- Joined
- May 31, 2009
- Messages
- 14,497
- MBTI Type
- INFJ
Of late, I have overwhelmingly been experiencing this. It feels a bit better when I am curled up into a ball, but that's hardly conducive to getting work done. It's like being hungry because it feels empty like that, but I'm aware that it's not hunger.
From past experience I know it's stress, although why it's chosen to suddenly manifest itself so strongly in the last couple of days, I'm not sure - it's not due to any sudden change in situation. While I've got some things on the back burner that niggle away, I'm not spending a lot of unproductive time dwelling on them or worrying about them, yet I find myself reverting back to habits that I have when under extreme stress. That's been going on for at least a month: eating badly, feeling dead tired, grinding my teeth at night (I've had my front teeth fixed three times in the last year because of that and gag when I wear a mouthguard at night), irrationally feeling compelled to stay up late but doing nothing, buying comfort stuff I don't need or that's silly (like celeb gossip magazines or makeup items or treats), procrastinating etc. This stomach thing is just the clincher.
Does anyone have some ideas for how you overcome those feelings? Fortunately, I do have people to talk about that kind of stuff with, so it's not just boiling around inside with no way to get out. I know some say exercise is a great stress reliever, but I find myself overwhelmed by lethargy and feelings of restlessness that keep me from really settling into anything or accomplishing much. I've got the equipment I need right there, and my clothes are not fitting me the way they should, but I still can't seem to get going. I even understand in my mind that it is important to do what you are dreading without waiting to feel like doing it and then the feelings will come, but I still don't take action.
It kind of scares me because by nature I'm fairly optimistic and happy. I still feel that way in my head, but my body is responding differently. I don't know why it's just gotten worse in the last while and that bothers me even more. My day to day life is about as stress free as it could be, I have supportive people all around me, I'm doing stuff that I enjoy and think is valuable, I've got a decent social life and overall I'd say I'm happy. The work I'm doing does make me spend a lot of time thinking about problems that have big implications (for my career and for the future of our society) and no easy answers. That also keeps looping my thoughts back to my own family members and other people I am close to who are not doing well right now, but I think that sort of thing is mostly under control mentally.
In any case, I need to find some way to break out of these patterns as well as the pain of a sore stomach that feels like something is trying to bore a hole in it. If any of you have ideas, they'd be most welcome.
From past experience I know it's stress, although why it's chosen to suddenly manifest itself so strongly in the last couple of days, I'm not sure - it's not due to any sudden change in situation. While I've got some things on the back burner that niggle away, I'm not spending a lot of unproductive time dwelling on them or worrying about them, yet I find myself reverting back to habits that I have when under extreme stress. That's been going on for at least a month: eating badly, feeling dead tired, grinding my teeth at night (I've had my front teeth fixed three times in the last year because of that and gag when I wear a mouthguard at night), irrationally feeling compelled to stay up late but doing nothing, buying comfort stuff I don't need or that's silly (like celeb gossip magazines or makeup items or treats), procrastinating etc. This stomach thing is just the clincher.
Does anyone have some ideas for how you overcome those feelings? Fortunately, I do have people to talk about that kind of stuff with, so it's not just boiling around inside with no way to get out. I know some say exercise is a great stress reliever, but I find myself overwhelmed by lethargy and feelings of restlessness that keep me from really settling into anything or accomplishing much. I've got the equipment I need right there, and my clothes are not fitting me the way they should, but I still can't seem to get going. I even understand in my mind that it is important to do what you are dreading without waiting to feel like doing it and then the feelings will come, but I still don't take action.
It kind of scares me because by nature I'm fairly optimistic and happy. I still feel that way in my head, but my body is responding differently. I don't know why it's just gotten worse in the last while and that bothers me even more. My day to day life is about as stress free as it could be, I have supportive people all around me, I'm doing stuff that I enjoy and think is valuable, I've got a decent social life and overall I'd say I'm happy. The work I'm doing does make me spend a lot of time thinking about problems that have big implications (for my career and for the future of our society) and no easy answers. That also keeps looping my thoughts back to my own family members and other people I am close to who are not doing well right now, but I think that sort of thing is mostly under control mentally.
In any case, I need to find some way to break out of these patterns as well as the pain of a sore stomach that feels like something is trying to bore a hole in it. If any of you have ideas, they'd be most welcome.