[Rhiannonsmoon]

All the new members joining.... Being ocd when I go into new intros I just "HAVE" to respond to everyone, it's an obsession, if I see one there not responded to I get an itch and have to respond so that they are all ticked and so that they are all even....must have evens....

But, and this is the kicker....even though I don't know these people I am getting really anxious about so many new people joining! I know it's irrational, I've done the bachelors, masters & now I'm way into the Ph.D. But I still can't stop the anxiety.

I feel like running and hiding and not coming back. That is ridiculous, it's not the people themselves that are the problem, I think it is my "safe place" has had the doors flung open and it doesn't feel safe any more. I have nothing personal against anyone though and I don't think of feel bad toward anyone because I know they need as much help and support as I do in most cases more.

All the sensible self talk I've used is doing nothing to help me. And I also feel like the rest of us are being used as guinea pigs in some mass psych experiement and it makes me angry as well as really anxious.

Like I said I know it's irrational and I'm aware of it, but that doesnt help me in any way at all. It doesn't help me either that these people probably need help just as much as I do....I'm aware of what is happening but I can't seem to arrest it, and that isn't good.

Byz, please help me with your amazingly calm and grounding words

[rohshall]

Hi Rhiannonsmoon,

Maybe you need to work on having healthy personal boundaries. When we feel so much enmeshed into others that somebody else's problem feels like our problem, we have boundary issues.

Also, you need to work on your trust issues as well. When I was young, I used to feel whole world is basically acting to fool me. I still have the trust issues too.