Dear shadeinthesummer:

It seems to me that you do tend to get overwhelmed with a long term project, when viewing it from the beginning steps and seeing how much more there is to go- that gets overwhelming. It is also true that some long term projects are not going to be a good match for you. In other words, just because you tend to get overwhelmed with a long term project, does not mean that every long term project is right for you to pursue. Path A is still, a long term project. But if it will allow you very little or no creativity and you yearn to be creative, then it is the wrong path for you whether you are anxious or not.

So two ways to go about it: dealing with your anxiety, managing and maybe even healing it (!) and making wise choices.

You’ve been depressed in the last year or so probably because the monotonous, non creativity nature of Path A is …well, depressing and it would be depressing for any creative person. Path A, supported by your family members, may suit their not-so creative nature but not you. Or it may seem the right path to them, but if they themselves pursued it, they could find themselves depressed as well.

Regarding getting so involved with bands and such, that is not a commitment issue as I see it. It was a Distraction Issue. When you got kind of obsessed with a band, you got out of your head, so to speak. Like watching an exciting movie on screen, you forget your own anxiety, your own distress.

Let me know what you think at this point, and we can continue to communicate here, if you’d like.

anita