((((((((lavie)))))))) I'm so sorry you had such a crappy day. I'm bad with directions and I often get lost, so I can really relate. It's extremely stressful.

I can really relate also to what you say here about your anxious thoughts spiraling into a crescendo. It's exactly that kind of cascade of catastrophic thoughts that plunges me into panic when I'm lying in bed at night. It's very frightening when our minds run away with us like that. And my body is always quick to follow suit. In fact, with me it's often the other way around: my body starts freaking out and that causes my anxious thoughts to spin out of control.

It really helps me to be able to talk about this with someone who understands. I often feel isolated with my anxiety issues because my anxiety is so focused on my body, and with not feeling well and the different physical symptoms associated with that. At any rate, I am really grateful to you for sharing the "tough stuff" ((((((((lavie)))))))))))) and ((((((((((((ss)))))))))))))))). It isn't "too much" at all. On the contrary, it's helpful. And besides, I'm carrying around a huge amount of crap. That's why I can relate to the guilt too. That's the other thing that gets me when I'm lying in bed. These huge waves of guilt and sadness, and overwhelming feelings that I'm a failure and a disappointment.

Pema Chodron talks a lot about placing our difficult feelings "in the cradle of loving kindness", instead of rejecting them or fighting against them or trying not to think about them. Intellectually that makes so much sense to me. And it really speaks to me on an emotional level too. Just, it's so very hard to do.....She describes herself as a student of these teachings and says she has been training for many years. We're all students together!

(((((((((lavie))))))))))) and ((((((((((((ss))))))))))))) Sending you both much love