| Cutting A Lot | Addiction | Cutting A Lot | <div class="ExternalClass9271FB8316474E26A644F74D56915977"><p><span style="color:#595959;font-family:georgia;font-size:16px;">I'm having so much trouble right now it's hard. I'm stressed out as can be and I have no coping mechanisms anymore for stress that I haven't already tried. I'm having trouble with friends, boys, a bit of family, work, and mostly school! I've been cutting a lot due to boy troubles lately and my counselor does know and we're trying to deal with it but cutting has only been helping a small bit. I'm been trying to cope by getting support from family and taking baths and exercising but nothing is really working. Now, with school and everything else that just puts the cherry on top of the stress cake. I've been craving alcohol and smoking lately and I haven't taken more than 3 shots ever in my life and 2 drags of a cigarette. But, I did smoke a full cigarette yesterday and I absolutely hated the taste and how it felt in my lungs. The only part of it I liked was that it was so gross that's all I could think about so my mind was away from my problems for the whole 5 minutes of smoking that grossness. But I crave it-I want to buy a pack and smoke it but I know I can't because I have asthma and it's bad for me, I crave a guy right now, I crave a cigarette, I crave a party with alcohol, I crave friendship. I just want to be less stressed and happy but nothing I'm doing is working! I just don't understand. I want to cry I'm so stressed out, I want to quit work, I want to drive to another city and forget about my problems but I can't because college finals are in a week and a half. </span></p></div> | <div class="ExternalClassB9D9F15470004B0DA2A357D1BE7C7D69"><div style="font-family:tahoma;font-size:16px;color:#595959;"><div class="ExternalClassD536426CF1F947458AA12849DAB1DBB3"><span>We are glad you’re reaching out to talk about this! Anxiety can
be very difficult to manage, especially when circumstances in our life become
very overwhelming! It is so awesome that you are taking so many positive steps
to help yourself. It can be really hard to manage these kinds of feelings
without support, so it is a huge strength that you are able to talk to your
counselor and reach out to us for help. It sounds like you are really wanting
to find some positive coping skills that will be helpful even when the stress in
your life is really high, and I’m so glad to be able to provide some
suggestions you might find helpful.</span></div><div class="ExternalClassD536426CF1F947458AA12849DAB1DBB3">There are different relaxation
techniques that can be very effective for managing anxiety and stress.
When anxious feelings are very high, it can help to get exercise, like
you have been doing. Sometimes, exercises that combine physical activity with
relaxation and mindfulness, such as yoga, can be really effective. Meditating
can be helpful, as well. It can be difficult to clear anxiety out of the mind,
so guided meditations on YouTube can be helpful in directing the mind toward a
more productive thought process. There is also something called Progressive
Muscle Relaxation that can be helpful.</div><div class="ExternalClassD536426CF1F947458AA12849DAB1DBB3">In addition to the above suggestions we have a list of 99 coping skills: </div><div class="ExternalClassD536426CF1F947458AA12849DAB1DBB3"><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="/Pages/tip-99-coping-skills.aspx">http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/v2/Pages/tip-99-coping-skills.aspx</a>
</p></div><p class="MsoNormal">It is very important that you are able to talk about these feelings, so we
would be glad to speak to you more about what you are going through. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Thank you so much for taking this step
for yourself. You are not alone! We hope you reach out for more support!</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Sincerely,</span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Shannon, Counselor</span></p></div></div> | 19 | | |
