Weekly Prompt #18: What are your main sources of stress in your life?
Hello everyone, I hope you are all being easy on yourself this week.
A couple of weeks ago we discussed: Are there any particular thoughts or worries that frequently occupy your mind? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts for discussion. I enjoyed them. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you.
This week's prompt: What are your main sources of stress in your life?
This week I want us to reflect and explore this topic that can help us understand and explore the sources of our stress. Please take a moment to identify the areas that are causing you the most stress. Let's get started and all thoughts are welcomed!
Note: A helpful tip from @hope : "I recommend the book 'How to stop worrying and start living'. You can find the audiobook on YouTube"
Join us in the Anxiety Support Chat every Monday and Tuesday!
Time
@0Gwendolyne0 It sounds like time pressures are weighing on you. You're not alone in feeling this way - so many people struggle with feeling pressed for time. What is it about time that causes you stress?
I would say trying to do multiple things at once like studying and working shift job struggling to keep up ,Skipping a couple of years of study because of financtial stability gets me on the edge which also leads to the fear of messing up because i don't have TIME to mess up.
Sometimes i wish for like a more stretched day or a copy of me to get things done.
Thanks for reading by the way
@0Gwendolyne0 Thank you for sharing your experience of juggling multiple responsibilities. It sounds like you feel overwhelmed trying to study and work while also worrying about financial stability. I hear your desire to manage everything yet also your concern about making mistakes when there isn't enough time. You're doing your best each day.
@ASilentObserver
Fear of failure, fear of making the wrong choice (job, etc.)....
@intuitiveFarm8961
fear of failure is often paralyzing ... you forget you can not succeed if you do not try ...because of fear of failure.
who defines failure in your mind? you or what you think others define it as?
... when i quit trying to impress anyone i did not need a job with fancy title ( i had one) or making X amount of money ... if i was miserable ... that was not success. That was trying to meet other peoples idea ..of success.
i need to be content and without the stress of others expectations or invisible score cards.
@toughTiger6481
My fear of failure comes more from my own view of myself and I guess potentially my impact on others. How would failure impact my family?
I know I can pick the processes up and I know I can do it, but in the immediate short term starting point (2-3 weeks), is where I struggle. I question my choice to take the job/leave my old job.
I am my own worst critic....
@AlwaysAnxiousThinker It sounds like you're experiencing a heavy load of stress around making choices and decisions. Fear of making the wrong choice and letting fear of failure hold you back must feel difficult to carry. What thoughts or feelings come up most when you reflect on these fears?
something I forgot to say about my anxiety is that I get why bus drivers want us to get off the back of the bus but ever since i finished college I have a big phobia of the back bus doors due to too many times of being caught in those doors when going to college because bus 2 of the 2 buses I had to take would be like a can of saradaines so I have a preference of going out the front of the bus instead because my anxiety is too much for me to try to get off the back of the bus.
@Disneywoman Thank you for sharing more, Disney. I am glad you are taking your small steps to open up about your emotions and experiences. They are valid and matter. It sounds like getting caught in the back bus doors multiple times has understandably led to a strong preference for exiting through the front.
@ASilentObserver speaing of front/back door this reminds me.. I learned last Saturday that a peer from my day-program died on Friday after an accident on Wednesday morning last week. If its the woman, I believe it is (I'm not 100% I need to see a picture to know for certain)-the last time I went to the mall, she helped me out by telling the bus drive to open up the front doors when i explained I'm was kind of frighten about the back doors.
@Disneywoman Thank you for sharing more about your experience with anxiety and taking the bus. It makes sense that having the bus doors close on you several times would create a strong preference for exiting through the front. You're taking good care of yourself by being aware of what helps you feel safest.
Self Doubt Do To My Past
@JessicaBreese It sounds like your past experiences have led to a lot of self-doubt that is causing stress. Can you tell me more about what kind of thoughts or feelings come up for you when you're experiencing self-doubt?
I feel as if I'll let others down or regret even doing something without think through every possible reaction but mainly failure or hate
@JessicaBreese You're experiencing a lot of worry about letting others down or facing failure. Those fears can feel overwhelming at times. You don't have to face these worries alone, you have all of us here with you, Jessica.
