Hello everyone, this will be my first post here...I'll start by saying Hello! I'm here after a recent series of events lead me to believe I need to change my ways and I need some help. Admitting that is the first step they always say, no?! For the past 10 years or so I have been struggling with keeping my emotions in check. I go from extreme highs feeling great, to lows in which I cannot control my temper. After a recent series of events I have realized I can no longer live with these ups and down, it has cost me past relationships, job opportunities and most recently it has caused my girlfriend of many years to request some time away from me to determine if she can continue. This issue is my "mood swings" as she calls them, I seem to completely shut down and feel angry or sad at the smallest of things. An example might be if its a friday night and she wants to just stay at home without me I feel sad/angry that she didn't want to see me which ends up with me getting upset and causing an argument. When I take a step back I know its completely ridiculous to feel that way and react the way I do, but in the moment I cannot separate reason from emotions. I am at the point in my life where I want to open myself up for help. I no longer want to be held captive by my own emotions. I want to progress my relationship along with my career but I won't be able to do either without a change. I am looking for strategies for controlling myself and ways to more effectively express my feelings in the heat of moment. I know she cares about me and would never do anything to hurt my feeling or offend me, but like I said in the heat of the moment I lose all rational thought and focus solely on the negative. I fully realize there is no simple or quick solution, I am in this for the "long haul" as they would say. I post this in the relationship section because it has most effected my relationship, however it could possibly fit into a more general thread...apologies in advance if this is not the correct place for this post. Thanks!!
GC
|