[venusss]

Been bit angry/pissy lately. At world, people, nature...

pretty sure it stems from anxiety, uncertainity of my current life situation.

still. I need to get my buddhist pose back. I want my serenity back. I cannot go around imagining throwing rocks into windows of office buildings (or burning the monstrosities down, cause these ****ers are destroying Prague and smothering her spirit, eh) for example.

how does one get more... calm and composed?

I'm hardly one to give advice on that after the explosion on a member from another country about putting down bipolar patients. But I will tell you what my psychiatrist told me
the last time I saw her.

"Turn everything into a prayer." It really helps except when you lose your sense of
spirituality and go for it as I did last week. I've vowed never again, though, so maybe
I've learned my lesson.

Hope this helps in the smallest way...I'm definitely not a member to offer advice on that one.

Cheers!

[venusss]

Oh it helps. I do really need to hold onto the higher things and not let the petty get me. Hard to do though.

Accept the anger, understand the anger, and don't suppress it. That's what I try to do (I often fail miserably). But don't try blowing off some steam by getting physical or verbal on people OR things. I think the science is pretty unanimous and that catharsis approach just doesn't seem to be healthy in the long run, instead it increases anger. But can you use your anger in healthy ways? Running, lifting weights (won't necessarily make you look like a freak), bungee jumping (I did this one once, it made me feel MUCH calmer )? If you're scared of loud noises and heights I can recommend trying to find one of those metal bridges that go over highways and looking down through the bars. Anything frightening, really. That mellows me out a little. Other than that, walking in the forest or going up a mountain can be very soothing.

Good luck with it!

Originally Posted by genetic

I'm hardly one to give advice on that after the explosion on a member from another country about putting down bipolar patients. But I will tell you what my psychiatrist told me
the last time I saw her.

"Turn everything into a prayer." It really helps except when you lose your sense of
spirituality and go for it as I did last week. I've vowed never again, though, so maybe
I've learned my lesson.

Hope this helps in the smallest way...I'm definitely not a member to offer advice on that one.

Cheers!

that defentely helps me, thanks for that peace of advice.

[bipolarLady7]

I saw you mention buddhism, but I'll still mention what sometimes works for me: praying the Rosary. It is the most calming prayer I know. When I prayed it in the hospital I told he staff that when I would pray, I would probably look like I was asleep, just to warn them. If anyone is interested I'll post a how-to link.

After the Rosary, the next best two things that work for me are psychiatric medications (much as I hate to admit it), and blackstrap molasses, which is rich in iron. If you are low on iron it is easier to get angry, I hear. I try to take at least a tablespoon/big spoonful a day.

Originally Posted by bipolarLady7

I saw you mention buddhism, but I'll still mention what sometimes works for me: praying the Rosary. It is the most calming prayer I know. When I prayed it in the hospital I told he staff that when I would pray, I would probably look like I was asleep, just to warn them. If anyone is interested I'll post a how-to link.

After the Rosary, the next best two things that work for me are psychiatric medications (much as I hate to admit it), and blackstrap molasses, which is rich in iron. If you are low on iron it is easier to get angry, I hear. I try to take at least a tablespoon/big spoonful a day.

________________________________

I would appreciate a link on how to pray the Rosary, thank you.

[bipolarLady7]

The Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A Guide to the Rosary: Mary's Psalter

You are welcome. Thank you for asking.

[faerie_moon_x]

I am struggling with this myself. I just want you to know you're not alone in it.

I try to be logical about it. I guess I try to reality check it away. Try to convince myself if what I'm angry about isn't worth the anger. It doesn't work out all the time. I'm not great at coping with anger since it is very new to me.

[BlueInanna]

Dammit I just wrote you a whole response and it got deleted!! Aaarghh I'll try again later.

[Confusedinomicon]

Try to focus on the present and what you can accomplish now. Try not to worry too much about the future because the future isn't predictable. I think the important part is finding something you can do that will provide you with food/shelter and to explore options that you enjoy...

For instance, if you know that you like volunteering or working for non-profit companies then it would benefit you to seek employment in it but you can always do side jobs until you find it. Don't worry about not getting it the first time, either. It will take a few times to narrow down the things that you want to work in, if you're still unsure.

Most of all pursue what makes you happy. To be honest, Venus, I could not picture you being happy doing a desk job. You're someone who seems to want to be involved and actually interact with the world.

I think you're over-thinking the next step because there are some expectations for you to find a job and make a career out of it. After you complete school there is no "NEXT-STEP". It's like they throw you out into the world and tell you that you're expected to do x, y, and z....but no one holds your hand anymore. You can't see a counselor who will tell you what classes to take. You don't have a mentor who will look over your dissertation and give you feedback. It's SCARY!!!

That's why you have to take all your prior experiences and experiment in jobs that relate to what you enjoyed. There is not strict "right-answer" unless you like it. Then it's a right answer...lol

You got it girl!

Don't worry about the expectation of having children and being linear in your sexuality. Don't worry about stability [right now] if the rush of working in danger zones is what makes you happy.

I realized myself that I need to value my happiness over everything else in terms of my career. Even if social work [or any variant of it] is taxing, if it's something I enjoy and have a passion for I will pursue it. I know that I won't be rich, but it won't stop me from pursuing new experiences and trying different things.

I hope that my words helped in some way.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Mandrec

Accept the anger, understand the anger, and don't suppress it. That's what I try to do (I often fail miserably). But don't try blowing off some steam by getting physical or verbal on people OR things. I think the science is pretty unanimous and that catharsis approach just doesn't seem to be healthy in the long run, instead it increases anger. But can you use your anger in healthy ways? Running, lifting weights (won't necessarily make you look like a freak), bungee jumping (I did this one once, it made me feel MUCH calmer )? If you're scared of loud noises and heights I can recommend trying to find one of those metal bridges that go over highways and looking down through the bars. Anything frightening, really. That mellows me out a little. Other than that, walking in the forest or going up a mountain can be very soothing.

Good luck with it!

Yes! And, loud music. Loud, rhythmical music.

[BlueInanna]

Venus- I hope you might be feeling better, a little by now? I say you must let the anger out in some outward physical safe form. Like spewing cuss words, screaming, somewhere you won't scare people too bad or get arrested, break and smash the **** out of glassware, throw rocks hard into a lake or river, write or draw evil pictures or words and burn the paper... Fear of being locked up stops me from smashing the windows and burning buildings. But this type of anger and anxiety is legit. Let it spew out in a safe way until you find yourself in the calm center eye of the storm, that it is around you, it is not you. Refinding your center, new perspective of accepting what you have no control of, and what path is best right now, and the guidance may come. Been thinking of you and I have the same sort of dilemma, different worlds, different circumstances. And I'm not through it yet but I keep thinking of Taoist teachings of finding your calm center amidst the chaos. With this level of anxiety we are a part of the chaos, spinning fast on the outer ring. So I figure express and release it in a physical way to become grounded until we are spinning in the center able to look at it all around us, outside of us, until we are able to feel we are no longer spinning with it but observing. It may even be possible through meditation. I don't know yet - please let me know if you've found answers because I need help with this too.