Advice please

[FishBoy]

I guess this falls under social more than anything..

Having had anxiety for 9 or 10 years (probably had it from much earlier to be honest)

Every now and then it really gets the better of me, I cut myself off completely from everybody.

So, for the last 7 months I've done this, shut myself away, worrying I've lost it, worrying I'm ill etc, hardly seen anybody I know and haven't been to the gym for 7 months. I am good friends with the owner but don't want to bore him with my issues.

So, any tips or advice on breaking back in? Normal people don't just shut off like this (I was going 5 times a week and was actually quite social there somehow) but now this feels like it is a million miles away. I want to get back but can't deal with the awkwardness of it all..... so yeah any tips please

[TooMuchToLiveFor]

Hi Fishboy,
First off, good for you for taking the courageous steps to ask for advice and to face forward toward getting back your life back.

I don't struggle with this particular part of anxiety, but I know CBT therapy seems to help many from what I have read.

As far as "breaking back in"-- could you start by doing exactly that? Break the cycle and just get to the gym? Make a plan that you are going to go at a specific time, and do a specific regime and then come home. Don't over-think who you will talk to, what you will say, etc.

[theharvestmouse]

You'll have to start off slowly, CBT would help you a lot. So you would start off by dropping by the gym just to speak to the bloke you know, not stay long and then maybe plan to go another day. Do it in steps rather than trying to go back to being full on socialising.

[FishBoy]

You'll have to start off slowly, CBT would help you a lot. So you would start off by dropping by the gym just to speak to the bloke you know, not stay long and then maybe plan to go another day. Do it in steps rather than trying to go back to being full on socialising.

This is exactly what I was thinking, a quick pop-in to re-break the ice. But it is bringing extreme anxiety :-|

This is the issue, just seeing my buddy who owns the gym and works there. Not the actual training part as I've done that for 10 years.

Eh, I've made it so bad by suddenly stopping going after going 5 times a week, it's been 7 frigging months:huh: