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- This topic has 401 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 1 week, 1 day ago by
anita.
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November 14, 2024 at 6:06 pm #439406
anitaParticipantDear Lisa: good to read from you again. Please share more?..
anita
November 15, 2024 at 9:56 am #439412
LisaParticipantI am going back and forth this week and right now I have to get ready for work and I am frozen. I don’t want to go. I feel like I am not doing anything for my life. I don’t know what to do about the insanity going on in politics. In the next ten minutes I have to get up and get ready for work and I am dreading it. I feel like everything that I felt growing up has made it’s way into mainstream politics and women and men voted for the abuser. It’s been personally traumatizing for me as well as traumatizing as someone who believes in my country….and like the great puzzle that is my life I just don’t understand.
Work will be what it always is which is no comfort. I may not be able to respond until later as I do have to go to work.
November 15, 2024 at 10:38 am #439414anitaParticipantDear Lisa:
It’s understandable that the political climate can deeply affect people’s mental health. Here are seven ways (from online) to cope with feelings of depression or trauma related to the elections:
1. Limit News Consumption: Constant exposure to news can heighten anxiety. Set specific times to check updates and avoid news before bed.
2. Connect with Supportive People: people and support groups who share your concerns. Feeling understood and supported can make a big difference.
3. Engage in Self-Care: prioritize activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it’s reading, exercising, or spending time in nature.
4. Practice Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques: techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and the 5-4-3-2-1 method can help manage anxiety and keep you grounded.
5. Focus on What You Can Control: engage in positive actions, like volunteering or participating in community activities, to feel more empowered.
6. Stay Physically Active: exercise can boost your mood and reduce stress. Even a short walk can make a difference.
7. Create a Safe Space: Make your home a sanctuary where you can relax and feel secure. Surround yourself with comforting items and positive reminders.
A personal note: I did not vote for the president to be, and I was very anxious about the possibility that he will win. The morning I heard of the results, surprisingly, I felt a relief.. simply because the suspense was over. Now, this is the situation, it is what it is and I can’t undo it. You know of The Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”?-
– Well, I can’t change the election results (not to the White House, not to the Senate, not to the House of Representatives, and not when it comes the implications to the Supreme Court), but I can change my Attitude, and instead of filling my mind with the negatives, I choose to focus on the positives: I personally know of good, hard-working, decent people who voted for Trump. Many are happy and hopeful now. I am happy for them. There are good people in the world at large who are also happy and hopeful in regard to the elections results: I am happy for them too.
Maybe, just maybe, Lisa, some things in the next 4 years will turn out okay. Maybe better than okay. You may be pleasantly surprised. Maybe.
Remember, Lisa: it’s okay to seek help and take steps to protect your mental health. You’re not alone in feeling the way you do, and there are resources and people who can support you through this time. I a here for you.
anita
November 15, 2024 at 11:09 am #439415anitaParticipantcorrection to the last sentence: I am here for you.
anita
November 16, 2024 at 6:11 pm #439434LisaParticipantThank you Anita for the lists of things to do. I really appreciate your help.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I wish I could respond to what you said afterwards, but I can not.</p>
November 16, 2024 at 6:14 pm #439435LisaParticipantEdit:
Thank you Anita for the lists of things to do. I really appreciate your help.
I wish I could respond to what you said afterwards, but I can not.
November 16, 2024 at 9:04 pm #439436anitaParticipantDear Lisa:
You are very welcome. I understand you not being in the state of mind- heart to respond to me- and you don’t owe me- or anyone- a response. You are not alone in your pain and distress. I hope it eases.
anita
November 21, 2024 at 12:50 pm #439602anitaParticipantDear Lisa:
I came across a poem yesterday, and I thought of sending it to you because it fits you too:
“In the quiet of the night, where shadows play, And the silence whispers what hearts cannot say,
Know that even in the darkest of days, There’s a light within you, guiding your way.
Your heart feels heavy, burdened with care, The weight of the world, too much to bear.
Yet in the midst of pain, there’s a spark, A reminder that hope still ignites in the dark.
When love feels distant, and solace is scarce, Remember, dear soul, you are strong and fierce.
In the echoes of doubt, find your inner voice, A whisper of strength, a reason to rejoice.
Though the path seems lonely, you’re never alone, For within you lies a courage well-known.
Take each step forward, with grace and with might, For brighter tomorrows are born from this fight.
Let the tears flow freely, let the heart mend, For in brokenness, there’s a chance to transcend.
Embrace the journey, with all that it brings, For you are resilient, a soul with wings.
In the quiet of the night, hold on to your grace, With each breath you take, find a serene space.
Know that you are cherished, valued, and dear, And with each new dawn, let go of your fear.
