it has health benefits. I have jus resolved to have a spoonful a day. I'll try to update my experience here in a week or two.

I found my dream man 8 yrs ago ... he's perfect so the list would be too long. ?

Funny how when I post about my dilemmas, I scroll down in the forum and find an answer in someone else's post. I just watched Leo's video on laziness and it spoke to me, saying exactly what you said: Stop thinking, jus do it! My mind is blocking me through maladaptive habits that occur in my roller-coaster cycles. Being an over-achiever sure has its perks ... but also it's curses.

Leo had touched on the idea that the Ego can be very distracting when it comes to meditation in that if a person becomes entranced with the motivation to meditate, then the Ego is threatened for fear of falling apart --- as it does when practicing meditation and self-actualization on the path to enlightenment. Yup ... I've felt my Ego get in my way and it's disturbing. I LOVED meditating and truly felt like it was getting me somewhere. But once I felt this eager to dedicate my life to this work, a strange thing happened. I would plan on meditating or think of doing it in the moment ... but then, I wouldn't. WHY??? How could I truly want to practice and not have any reasons to hold me back from doing it ... and yet, I don't do it. Do I not want to do it as badly as I think I do? This goes for my studying, too. I LOVE my major and dream of practicing it professionally ... and yet, lately ... I'm cramming for tests jus to get a low B. *sigh* I don't understand why I jus feel so frozen.

That is wonderful news! It looks as though you are truly opening your mind to understanding yourself intra and interpersonally. Keep up the great practice in mindfulness and positive behaviors. For your interest in learning of other cultures, I recommend reading/watching anthropological works. (Many other fields for the topic as well, just too many to list; Google ?) Best wishes! ? @Kevster

For people suffering from panic attacks, this is a technique to help establish control in the midst of the attack. Those who suffer from Panic Disorder, there are much more involved issues of which panic attacks is one of them. This area requires therapy and possibly regulated and temporary medication (so as to avoid dependency). @Wormon Blatburm

@Peace and Love You're most definitely right about the eating right habit. I notice just how irritable and stressed out I become when I am not nourished by adequate food intake. I eat rather healthy most of the time, but I go a long time without eating sometimes and my resolution has come to be in finding a routine in grocery shopping. This is definitely one of the ways to help maintain a physical health that promotes mental health. Great point! (Note, in my quote about inducing panic attack, it says the word "can't" I meant to say "can".)

Idk how inducing them would be even possible, unless one is very used to having them and cant bring them on command. Half of mine came during an EXTREME rush of emotion while the others came from prolonged buildup and hit at a moment when I felt relatively calm. I have been working on the former from ever gettin so dramatic bout things and the latter comes from not denying the stress and to find a healthy release before it blows up.

@Kevster Friend, I feel your pain...Like with myself, I hear your cries from restlessness and suffocation. Forgive yourself. You want so badly for things to feel "right" that you're anticlimactic result hurls you back into depression. We all have a life of purpose to live and fulfill. Your hunger might be too overwhelming, blinding you from feeling content with yourself. Now, you can't see past this: you are standing in your own way. Once you get past your demanding "ego", your passion for life will guide you to where you need to be. It sounds ridiculous...but idk, I've been through some shit to make me believe in the saying, "If you love something, let it go. If it's meant to be, it will come back to you." I find this to apply to more than a beloved, but to the clingingness we sometimes feel to the fear of letting go, the unknown that results from releasing yourself from your predisposed, unyielding thoughts... Try to sit without thinking about anything and practice a simple breathing exercise for maybe 5-10 minutes, till you feel calm and light. Without any judgement or overthinking, think of the times you felt good when doing something. Write them down. Spend time relaxing yourself by NOT trying so hard. Give yourself a week or two to simply let go of your thoughts. Maybe hike everyday as a walking meditation, (that is a thing). Deep breathes....Your struggle is a blessing in disguise. ?

From personal experience; I even had one a few days ago so my technique is up-to-date on it's effectiveness. Acknowledge that it's about to happen. DO NOT TRY to stop it --- it will get worse if you do. Just go along for the ride WILLINGLY. Remember that you will survive, especially if it's happened before. Focus on your breathing. Help it slow down by letting your mind be free, open your mouth, and feel yourself breathe. Relax your body sitting down, not laying down. Breathe in 1 2 3 4 5 *hold 1 sec* Breathe out 5 4 3 2 1 *hold 1 sec* Repeat until you're free from its relentless grasp. Time will feel like forever but you'll find only that only a few minutes have passed. Drink some water and get some fresh air. Maybe a light stroll. I hope this helps anyone who falls mercy to the psuedo-heart attack, a.k.a. panic attack. ??

I, too, have this INCESSANT bother with over-thinking. These past couple of weeks up until tonight has been another long episode of this reoccurring problem. Clearly, I have unresolved issues. Perhaps you do, too? I find that voicing them out to a willing listener helps expell them from within my imprisoned mind, freeing myself from the burden of these heavy thoughts. You can't let go of your thoughts because you are restless. Understanding where these thoughts come from and realizing some resolution, even a temporary one, is a great way to help shut your mind up a little. Somehow, some way, you will need to do something along with continuing your self-work/meditation. You can't wait for years to stop the intense monkey-chatter. Toning it down is necessary asap. Best ?

Why do I rarely ever get any feedback when I post....can't delete this seemingly pointless post. lmao okaaaaaaaay ??

Hello, people of Act.! I am a student of psychology in pursuit of becoming a doctor, (PsyD). I have heard a former doctor say something like this: Most of them do not fit the job, some of them help people, and very few are actually destined for this career. Unfortunately, for all those who seek help, this may be a reality in finding the right doctor. If you have had therapy, may you chime in with your experience? Do you like him/her? What is their methodology? How long have you been seeing them? Why do you think it works, or doesn't work, well for you? Any tips you would give them to being better at their job? These are only a handful of questions picked from a meadow of desired inquiry. Answer however you like. Thank you. ?

@Raphael YES. If you wish to continue therapy, try another person. Research about them. This search tool can help.