That anxiety effect from doing some things

That anxiety effect from doing some things

Ceremony

Member
Right now, I have two things going on about looking for a new job. Neither of which are very productive, because I'm scared. It feels emasculating, though that's the least of my worries. My T has noted I fear interactions with people, and perhaps most of all, I fear the topic of sex or interpersonal skills.

This is probably Triggering:

A lot of it would be related to my fixation that I look wrong. I'm too heavy now, and I'm self conscious about it. The fact that people have shown it's a very big deal, by denigrating the man in the White House's weight and other, has made me relive the bullying I have not healed from. I have done some work, I have progressed, but to state I'm healed from those bullies is too much. I'm imprinted with the words, and self shame of my body. Because it's been so long since I was 12-15, and the worst has been over, I now react privately to what I see or read in public. I have to endure what I perceive as the reflection of myself in others eyes. If I don't like what I see, I expect others do the same. Knowing how horrid the shaming and demeaning of that man in the White House's body is spoken of, it's triggered me over and over and over.

I can't escape it and I won't be a hermit, so I must think of a way to endure this self demeaning voice of my own, and move out to meet people for interviews and meetings. I'm scared. I don't have good clothes and those I have are old and pretty worn, so I feel self conscious. But, it's all I have and the thing is, it's all I have!

Does repeating that make sense? I suppose not?

Anyway, since there are really good things that happen when I can motivate myself past my sincerely difficult anxieties, there's that carrot I think about. I really don't fall apart, but I have so much pre-anxiety, I too often fail to even try.

Excuses seem trivial to those whose anxiety it isn't theirs to experience. Know what I mean? Anxiety of my kind goes to feelings of inadequacy too, that I'm ashamed I even have this problem, how did getting so heavy become so impossible to fix? Is this more than just some age changes of metabolism and maybe my medications? Is there some other physical thing wrong, diminishing my chances to lose weight? I hurt so badly all the time, it's a major deal to exercise, I pay a huge price in pain later. I can't take the usual NSAID anti inflammatory because of the medication to counter my Adrenal Glands problem. It's my high blood pressure medication. It's a nasty thing too, extreme kind of diuretic. I hate it. But, it does lower my blood pressure from the 200/100 to the 140/70 area. That's a big deal.

I'm always exhausted, and I'm always in pain. What am I supposed to do? I don't have money to pay the damn Copay for multi-testing to a doctor. I don't have a doctor either. I won't go back to the nurse practitioner I had. I don't like him nor his nurse. Why is it, I've been to these three clinics for over twenty years and I don't have a doctor? What did I do wrong. Two have moved on, and or I had to change clinics because of insurance, and this last time, I got very tired of the clinic I had, and switched back to one that went to second tier copay. I pay a bit more. It didn't matter two years ago, now I can't manage it.

So, back to my anxiety, there's a meeting tomorrow and I should rsvp today if I'm going. But, it's a topic of relationship boundaries in life and the work place. It's going to skirt the issue of sex. It's going to be a topic that I have very little experience talking about, and in that, this would be good experience. I have so much anxiety about it, I decided to write a post/thread about it.

I'm torn by the idea it's experience. But, I'm pretty sure I'll be the only man, but not positive. I don't want to be the creepy old guy, especially tall and fat, who is among women looking for answers to their need to set boundaries. I need to know those things too, I don't have good experience understanding what was good for me, yet, I've not had huge problems since I was 16. That's because I barely do anything. I don't take risks, I don't do new professional meetings with strangers. Dysfunctional people, Ok, I've things in common. Supposedly average people, I feel awkward.

I look at me, and think negative, yet, I won't hold others to that. I work to not judge... "Golden Rule".

Then, why don't I get past my own brain, my own inner thoughts that are sabotaging me. Is the way I see body shaming going on, hitting me that hard, at my age? I think it is, but, dammit, that sucks!
 
I can't manage to accept the invitation and rsvp. The time conflicts with a men's group I just started last week too. I'm grumpy that I have two choices, and some things I can do, but I'm afraid to make choices one way or another.

The men's group is a struggle for reasons I'll reveal if that comes up. I'm Ok to talk, but my needs are going to be met by how I meet them, in a way, is that what group has always been? Not support, not connection? That's not what I feel or think here on MS, but is that reality? They're not responsible for my words and feelings from what I bring or take away, but, I am looking for belonging, that it's safe to talk about myself. I did know it can be safe there, I can work with that, but I'm in a place of confusion.

I can't manage to go talk to unknown women about issues of boundaries at work and in life. I'm too scared, and the excuse of going to my men's group for the second time is too much to neglect.

It's settled, but unsettling.
 
Ceremony,

You are a greeter. Of course feeling connected is reality. You invite people to belong and be safe when ever you meet them. Your self shaming forces you to focus on your anxiety. And your anxiety
translates to fear.

I can always come up with reasons not to walk, to put off blood tests, to not advise my doctor what is really going on. It is all self care that I must value, if I am going to stop hating myself. What is the point of not cutting and burning if I am still going to hate me. It has taken years to accept that I am inadequate not worthless. Everyone is inadequate somewhere, even brain surgeons are inadequate plumbers.

Feeling awkward is a permanent condition until you practice enough to get over feeling awkward or you stop caring if you are awkward.

Go to the men's group. It has challenges you can meet now, and boundaries with women will wait. Any way, you can always deal with that with your wife if you really want to.

Go with God
 
Ceremony, I agree with genedebs, and I think you’re brave and your commitment to be open and honest here about a deep issue that connects all the way back is inspiring. I get the sense from reading your posts you are a naturally supportive person (you ARE a greeter! and a great one I have no doubt.) But to start a thread is to me really tough. So kudos to you for doing so. I can relate very much to body shame. As a kid and teen I was bullied for being skinny and sunken-chested and slump-shouldered, awkward. And no good at sports. I was really really thin, really tall. And the shame never left me. Still just standing up straight is a lifelong quest, (a kind yoga teacher was helpful at one point). And I carry the shame and anger around. Now any health issue I have to face, and I have had way more than my share, (a common characteristic of adults abused kids)I still feel the boy’s body shame all over again.

No one, child or adult, should be shamed or ridiculed for their body. Us included!
 
Thank you Gene and seachange, I appreciate the encouragement to focus my attention. I just returned from the men's group, and it was easier this week.

I have a lot of things to do, working on myself among that. I'll keep self care in mind, and have hope.

Best to you both and all.
 
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