Dear icedmunkie:

My advice is for you to keep doing what is working, those things you listed. Just because the things you listed do not make you perfectly happy is no reason to stop or neglect them (at least the smoking cessation, exercise and better nutrition as well as maintaining some current friendships). And maybe instead of doing more and more, let yourself do nothing and BE with the feelings at those times instead of trying to escape them.

When overwhelmed with emotion it is often advised to distract (meditation, tasks, socialization) but when not overwhelmed or before getting overwhelmed (usually with un-necessary thinking that make you feel worse) stay with a feeling. Feel it in your body, focus on the sensation.

And there are messages feelings are trying to deliver to you. Once you feel comfortable enough with a feeling, calm enough you will know more than you know now and that knowledge will be the guide that you need.

anita