Anxiety Free
The subject of anxiety is one of the most visited forums on Asperger Management.
This doesn't surprise me given the connection between anxiety and the Asperger personality profile; it is particularly pronounced when you add in the pressures of a working environment.
What has never been discussed, and I would be very interested to hear people's views on, is on how to cope with any anxiety?
I know that that may seem an odd thing to say. However, as one of my last forum entry's says (on productivity)I am working very productively at the moment because I don't feel under any pressure, am on top in my work tasks and I'm in a working environment that is not pressurised.
I have been in a situation like this once before. When I am, I tend to get very confident and tend to fly.
When I am in this position, I experience what I would describe as positive anxiety. The challenge, purpose and activity provides me with a buzz which I really enjoy and which I find hugely motivating. This, in turn, drives my productivity.
I suppose what I am trying to say is that a bit of anxiety or pressure helps me. I am not saying that I want excessive pressure because - as a person with AS - I know this is something that I MUST avoid. What I am saying though, is that a little, or the right amount, helps!
What I am interested in exploring is how when there is a bit of negative pressure this can be turned into a positive and handled effectively.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
Anxiety and Solutions
Views on handling anxiety is a difficult feat. Handling anxiety, especially with folks like us, isn't easy. We know many different ways and even treatments to handle it but it's really hard to really pinpoint something that would really make things easy and successful with this.
I do agree that some anxiety can be positive and helpful in most cases. It's keeps you going.
May I suggest maybe instituing a chat feature in the group so members can talk more about issues like this.
Creating Anxiety
I'd like to post about a slightly different take on this.
I am largely - well almost completely in fact - anxiety free at work at the moment. It is beginning to cause me some concern!!!
The reason being is that I am beginning to get complacent. I have been sloppy somewhat in a couple of areas over the last few weeks and believe that I need to put some added pressure on myself and move back somewhat into a "discomfort zone".
Any thoughts on this or appropriate techniques welcome.
Can relate
Sounds like what I occasionally go through. The only thing is when I feel like this something happens that makes the anxiety go up too fast and then I'm not ready! I usually try not to feel over confident when things are calm and non-anxious so I'm prepared. I try not to add anything extra, I just go with the flow.
I laughed when I first read this posting since I can relate to this a lot. It's crazy we are so concerned about our anxiety and then at the same time get concerned when there's no anxiety.
Good posting.
Thinking Positive Brings About the Reverse
The other thing that I find often happens, is that if I think positively beforehand about something, inevitably the opposite happens!
This happened recently at a University where I was running my Transitions Programme. The first two sessions went incredibly well and I was looking forwrad to going back and delivering the third which is always my favourite session as it relates to my work experience - and is, therefore, I feel, the most valuable.
It didn't go well and was a key reason why the University dceided not to run the programme again.
As soon as I feel that something is going smoothly I put a mental break on things. It doesn't mean that I feel that things are now automatically going to go badly; its just that I implement a bit of basic caution.
Its incredible how effective this is. It is almost as though there is a "sixth sense" force in action!
Happens to me
Yes, this happens to me also in work and even in my life in general. When I'm thinking things are going well or even great something bad pops up and shakes me up.
Anxiety & Solutions
Thank you for these most useful points.
I have just started reading a new book by Nick Dubin called Asperger Syndrome and Anxiety: A Guide to Successful Stress Management which I am going to review for my next newsletter.I have only just started reading it but already it is making some invaluable points.
He identifies three starting points for successful stress management techniques for someone with AS:
"You must understand how Asperger's has contributed to your high levels of anxiety - Asperger's must be brought fully into the equation";
"You must understand the manner in which you personally respond to stress and anxiety, i.e. your modus operanti in confronting stress" and;
He then goes on to say he will outline some strategies for dealing with stress which I have yet to come to.
I think that Nick is on the right lines here (which I expected given Nick's previous book on bullying which was excellent) so I will try and complete the rest of the review for the end of the month.
In the meantime, if anyone is interested in finding out more about the book, it is on Amazon.com
Thank you also for the suggestion about a chat feature. I am having ongoing management issues with regard to my site, but this is definitely one of the facilities that I want to add going forward.