May you find comfort in the love that remains, In the strength of your spirit, despite the pains.
For you are a warrior, with a heart so true, And brighter days will come, just for you.”
anita
November 28, 2024 at 11:45 am #439748anitaParticipantHappy Thanksgiving, Lisa: may it be as happy as it’s possible for you!
anita
December 11, 2024 at 7:21 pm #440224LisaParticipant<p style=”text-align: center;”>Thank you Anita, my Thanksgiving was nice. Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving as well.</p>
Thank you so much for the poem. It was just what I needed to read just now.I am sorry about the long intervals between my post.
I am sitting here when I should be trying to go to sleep. I watched a video about being a highly sensitive person and days ago something about being unable to do anything but I forget what it was really called. I begrudgingly go to work because I absolutely have to. I do other things because I really have to but I for the most part sit still or lie down not being able to do the things I should be doing. I am easily overwhelmed by so many things and when I am I can’t move. I chip away at what I need to do but it’s very difficult for me to complete tasks and I constantly worry about how I do things, am I doing the right things, am I making a mistake, this is all too much for me and I have to go lie down.
Of course politics is certainly not helping me. I tried a 5 minute meditation today which helped a little but I still complained to someone about the things that bother me.
<p style=”text-align: right;”>I wish I could feel strong and confident. I wish I did not let others affect how I feel so much. I wish I could end suffering. I wish I could be proactive but I am sitting here….no closer to going to bed…unable to move because I feel overwhelmed by everything.</p>December 11, 2024 at 7:38 pm #440225anitaParticipantDear Lisa:
You submitted your post only 17 minutes ago. It is amazing how far, and yet, how close we are to each other, how much Alone has been the theme of your life, and of mine. I do wish you go to sleep with a measure of peace of mind. I wish the same for me. Let’s talk more, let’s connect better tomorrow we can.
anita
December 12, 2024 at 11:49 am #440338anitaParticipantDear Lisa:
“I watched a video about being a highly sensitive person and days ago something about being unable to do anything but I forget what it was really called“-
– I wonder if you are referring to Learned Helplessness: it happens when a person feels powerless to change their situation, due to repeated exposure to uncontrollable events or failures, leading to the core belief that your actions have no effect, leading to state of passive acceptance and lack of motivation. This term applies to me big- time, but I am working on it!
You described feeling easily overwhelmed by many aspects of life, leading to a state of inactivity. This includes difficulties completing tasks and a constant worry about making mistakes.
You also expressed a strong wish to feel strong, confident, proactive, and less affected by others, but you feel stuck and unable to move due to being overwhelmed.
Having communicated with you since May 1, 2017, I know about your very, very difficult and painful childhood, and your long history of unmet needs and feeling unloved and unworthy, resenting others who seem to receive love effortlessly. You’ve been carrying the weight of these feelings for many years.
Feeling overwhelmed and stuck is not a failure on your part. It’s a reflection of the deep emotional scars of your childhood, aka those Formative Years. It’s okay to take things one step at a time and to recognize that even small efforts, like trying a five-minute meditation, are meaningful.
Please be gentle with yourself. Acknowledge that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and that you’re doing your best with the resources you have. Continue exploring mindfulness and meditation. These practices can help ground you and provide moments of peace amid the overwhelm. Recognize and celebrate the small steps you take each day. Even the effort to get out of bed or attempt a task is a victory worth acknowledging.
Your sensitivity is a strength, even though it feels like a burden at times. It allows you to connect deeply with yourself and others. Remember that it’s okay to prioritize your needs and take care of yourself.
One more thing, Lisa: it’s okay to make mistakes!
Since you liked the poem I sent you on Nov 21, here’s another, just for you:
Though the path seems long and the night is cold,
Within you lies a story of bravery untold.
Your sensitivity is a gift, a lantern in the dark,
Guiding you forward, igniting a spark.
In every little victory, in each small gain,
You find the strength to rise again.
The world may seem overwhelming, a daunting place,
But you have the power to set your pace.
Take each moment gently, breathe in and out,
For even in silence, your soul can shout.
You are not alone in this journey you take,
There are hearts out there that understand the ache.
Embrace your worth, let your spirit soar,
For you are capable of so much more.
In the tapestry of life, your thread is unique,
Woven with care, in colors so chic.
Be kind to yourself, let self-love be your guide,
For within you, the universe does confide.
So lie down and rest when the world feels too much,
Know that in every breath, you hold the touch of hope, of grace, of dreams anew,
And in each step forward, the world waits for you.
Take things one step at a time, Lisa, and know that you’re not alone in this journey. There are people who care about you and want to support you.
Warm regards,
anita
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