Public Places Are Not The Enemy!
So, I've recently started going to the gym with my best friend and I was super PSYCHED about going. When talking with my friend, I was like "Yeah, man! I can't wait! We are going to look so sexy! We are going to kick ass!" Then... the time came to actually go. I about had a panic attack. I walked through those doors and into the gym and I was stunned. I was seriously mortified to be standing in there!
The first day at the gym I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't think rationally. I followed my friend around like a puppy dog, waiting for her to tell me what to do. I was so afraid to try anything by myself. I needed her there with me. I COULDN'T do anything alone and when I tried to do something by myself I just thought that everyone was looking at me, laughing at me, and judging me.
The second day was a little better. But the thoughts were still there in my mind. If someone looked at me, even just for a split second, my mind when straight to the automatic thoughts that I have any time I go anywhere. He/She is looking at me and judging me. They are laughing because I'm not doing this right. They think I'm stupid. The entire time I was there those were the only things I could think of!
It wasn't until the next day that I realized how ridiculous I had been about the whole thing. IF someone had looked at me maybe it was because they thought I was cute or they liked my outfit. IF they looked at me, it wasn't about judging me, it was just curiosity about the new girl in their gym. It's so hard to rationalize your thinking when you are put in a situation that makes your anxiety soar through the roof. There is no such thing as rational thinking. It's just all about the negative. When you are used to thinking a specific way your whole life, it's hard to change the way you think to a more positive way. But, that's what I did that day. I sat down and I wrote all of my fears, no matter how stupid they sounded. Then, I wrote a more positive response about my fear.
Here are some of the things I wrote:
1. People will stare at me at me the whole time.
-No they won't. They might look at you or glance at you, but they are too interested in themselves than they are in you. They were just curious about the new girl
2. I'll look stupid trying to figure out the machine.
-No I won't. I'll look like everyone else who had to figure it out when they were new to the gym.
3. I'll look like an idiot if I don't know how to use the machine.
-I won't look like an idiot. It's trial and error. Everyone here was new once and they had to do the same thing you are.
4.I'll look so gross if I sweat.
-Ugh, girl! I will not look gross. Literally everyone else in there is sweating. That is normal for people at the gym.
5. I'll look dumb if I do something wrong and then people will laugh at me.
-I won't look dumb and people won't laugh. All the people in the gym were new once and they had to discover for themselves how to do something, just like I do. And IF someone does look at me IF I do something wrong, they might want to help me but might be scared that I don't want the help
You can use this technique with ANY situation and it will always work. It will promote rational thinking. When you rework a negative situation it makes the situation less scary and more manageable. Write them down and keep them with you so you can look back at the sheet and remind yourself that you are in control and that your anxiety won't keep you from doing what you want.
Going for day 3 at the gym today! Hope to kick fears ass while I'm there! Keep you updated on my progress!
The first day at the gym I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't think rationally. I followed my friend around like a puppy dog, waiting for her to tell me what to do. I was so afraid to try anything by myself. I needed her there with me. I COULDN'T do anything alone and when I tried to do something by myself I just thought that everyone was looking at me, laughing at me, and judging me.
The second day was a little better. But the thoughts were still there in my mind. If someone looked at me, even just for a split second, my mind when straight to the automatic thoughts that I have any time I go anywhere. He/She is looking at me and judging me. They are laughing because I'm not doing this right. They think I'm stupid. The entire time I was there those were the only things I could think of!
It wasn't until the next day that I realized how ridiculous I had been about the whole thing. IF someone had looked at me maybe it was because they thought I was cute or they liked my outfit. IF they looked at me, it wasn't about judging me, it was just curiosity about the new girl in their gym. It's so hard to rationalize your thinking when you are put in a situation that makes your anxiety soar through the roof. There is no such thing as rational thinking. It's just all about the negative. When you are used to thinking a specific way your whole life, it's hard to change the way you think to a more positive way. But, that's what I did that day. I sat down and I wrote all of my fears, no matter how stupid they sounded. Then, I wrote a more positive response about my fear.
Here are some of the things I wrote:
1. People will stare at me at me the whole time.
-No they won't. They might look at you or glance at you, but they are too interested in themselves than they are in you. They were just curious about the new girl
2. I'll look stupid trying to figure out the machine.
-No I won't. I'll look like everyone else who had to figure it out when they were new to the gym.
3. I'll look like an idiot if I don't know how to use the machine.
-I won't look like an idiot. It's trial and error. Everyone here was new once and they had to do the same thing you are.
4.I'll look so gross if I sweat.
-Ugh, girl! I will not look gross. Literally everyone else in there is sweating. That is normal for people at the gym.
5. I'll look dumb if I do something wrong and then people will laugh at me.
-I won't look dumb and people won't laugh. All the people in the gym were new once and they had to discover for themselves how to do something, just like I do. And IF someone does look at me IF I do something wrong, they might want to help me but might be scared that I don't want the help
You can use this technique with ANY situation and it will always work. It will promote rational thinking. When you rework a negative situation it makes the situation less scary and more manageable. Write them down and keep them with you so you can look back at the sheet and remind yourself that you are in control and that your anxiety won't keep you from doing what you want.
Here's no longer fearing public places!
Going for day 3 at the gym today! Hope to kick fears ass while I'm there! Keep you updated on my progress!
With love & support,
Anxiety Girl - xoxo
Comments
Post a Comment