Should I Just Get Over Myself?
How I Use Specific Tools to Alleviate HSP Anxiety đ
Hello, beautiful people.
Lately, my mood has been quite dark. While this feeling pairs perfectly with Halloween đ today, itâs not helpful for a gal trying to make her way through the world. As a neurodiverse person living with anxiety, even the best day can be fraught with stress, worry, and exhaustion. Does this ring true for you?
Sometimes, especially lately, I wake up with a sense of dread. I feel overwhelmed by all kinds of worries⊠my young adult children if theyâre struggling with something, my aging parents, the world at large (the siege on Gaza, climate change, Trump, people who voted for Trump, child and animal abuseâŠand much more.). This can make it extremely hard to get out of bed.
Iâve been on anti-anxiety meds for about 7 years now. This, along with talk therapy, has made a HUGE impact on my life. I honestly donât think I could operate as a full-time employee, a (mostly) single parent, friend, and home-owner without both of these aspects in my life. Trigger warning: If Iâm being completely honest, there have been more times than I can count that Iâve had to convince myself to remain on this Earth.
One thing that brings me peace is my full-time role. I am employed as the Director of Marketing, Communications & Development for a non-profit in Canada that works with people who have intellectual disabilities to create awareness around authentic inclusion.
My work , though challenging, reminds me that my problems and concerns, while valid, are simply a drop in the ocean. By helping others and furthering community and inclusion, my mood is often buoyed. Again, this isnât meant to be a source of toxic positivity but, rather, sharing a tool that I use to reduce my anxiety and depression.
Two other things that keep me going are art and nature. As a Creative HSP, I always go back to music (love my Spotify playlist!), drawing, reading, and hiking. Being outside in nature and losing myself in reading novels haved saved me time and time again.
So, yes, as I reach mid-life, I feel that Iâm getting better at âgetting over myselfâ. While itâs extremely difficult to block out the realities of life, ultimately, Iâve been pretty successful by building a toolkit, reminding myself of ideas Iâve learned in therapy, and being kinder to myself. This helps bring peace and healing my way.
Friends: How do you âget over yourselfâ as an HSP? Please share your thoughts with others.
Until Next Time, Creative HSP â Stay Real.
Lisa
P.S. If youâre interested in learning how to manifest as a Highly Sensitive Person, join as a paid subscriber. âTurn Dark Energy Into Powerâ, Part #3 of the brand new series, âCreating Your New Reality: Manifest as an HSPâ was published yesterday.đŻïž
Hi Lisa, Iâm so glad youâre still on this earth. đ€I can relate to everything youâve written here. Nature - in particular dog walking and writing have been two things that have helped me. And of course talk therapy. I have an amazing therapist and I feel so lucky to have found her. One more thingâŠ.I have been taught to not distract myself from the anxious voice in my head, but to talk to it and write it out, even if it makes no sense. This seems to take me out of the head and into the body where the feelings are and that switches off the chaos tap. I guess you try so many things over the years and then stuff sticks, and you feel relief.
I use nature đČ to survive. Living in the city, that's not very easy to do. I make a visit to the park a daily habit, to get exercise, and I get my version of "forest bathing" in. And when nature won't work, and I can't get any quiet, daydreaming/ hope refuels me, taking a moment to imagine something in detail (getting away from it all to a cabin in the woods, finding a deserted island, etc) đłđȘ”đ