I was born and brought up in a middle class south Indian family. My family provided food, shelter and very much support for my studies. I am somewhat good in studies, played some cricket in vacations. My father was very caring, strong and bit short tempered. Mother is caring, supportive and bit sensitive. No repeated judgements and I had a good childhood. Nobody in my family used alcohol or even smoke. I always wish if I could go back to my childhood! Also my sister who born and brought up in same situation is not having that much anxiety.

I was not trying to say I am an HSP as mentioned exactly in that book. However some of the traits of a sensitive person mentioned in that book suits for me. Not an HSP, but bit sensitive. I have performance anxiety and somewhat social anxiety.

Today I have restarted 20 min meditation along with 1 hour yoga. Lets hope this also will help to reduce my anxiety and manage those with empathy in long term.

Thanks Anita for your detailed explanation. I am undergoing a therapy in my native. As I said  earlier I have started Yoga along with Pranayama for 12 min (breathing exercise). No other physical exercise apart from bicycle usage on weekends. I do agree managing my anxiety is a long term process. I learned self awareness last year and self acceptance this year. Those gave a great relief to me and helped to accept me as I am. Now I need to learn how I can show empathy on me for my negative emotions and manage them well. I do think it will be learned with time in almighty’s grace.

Thanks Peter and Anita.

Anita,

I had a good childhood with my family, friends and relatives; nobody judged me a lot. I am basically somewhat sensitive like my mother, however I was not aware about that till  I read a book named “The Highly Sensitive Person” by Dr. Elaine Aron last year. I am not saying that book is not completely fit to me. Also I was struggling if any negative emotion triggered me, then there was a talk in mind imagining somebody in opposite side and countering with them. In that aspect the article by Ilene Strauss Cohen helped me to accept my negative emotions too  and which reduced my internal conflicts much better. Now the real issue is to manage my negative emotions. As you mentioned in your previous comment “don’t judge yourself. Instead, have empathy for yourself. Say to yourself something like: my hands are trembling because I am afraid. This means I need to be kind to myself, I need to help myself. What can I do now to make it easier for me.” is very good point. Now the question is how I can help myself to make it easier instead of thinking how to hide this from others?

Today I have restarted my yoga in the morning. Below are the list of asanas I am doing after the Pranayama (6 min)

I) Pawanmuktasana (5 times)
1. Padanguli Naman (toe bending)
2. Goolf Naman (ankle bending)
3. Goolf Chakra (ankle rotation)
4. Goolf Ghooman (ankle crank)
5. Janu Naman (knee bending)
6. Janu Chakra (knee crank)
7. Shroni Chakra (hip rotation)
8. Pooma Titali Asana (full butterfly)
9. Mushtika Bandhana (hand clenching)
10. Kehuni Chakra (elbow rotation)
11. Skandha Chakra (shoulder socket rotation) Stage I
12. Greeva Sanchalana (neck movements)
13. Padotthanasana (raised legs pose) – 10 times
14. Supta Pawanmuktasana (leg lock pose)
II) Shashankasana (pose of the moon or hare pose)
III) Tadasana (palm tree pose)

Thanks Anita for your valuable response. I have tried mindful meditation (simply focusing on breath) for more than a year and it doesn’t make any change to my behavior. Then I was started Yoga continued for 2 months , but it got stopped since I got some sleep disorder.