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Posted 2/15/2014 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
I got to stop reading the sad sob stories on facebook I wish I could block them all,but how do one block life. Have a older guy friend like a spiritual father to me&he is a religious man,he post these things on his page&they end up on my time line and I end up getting sad&depress I can't separate for some reason&I end up carrying the load of grief,sadness are whatever the situation just to emotional of a being for my own good.
The story I saw was of a young girl 18years old just starting to live but again her rare form of cancer came back&she had been fighting it since she was 13 years old,friday of last week she was post a up beat message and by monday hospice had took over. And she took her journey the other day&it just breaks my heart her post where of a spiritual young woman,who found peace and I guess exceptence in her illness&to the end kept her faith. Here Iam at 28 years old confuse&have not to my own doing but some way,let fear&anxiety,depression break me away from my faith&cause me to wonder and question things that bring intrusive thoughts that cause me to lose control over petty lies that anxiety tell to the brain. Stressing me out because I have lost so much time behind this illness& wish I can do just like my mom have told me so many times before&snap out of it are magic to wish it away,I question why do things like that happen&why is it allowed. Why was it allowed for a mental case to harm little innocent kids,God where was you when this happen I hate to see others in pain it is been a blessing &curse for me. Iam the type that if I find a dollar on ground I will ask everyone around me is it their dollar before I put in my pocket,I try not to lie and I don't steal,are mistreat people so why the suffering please excuse my vent just freeing myself from everything in my head right now on pure overload.
Just pray my strength that I understand better and find peace in the center of it all be I have that right,and to understand who Iam truely thought I would've have learn this by now.
Posted 2/15/2014 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi SNH
I know exactly what your talking about! Empathy is a very important thing. It's only normal to feel bad when we witness suffering and pain. However, people like us, with hypochondria, panic attacks and OCD, well, we are kind of vulnerable. In my case, every feeling and sensation is magnified! You need to protect yourself and be good to yourself until you are better and stronger inside. In other words, don't expose yourself to highly depressing situations when you are already batteling depression yourself.
Just be good to yourself and God bless you sweetie.
Big hugs
Eli
Posted 2/15/2014 8:03 AM (GMT 0)
Soul,
I recently deactivated my FB account for my own personal reasons, but before I ever did that, I had stopped subscribing to an organization that put up cute doggy photos and happy puppy stories...but it got to the point where they would include pix of abused dogs and appeal for money to help them. As much as i hate it that there are abused animals and would love to donate enough money to save them all, I can't. And I would feel so sad and disturbed for a long time after reading those stories and seeing those pictures. I am glad that there are people that can handle saving the abused animals. I am glad that there are people that can handle being doctors, nurses, EMTs, funeral home directors, and so on. I could never deal with those sorts of things b/c I would be crying all the time. So maybe Soul, you just need to step away from those stories that will only serve to upset you. I know that I even stopped subscribing to People of WalMart b/c I got tired of the way they were making fun of some people that obviously had medical or mental problems.
Yes, sometimes, we just HAVE TO walk away for our own mind's sake.
HUGS,
jl
Posted 2/15/2014 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I have had to do the same thing. I'm a self-confessed animal lover. All of my animals, quite literally, have been rescues. That includes every one of my horses, every dog I've ever owned, every cat, the one turtle and the one parrot. (Woops, almost forgot, my one budgie too!)

Feeling the strong desire to help a cause so close to my heart, one I'm strongly passionate about, I decided to volunteer at the SPCA. Well, needless to say, that didn't last long. I couldn't stomach it. I'm actually rather surprised that I lasted the few months that I did. I wouldn't survive a single day now.

Although I started working when I was 13,...after I graduated high school, while I was in college, I had worked in various jobs, all of which involved health care. I've worked in emergency departments, surgical suites,....and of course, took gross anatomy. I've never had a problem.

But the minute that even that commercial comes on about abused and abandoned dogs (and other animals), I can't bear it. I must change the channel or leave the room.

I guess that means I have not yet learned to cope with the severe distress these situations cause me,-- at least not in a way that includes facing them.

So I've learned to give, be it to people or animals, in ways that my head and heart (and now my body) will allow.

You have a lot of company...there are so many evils in the world, there are times when we must simply censor ourselves and what, for the moment being, we elect to expose ourselves to. It's an act of keeping ourselves healthy. That's a fluid situation, and as such, it may change. For now, give yourself permission to choose to surround yourself with the light and love of that which brings you joy to get stronger!




M.
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