In all these adult years of therapy and “better living through chemistry“, I have avoided one particular subject as much as possible with mental health professionals.
You know, the people who are supposed to be helping me with anxiety? Yeah, I haven’t been completely open and honest with them about something that has held me back in life.
The thing is, I knew I was going about it the wrong way all these years, deep in my heart. Setting deadlines, setting rewards, setting demerits. Those are not the methods to deal with anxiety and I knew it – these methods only created more anxiety.
Well, that is, until a couple weeks ago. I couldn’t ignore it any longer at my last appointment.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the only way through anxiety over driving. It may take weeks, or months, or who knows how long. I cannot set a deadline, I cannot beat myself up over silly mistakes that harmed no one in the past while attempting to learn, I cannot let the doubts of others overwhelm me, and I cannot undo the years I avoided the whole thing.
