Good Morning Kaitie and Teebs :)
Teebs: Just keep using the coping skills and relaxation techniques and it will break the pattern. It's just stubborn and you have to be more stubborn and keep counteracting it even though it's discouraging. It will work! I got so frustrated, at one time, but I was determined to counteract the anxiety for one thousand and one times if necessary. This is just anxieties pithy test to see if you're going to buckle or make it buckle, so just think of it as a toothless lion. It's loud, it growls and it's scary, but it can bite you or harm you in any way. It's just making a lot of noise to see if you'll fall for it and I know you won't. I had a bout with the same lion and it seemed to last forever, in reality it lasted for six weeks, but it eventually gave up before I did. You can do it; we're all here to help you tame the lion :) You'll be okay - soon.
Kaitie: Yes, the squirrels are foolish to come into the yard. One time, my older dog, got a mouthful of squirrel fur from the tail. I think the squirrel was upset that he had a partially bald tail. He wasn't hurt, but he sat in the tree and chattered a lecture to my dog :) The thing I like about dogs, and animals in general, is that they live in the present. We humans can, but we know there are other options. I try to stay in the present, because there's less anxiety there. I read that thinking about the future can cause anxiety (the unknown) and thinking about the past can cause depression (can't change things or go back). When I was a kid and knew I had a dentist appt. I'd worry the whole two weeks before going. As an adult, I don't think about it until the actual day. That way I'm only nervous when I sit in the chair, instead of ruining a good two weeks :)
Thanks for the insight on why people behave the way they do; it makes sense. And, it relieves stress when I understand the cause or reason. Thank you - you are really smart! That's so true and so funny that the things we don't like in others are what we do. I've been caught red handed on that one for sure. I complained about how close people get up to me in the grocery line and my daughter said, "Hey. You do the same thing." So, whenever I get bothered by something someone does, I get out a figurative mirror and see if I am guilty of doing the same thing. And, I always do - ha ha. I felt sorry for myself for a moment yesterday and told my husband I was lonely. He asked, "Did anyone email you?" And, told him yes. So, I guess I dismissed that people wrote. I don't know what I was thinking unless it was that not enough people wrote. In any case, good people observations Kaitie - good on ya, as my Scottish friend would say :) I don't think I push people away, but I'm going to check into it. Good insights for sure.
Shari
