Dear Katrine Nielsen:

I hope you get some sleep very soon, and if you can’t sleep, I hope that you get to rest, perhaps take a hot bath, listen to soft music and relax, best you can.

You shared that when you are about to attend a social gathering with one side of the family, you get extremely anxious, afraid that you will be criticized and belittled. All that anxiety/ ongoing fear is exhausting to you. (“I’m completely exhausted from being anxious”)- anxiety is exhausting for everyone, I know from personal experience.

“Every person I’ve ever told about my anxiety thinks to just have to force yourself and you will be fine”- I say: do not force yourself, do not put pressure on yourself when anxious. Instead: be kind and gentle with yourself, like you would be to an anxious little girl who needs your help.

“I feel weak whenever I’m saying no (which is rare)…I’m only saying no when I’m completely exhausted from being anxious”- when you can, after you rest perhaps, can you tell me what kinds of requests and expectations do you have difficulty saying No to, as a child and since?

anita