Ok, so yesterday i started a new group called Life Skills...it is once a week and i will try to share as much as possible.
Yesterday we identified bad life coping skills and how they affect us, in future classes we will learn healthy coping skills instead of the sometimes very bad ones we use. These are some of the ways we try to numb the sometimes overwhelming pain.
1-Self medicating (drugs, prescribed or not, alcohol, over the counter medication and even caffeine)
Even over the counter meds, like gravol, benadryl anything that numbs you can become addictive. Over
using your anti anxiety meds (you know what they are, ativan, clonazeapm, xanax, rivotril, zyprexa zidis,
vallium, clonopin..etc etc.
Some of the consequences are: making you more stressed, worrying others, overdose, extreme shame
when you wake up the next day, depression from abuse, overwhelming guilt...etc etc.
ps. caffeine can really affect anxiety and sleep, I now drink one HUGE caffeinated expresso or coffee in morning and i bought myself some good decaf for the rest of the day and i really do see a difference, this is a very easy way to cut down your anxiety a bit.
2- Food (overeating, purging, binging, not eating)
This can lead to medical problems, it can also be worry a lot of close ones, and then the guilt after the
pleasure always kicks in. Feeling shame..and many others....
3- Avoiding problems ( isolating yourself from friends and family, not leaving the house, oversleeping)
This will make you even more stressed the longer you go without seeing people and your spinning
thoughts will get worse and worse and overly dramatized, sometimes paranoia will kick in as well.
Then of course the inevitable guilt will kick in as it always does, since we all seem to feel guilty about
everything.
4- Excessive and compulsive shopping (that is a big one for me).
Well the obvious "DEBT" which leads to extreme anxiety, sleepless nights worrying. Panic attacks
Lack of sleep, embarrasement to have to borrow money all the time
5-Cutting, pulling hair, picking at skin
Leaves scars, embarassing, guilt, could cut at the wrong place or too deep and end up dying, having to
hide your scars (long sleeves in summer)
6-Overwork
Miss out on seeing family and friends, lack of sleep...etc
7-Drama and gossip (perfect way to avoid yourself since you become engrossed in other peole's lives)
End up with no friends, guilt
8-Promiscuity
Having sex drunk with strangers, pregnancy, std's, aids, embarrasment
9-Suicidal thoughts, threats or attempts
Obviously dangerous
10-Reckless driving, driving drunk
Can lead to accident
11-Gambling
Loss of money, anxiety, lack of sleep, panic attacks
12-Blaming others or the situation and getting angry
Losing friends, guilt, shame
Most of these lead to relationship problems whether with friends, family or life partner.
There are others these are the major ones. Soon i will start posting positive ways to cope with problems :o)
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