Dear curiousknowledgeseeker:

The issue here is wishing your sister in law happy birthday on the phone, correct? I am thinking at this point that the issue is that your anxiety is focused on your husband’s family members- you feel anxious regarding any and every contact with them, obsess and ruminate, and all together, you are miserable whenever his family members come into your day via social media, phone, and in person.

I didn’t quite think of it this way when I communicated with you in your previous threads. If this is the case, then there are ways for you to reduce your anxiety overall on a daily basis (ex., guided mindful meditations) as well as psychotherapy where you can learn to manage and lessen your family-in-law-based anxiety and obsession.

anita