YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

While going through a positive change in your life, can you experience more anxiety and emotional outbursts?

The last few months I've been pushing myself out of my comfort zone; getting a job at a grocery store that involves interacting with a lot of strangers. Along with that I feel so much anxiety, sadness and anger. Is this normal?

My anxiety hates any kind of change, even positive change.

Even though I've come a really long way this past year and am a lot more happier and hopeful, I still struggle with seeing everything though a worried filter. Getting out of your comfort zone is pretty unpleasant at times, but at the moment I feel, I can live with it, because only staying inside my comfort zone, made my comfort zone smaller and smaller.

Just make sure to monitor your emotional levels, a little stress from getting outside the comfort zone is okay, but if you feel, you're constantly balancing on the edge, you should see if you could do something to lower the stress, sadness and anger.

Yes! Personal growth, even positive growth is called eustress and it's stress. It can cause anxiety and even depression. As already has been suggested it is important to take care of yourself during these times. One thing I favor as something easy and free is diaphramatic breathing or "belly breathing" https://www.youtu5G1ibIobe.com/watch?v=kgTL and doing this lying on the floor while thinking about ducks paddling around a pond or something peaceful and pleasant. This can be very soothing and healing. It's good for anxiety and if you learn as per the video how to do it sitting up, you can do it anywhere. Self care is important and is often over looked. Don't do that. Take care of yourself.