Do you feel strongly about things? Do you feel deeply and intensely? Are you emotional? Do you feel like you make too much of things sometimes, or make mountains out of molehills?
If you answered yes to these questions, you may be someone who becomes scared, or overwhelmed easily by life’s problems. Issues that may seem trivial to one person may feel like catastrophes to another. If you seem to get bent out of shape over small mishaps then this article is for you. A small mishap can be described as anything that does not do lasting damage: for example, a broken vase, a burnt dinner, being late to the dentist, getting a parking ticket, and so on. Those who have suffered trauma are more susceptible to this kind of sensitivity. You may have gone to a therapist for this problem, and tried tricks for calming down such as breathing, relaxation CD’s, positive thinking, exercise, and using sublimation such as writing or painting.
I do believe that those techniques are very valuable. In addition to your usual coping skills, try to have a serious sit-down with yourself and be your own therapist. Ask yourself these questions:
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- 1. Why am I nervous? What’s really bothering me? Try to avoid telling yourself “I don’t know”, and take your best guess.
2.Is this problem going to affect me in one year? How seriously will it affect me?
3.Is this problem going to harm me permanently?
4.Is this a problem that I have handled successfully in the past?
5.Am I capable of handling this problem? If not, can I find help for this problem?
6.Does this problem really merit this big of a reaction?
7.What’s the absolute worse that could happen?
8.Is this a disaster, a catastrophe, a calamity? If no, am I feeling as if it is?
9.If I use my coping skills and relax a little, could I handle this situation better?
10.How are other people reacting to this? Am I reacting the same or differently?
11.How many other people are going through the exact same thing I am right now?
12.Can I prevent this from happening again?
13.This really sucks right now, but will I get over it?
Gauge how you feel after you have answered these questions? Do you feel slightly better, slightly worse? If you are unable to calm down, there may be a history of trauma that is driving your reactions, and you may need further treatment by a therapist for anxiety. Try to find a therapist that specializes in the issues you are dealing with.