Does Your Job Give You Anxiety? Don't Distract Yourself... Do This Instead.

Hi everyone.

Sorry for being MIA the past week. There has been changes happening in my day job. I went from working 6 to 8 hour shifts most days to working 24 hour shifts two or three days a week. It took sometime to juggle my blogging schedule with my job.

So let's get right to then shall we?

Speaking of jobs, the sad reality is that people need, or at least think that they need, to work to make money to survive.

The sadder reality is that the vast majority hate their jobs or they would much rather be doing something else.

I often hear people say they can't sleep well the night before their shift; their 12 hour shifts make them sick with anxiety; their boss treats them poorly and they leave work feeling drained; and most of all, they are on the count until their next day off only to repeat the cycle on Monday... or whatever day of the week you go back to work.

What kills me about the situation is that nobody should need to wait for time off work to feel happy or have fun.

But most people do and they don't realize there is something else out there.

My work situation is a little different. I don't hate it. But it is a stressful field which causes me to feel anxiety prior to my shift. Also, I'm away from home for 24, sometimes 48 hours, at a time. I would definitely rather be home with my boyfriend, painting, doing yoga, and blogging.

But I am near the end of my weekend and just up to when I started working on this blog, I felt anxiety. The anxiety was so bad that I just wanted to sit and cry. Is there anything I can do?

Yes. The answer to that question is yes.

Usually when I feel anxiety, I look for distractions. TV, games, company. Anything to distract my mind and keep me feeling numb

But what is that doing for me? Is it serving me in any way?

In the long run, no. t's not.

I believe that anyone and everyone can create a lifestyle for themselves. A lifestyle where they can get paid to do what they love.

Am I doing that now?

Yes!

I'm not at the point where I can quit my job and live off of the income from my blogs. Nope but I am on my way.

So what does that have to do with anxiety?

Instead of letting anxiety consume you, let it fuel you.

The anxiety I felt early fueled me to work on my blog. To work on it harder and to work on it more often.

Not only is it taking anxiety from me in the moment, I am also working on and growing my dream. This reminds me that the current situation is only temporary because I am working on manifesting my dream job.

You should try it too. I promise you will feel amazing.

Let's both to do it together and fly!

Get in touch with me. What is your dream? I encourage you to work on it... like, right now!

How did you find this blog? I hope it inspires you.

Ang

Check out some of my other blogs.

Here is my previous post:
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/07/how-i-get-over-bad-day-featuring-law-of.html

If you want to learn more about manifesting your dreams, read this:
https://confessionsofanawakenedyouth.blogspot.ca/2017/04/an-inspirational-blog.html

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Also, my uploading schedule was Wednesday and Friday. This isn't going to change but I am also going to upload on Sundays as well.

Namaste.

Do you have repetitive, distressing thoughts? Read this.

There you are. Minding your own business when a thought pops into your head. It could be anything. Then suddenly, a feeling of dread comes over you. The thought is ridiculous. You know that. But it will not leave you. For as long as I can remember, I had these crazy fear-inducing thoughts. They would never leave me! And when it finally did, another thought replaced it.

I remember feeling miserable in high school. I lost interest in just about everything. I felt little joy during Christmas or during other exciting times. I had a tightness in my chest and I remember going home from school with panic attacks. I believe I started to feel depressed.

I always hoped that this was a phase and that when I become an adult, it would go away. Well, in my early 20s these distressing thoughts still raced through my mind. Coincidentally, I majored in Psychology. And I do believe in every way that it was meant to be. I remember studying Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). A certain component of the disorder caught my attention. OCD may be characterized by intrusive, obsessive, and often disturbing thoughts.

I could write a book about my experiences and the sequence of events that helped me gain control of thoughts. Instead, I have complied a list of what helped bring me back to reality.

1. OCD is a mental illness

There is nothing actually wrong with you for having distressing thoughts. Just because you thought of your spouse getting into a car accident does not mean you want them to die. Understanding that this is a disorder helped me so much.

2. Acceptance

This one was scary for me. Let's say you're worried you have a terminal illness and you have 6 months left to live. Accept it. I would tell myself that whatever will be, will be and I will deal with it when (or if) it ever happens. Spoiler alert: it never happened.

3. The majority of what you dwell on don't actually happen.

Just know that not one of my obsessive thoughts ever became a reality. And 90 odd percent of obsessive thoughts do not become a reality.

4. Everyone's brains are weird

Everyone in the world has had weird thoughts pop in their head. You are not alone. But people with obsessive-compulsive tendencies will dwell on these thoughts. But your thoughts does not equate with reality. They... are... just... thoughts.

5. Talk to a professional

I know, it's awkward, "Hey doc. So, I had a thought of a baby's butt and now I'm worried I'm a pedophile". But talking to someone who understands may be the best thing that ever happened to you. I wish I had seen a professional. I could have put all this in the past a long time ago.

6. Your brain is like a muscle

Spend too much time fixated on a thought, and that thought will become stronger than even. This goes for recovery as well. Breaking bad habits takes time so don't expect a complete change overnight. Keep practicing and eventually you will be able to control your thoughts and anxiety.

Becoming worry-free was so surreal. I took on new interests and hobbies and excelled in school. Something I didn't do before because my thoughts would distract and drain me.

Do I still have OCD? No, I don’t think so. Thoughts and anxiety no longer negatively affect my daily life. Do I still have obsessive-compulsive tendencies? I do. But the more time that passes, the stronger I become.

I can't wait for you experience that moment when you realize you are finally on your way to becoming worry-free. And I hope this is the beginning for you, if you haven't started already. And when feel yourself sink back into your thoughts, I hope you remember something  I said and brings you back to reality. Back to living and just being happy.  

Angie