Dear Anita,

Thanks very much. Sorry for my late reply, not too well from the past few days. Yes, I think it makes me anxious because I feel a lack of control that scares me about how things will go. I will try to find things in my day to day life that I can control, and finding a way to do them in my own way.  But, sometimes especially during that period, it all felt insignificant in front of the circumstances that were sort of out of my hand. What to do about this thought?

Thanks

Dear Tommy

Thank you for understanding the situation in an apt manner. That’s why I don’t want to let these thoughts consume myself, and even though I am trying to release the what if thoughts, it’s happening easily. I meditate every day and maintain a gratitude journal, which help me to a great extent. What mindfulness techniques do you think can be useful when I begin to spiral in my intrusive thoughts.

Thanks

Dear Anita,

• Thanks very much for your truly insightful answer. Ever since that situation happened, I am trying to develop better perspectives and inculcate these values. The serenity prayer is definitely helpful, and to be honest I tried something like this in that situation only to fail in keeping it. I am trying my best to accept all things in my life through a more neutral perspective. Thinking about a purpose is empowering, and I did this activity once after coming to my university. It helped. I will try to hold on to these perspectives to develop a better vision towards life.
• About intrusive and self consuming anxious thoughts, what should I do to deal with them in a better way? I did some re online and I could relate with a few of the symptoms listed one some reliable websites. Please advise.
• Thank yo

Dear Anita,

I certainly agree that there was a past baggage that added to my emotional issues. Here is the thing, I made significant recovery in my physical health by the end of 2022 and panic attacks also eased out by that time period. But, when the scholarship issue came, it shattered me because of the sheer unfairness of the issues and I began feeling that just when things started to become better, they went for worse. At this point my past baggage became really heavy  because I began to think that its pointless to keep hopes as all I got was traumatic setbacks again and again.

I personally think that if it’s related to the symptoms of PTSD, it is connected more with the scholarship issue; honestly speaking I had never felt such low, and despair and I almost wanted to give up. Thinking about my condition at that point frightens me up now thinking about it, I feel I was on the verge of getting into depression and I didnt want to do anything to avoid it at that point of time. will do my research related to PTSD. Thank you very much

Dear Anita,

My intrusive thoughts make me feel as if that situation has actually happened, and it is my reality. I get flashbacks of what I felt during that time, some examples are – “nothing ever gets better” “there is no point of looking for my wellbeing” “I’m tired now” and “this is so unfair”. I think my emotional state at that moment has left such imprints that they still affect me, making me ruminate over them even though my reality is different.

There is no specific time of the day when such thoughts and emotions surface.