15 Mar anxiety gave me super powers
For the first time in my life I have super powers.
My Doctor said not to use the words “super powers” as it can make you seem a little crazy….
My Psychologist confirmed it was very common to feel like you had super powers when you have high anxiety from being in an unsafe environment whether it be from your childhood, work or home life.
In fact if you have had a childhood living in an unsafe environment with parents not being there with unconditional love and support you may be more susceptible to anxiety later in life.
My childhood has made me what I am today and for that I am grateful. However on reflection it was an unsafe environment where I wasn’t free to speak my mind or just be me.
My employer then failed to provide a safe work environment. I was in this very unsafe work environment for over 7 years.
Why would I stay in this environment?
I honestly didn’t realise how unsafe it was. Each small episode or event I brushed it off and found an excuse for the male colleagues’ behaviours. Our brains are hard wired to avoid pain and to avoid anxiety.
Over the years my anxiety very slowly peaked until it go to an extreme high point. I was having chest pains, on valium and my prefrontal cortex had shut down.
I was super vigilant. When I was in a conversation I would analyse “why has that person said that?”. Previously I would take the sentence or comment for what it was.
Now I feel like I can see into so much of people’s behaviour.
Behaviour I didn’t pay attention to. Behaviour, had I paid attention to, I would have realised how unsafe the work environment was.
Now one or two comments by someone and I can tell :-
- some of the challenges being experiencing in their marriage;
- how they value money;
- if something in their story is ‘a bit off’ and ‘just not right’
I even notice the small changes in the person’s voice or in their body movements.
My newly acquired super power is quite amazing.
The benefit of this is I can quickly determine if a person is someone I want to spend more time with or if we don’t have anything on common.
I tell this story to encourage you to think about the ‘why’ when you are speaking with someone.
As they say “actions speak louder than words” and by thinking about actions we can avoid those ‘manufactured antiques’ moments….
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