Dear ataraxia:

You wrote: “I dont want to get behind, be the failure when everyone else is advancing in their careers”- it is not fair for you to compare yourself to others and then judge yourself to be a failure in comparison. Your anxiety has been significant. If others’ anxieties are lesser, they have less to overcome as they move forward in their careers. The fact that others make more money than you, or are more advanced in their careers, doesn’t mean that they are superior to you in any way other than their bank account. It may very well mean that they have less to overcome, less that stops their movement forward.

Anxiety is like the brake pedal in a car. All your intelligence and resources are like the gas pedal, moving you forward. But when you suffer from significant anxiety, your other foot is pushing the brakes and your movement forward is made slow or impossible.

Be as gentle with yourself as you can be, not harsh. Don’t call yourself a failure, don’t judge yourself by how much money you make. Make peace with you.

anita