Self-Sabotage: 12 “Are You the Perps?”

He pondered, “Hmmm, how much of my mood and anxiety misery is self-inflicted? Something to think about, I suppose.”

Not only is it something to think about – if he doesn’t, he’s only prolonging his recovery. The same applies to you, by the way.

Isn’t it time to rise above shooting yourself in the foot, day-in-and-day-out?

The Contributors to Mood and Anxiety Woes

I’ve always believed in the involvement of genetics, anatomy, and physiology in the generation and sustenance of the mood and anxiety disorders.

However, I also believe in psychological contributors. In fact, I’m going to stick my neck out and say they play the biggest role.

Look, one can be, say, genetically predisposed to anything. But the clicking most often doesn’t occur without some environmental finger action. As it applies to the mood and anxiety disorders, that “finger action” is stressors – including that which is self-imposed.

While we’re on the subject, one other observation. No doubt, those enduring a mood or anxiety disorder have altered brain anatomy and physiology (relax, you can live with it).

And I’m thinking much of it has to do with the manifestations of chronic illness, as opposed to causing it.

Self-Sabotage: 12 “Are You the Perps?”

I’m sitting here sipping from a hot cup of coffee. It smells great! So now, I’d like to help you smell some coffee of your own. Wondering if you self-sabotage? Here are 12 red flags…

• As you look back upon your life, you find a pattern of the same issues with which you’re dealing now.
• There never seem to be obvious reasons for the way you’re feeling.
• You frequently use the words/concepts “always,” “every,” “never,” “there’s no alternative,” “should,” “must.”
• Positives most always fall by the wayside. But negatives and the upsetting? Primo thought material!
• Jumping to conclusions and knee-jerk reactions are common.
• You know just how lousy things will turn out loooong before they occur.
• You’re sure you know how others are thinking, and their intentions.
• You minimize and maximize situations, events, and memories so they conform to your immediate reality. A great example is “making a mountain out of a mole hill.”
• You’re always able to come up with – and focus upon – the worst possible outcome.
• “I feel it; so it’s gotta’ be true.” A common reflection.
• Instead of rationally explaining events or behaviors, you apply emotionally loaded, rigid, and absolute labels.
• You assign responsibility to yourself for situations, events, and people over which you have no control.

Any “ding-ding-dings” going off? Wouldn’t be a bit surprised. And you know what? If you find yourself waving a number of the flags, you can feel good about it.

You’re gaining insight and connecting-the-dots. That’s how you come upon answers.

And with some hard work and time, I know you can turn things around.

“So How Do I Turn Things Around?”

Don’t you just hate those articles (and writers) that are big on telling you what’s wrong, but fall a little short on the remedy side of the fence? Not on this ship, mate!

So come back Monday (after all, it’s Labor Day) and we’ll chat some fixes. Be here!

I’d like you to read more chipur Feel Better articles. So, go ahead, click right here.