After a discussion in which I told my daughter that I have been struggling with some anxiety that doesn't seem reasonable, she made the comment contained in my title. And it had the ring of truth. When you have a mental illness, your brain does work differently. Here is the backstory: I've told you about a sales competition at work. I am doing well. Leading my coworkers in sales by a fair
and comfortable margin. So, what is the anxiety about? Am I doing well at this? Am I making it harder for my coworkers? Is it fair? Am I doing poorly at other aspects of my job? Will I get fired?See? No logic. And I can really go with this.
I've been nervous. And worried. Tending towards obsessive thinking. I'm healthy enough to recognize that this is problematic. I'm also able to work it out. I know to share it with my support system. Sometimes in my life, that hasn't been the case. When I don't have medication, it can keep me from functioning. And that is something that isn't unique to me. When I worked as a case manager, I got to know the ways that my clients functioned. And it was clear that there was something different about the ways that they thought. And behaved.
So, what is the point? Sometimes, I think recovery is about learning how your brain functions and how to change it. What does that mean? I recognize the pattern. Share what I think and feel with a trusted part of my support system. And I am able to move into a new pattern. Of course, I take medicine. And it works for me. Which isn't the case for some people. I am not psychotic Most importantly, I'm willing. I work on it. Denial doesn't help people to make changes. It prevents them.
What are the patterns you need to work on? Who in your support system can help you with them?
Are you seeing a therapist or life coach? Attending a support group? Taking medicine? Use your tools to make change. The pain of sitting in the problem is much more than the fear you might deal with over making a change. Give yourself a chance.
and comfortable margin. So, what is the anxiety about? Am I doing well at this? Am I making it harder for my coworkers? Is it fair? Am I doing poorly at other aspects of my job? Will I get fired?See? No logic. And I can really go with this.
I've been nervous. And worried. Tending towards obsessive thinking. I'm healthy enough to recognize that this is problematic. I'm also able to work it out. I know to share it with my support system. Sometimes in my life, that hasn't been the case. When I don't have medication, it can keep me from functioning. And that is something that isn't unique to me. When I worked as a case manager, I got to know the ways that my clients functioned. And it was clear that there was something different about the ways that they thought. And behaved.
So, what is the point? Sometimes, I think recovery is about learning how your brain functions and how to change it. What does that mean? I recognize the pattern. Share what I think and feel with a trusted part of my support system. And I am able to move into a new pattern. Of course, I take medicine. And it works for me. Which isn't the case for some people. I am not psychotic Most importantly, I'm willing. I work on it. Denial doesn't help people to make changes. It prevents them.
What are the patterns you need to work on? Who in your support system can help you with them?
Are you seeing a therapist or life coach? Attending a support group? Taking medicine? Use your tools to make change. The pain of sitting in the problem is much more than the fear you might deal with over making a change. Give yourself a chance.
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