Thank you For The Support 🥹❤️ I'm glad I joined such a lovely community
@ASilentObserver
Money! Money can be so stressful.
@Camille32022 I been learning to count (Canadian) change it started out of neccasity but I'm been getting really good at it!
@Camille32022 It sounds like financial stress is weighing on you. Money can certainly cause stress and worries. What kinds of feelings come up for you around this issue? You're not alone in experiencing stress over money matters.
I'm trying to build a website to create a business because I'm on disability and would like to supplement it. I just keep procrastinating on working on it and the anxiety is overwhelming at times. I know by not doing anything on it is making the stress worse 😔
@SunWish It sounds like starting this new business is bringing up feelings of stress and anxiety. Creating something from nothing can feel very overwhelming. What aspects of getting started are weighing most heavily on your mind?
@ASilentObserver
Hi! I think it's not feeling good enough to create a informative website about something I have not been able to get over in mental health. I know that I will always have the condition (Childhood CPTSD) and I want to help others like me to learn how to cope with our chronic anxiety.
I feel like I am an imposter creating a site for help when I know I'm not and will never be cured. I feel like I'll never be good enough to talk about this.
@SunWish Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It sounds like creating this site is important to you, but you're feeling unsure about your ability due to your own experiences. You clearly care about supporting people coping with chronic anxiety. Perhaps focusing on sharing from your own journey, without expectations of being "cured," could help others feel less alone in their experiences. Also, please know every step matters even in times of doubt and struggle. We are all here for you to listen to and support you.
For all my fellow stressed-out people/Worry Warriers. I recommend the book 'How to stop worrying and start living' You can find the audio book on youtube
@Hope Thank you Hope for the great tip. What was your key takeaway from the book?
@ASilentObserver
The few words that have stuck with me and I believe it captures the essence of the book -- 'It is what it is as it can't be otherwise'
The other important point that no one seems to practice is that to prevent worry, you need to prevent fatigue. A tired mind is a worried mind. So take frequent breaks before you get tired and you will find yourself less worried.
Also keeping busy with tasks that require mental focus as empty mind wanders and too often in dark valleys.
@Hope That is a powerful line, hope. I completely agree. Taking breaks and keeping busy with focusing tasks helps prevent worry from taking over. Thank you for sharing your learning with us.
Thank you ❤️
@ASilentObserver,
Not much, except an upcoming exam that I’m pretty tired preparing for a long time now :)
@AnonymousFF07 It sounds like you've been putting in a lot of effort preparing for this exam. Preparing for a long time can definitely lead to feelings of tiredness. You're not alone in experiencing stress with exams - it's very common to feel that way when there's so much on the line. Just taking some time to acknowledge how you're feeling can help. What aspects of preparing are weighing most on you?
@ASilentObserver,
Well I gave the first attempt with full attempt but didn't get the score I want. Felt extremely burnt out after that. Still regaining the strength and momentum for the next and hopefully final attempt next month :)
@AnonymousFF07 You put in a tremendous effort for your first attempt and are feeling burnt out now. It's understandable to feel that way after such a challenging experience.You seem determined to give it your best next time.
Debt & work stress/burnout.
@AnxiousSub2023 Thank you for sharing about the debt and work stress you've been experiencing. That sounds really difficult to deal with. You must feel overwhelmed at times. We are all here with you to listen to and to support.
Good Morning.
The main stressors in my life are finances and mental health. Trying to get back to a healthy place and my daughter is going through mental health issues as well.
@sensitivemom83 Good morning, SensitiveMom! It sounds like you both have a lot on your plates dealing with finances and health Dealing with those stressors couldn't have been easy. You showed strength in reaching out to take steps towards feeling better. How have you both been coping day to day?
@ASilentObserver
its been hard. I am learning things about her I didn’t know and there are a lot of things she needs to release. That is all in due time. For me it’s been hard because of the layoff and ripping and running. I am not In my right mind. Lol
@sensitivemom83 It sounds like you've experienced some difficulties lately both with personal relationships and work changes. Feeling overwhelmed is understandable during times of so much transition and uncertainty. But, you seem resilient - I have faith that with time and self-care, this too shall pass. Please know that you are not alone. We are all here for you.