New Member - introduction

Hi @BearWellies
A note for future- if you want to reply to/tag another forum member so they see your response, use the @ symbol and their name 🙂

They will get a notification of your post, then

hello and welcome @BearWellies , @KatieA

@BearWellies

Hello Bear Wellies

Welcome to the forum. You will find a lot of people here who have had similar experiences to those that you have had, as has been shown by the responses you have already received.

It is interesting that, as it seems that you have found, emotional and psychological issues can be expressed in what may be a seemingly random array of physical symptoms.

That struggle to accomplish the tasks that you were accustomed to doing, as part of what we might consider “a normal day”, can be confounding and frustrating. As @Judi9877 has said, it is wise to pace yourself and set some reasonable and achievable targets and goals. They can be adjusted + or - , as you meet each new day. Another reason for making targets is that you then maintain some structure to your day. Otherwise, days can easily slip by, and we can be left with unpleasant feelings.

From your description of your work with the psychologist, you are well into looking at issues and potential outcomes. As you have alluded to, this can be a learning and positive aspect of the process and path that we walk.

Those characters,

Procrastination, Avoidance and Exhaustion,

with which I can say, I am too well acquainted. The brick walls and sometimes, what appear like mountains, that they build or seem to place in our way, certainly test us, sometimes severely.

A couple of other characters or allies, whose assistance we need, are;

Tenacity, Persistence, Perseverence, and Patience.

There are reasons for the situations we find ourselves in, and it will take some time to identify and address those reasons. In the mean-time, it pays to be methodical. Some people have found journaling can be helpful. A journal allows us to see patterns that can point to and identify specific issues. As @AussieRecharger has mentioned, we can be concentrating so much on our hand and foot holds, when climbing the cliff, that we lose sight of the big picture being; how far we've come, the direction we are going, etc. A journal allows us to 'take a step back' and look for those patterns.

I think your observation about a “new type of normal” is very valid. Whatever our situation might be, it will most likely be the case that 'yesterday' will never be our normal in the future. We can see the future as a new opportunity, within which to review our plans and projections. And the time to become more aware of ourselves in this process can be very rewarding. We can previously, have been so busy living our lives, that we have lost track of who we are, or possibly want to be. There are the possibilities for new opportunities to explore in this process.

Anxiety is certainly, as you have stated, debilitating and exhausting, and generally, we can reach an-other side. The process can allow us to take on other favourable qualities and characteristics, for which, we may never have known we had the capacity.

With My Very Best Wishes

HenryX

@KatieA

Hello KatieA

Your introduction starts off with a question, asked rhetorically, as to whether a

“stranger on the internet is (not) a big help”?

You have started off with a very positive introduction, and indeed, have shown that the answer is in the affirmative.

I hope that you will find a great deal of common ground with people wishing to share this journey and make it easier, more fulfilling and worthwhile, if you feel that it matches your present wishes.

You have already offered, in a gentle way, some acknowledgement and reassurance to another new member by establishing connection.

That word, anxiety, is certainly common among people in the forum, as can be seen in comments from people welcoming you, @KatieA , @BearWellies and others, as members.

From your comments, you seem to be familiar with the experience and characteristics of anxiety and depression. On the other hand, you have also recognised this process as one in which some of the assistance to respond to these issues, can be sought and received through the same medium, ie. this forum (and others). By sharing our thoughts, feelings, opinions and information, we can both enable, and be enabled.

Your comment about the process is, I think, appropriate,

“going through something tough and it takes a lot of mental strength to recognise the issue(s) and try (to) work through it (them).”

and before that,

“try to recognise all the good you do, just seeking help and wanting to share your experience is amazing!”

You have disclosed a brief synopsis of the events, as they occurred for you, about 10 years ago. I wonder whether your introduction to the forum may be because of more recent events?

Are there any questions that you would like to ask or have answered? Or observations that you would like to make.

Your final comment is also sometimes stated on the forum, that being;

“I would like to reach through the screen to give you a hug of reassurance.” (paraphrased)

I do believe that sentiment is often expressed in members posts and responses to each other.

I think I can speak for other members, as well as me, in saying that it will be good to hear more from you about where you are at and what assistance we may share with you.

With My Very Best Wishes

HenryX