You guys ever feel anxiety over the past?

Plissken · 09-10-2009

All the times that I did something embarrassing or stupid feel like they're building up in my mind. Sometimes I think about those moments and I feel a deep sense of embarrassment and shame. I wonder if the people who were around me ever think back on it and laugh. I wish I had never participated in any of those social intercourses so I wouldn't have messed up so bad. I'd erase peoples memories of me if I could.

I don't like the thought of anyone thinking about me. Especially my lowest moments where I was too open with people and made myself vulnerable. Even if I haven't been in contact for several years, I still feel embarrassment.

Jake123 · 09-10-2009

I feel the same way.

comprex · 09-10-2009

Yeah I feel like that all the time.

PennyLane · 09-10-2009

Yup me too.

This is probably going to make me sound really stupid but someone said they had selective mutism on here the other day...i didn't know what it was so I was reading about it on wikipedia...and it mentioned the part of the brain called the amygdala which controls the whole "fight or flight" thing...so I figured in us it must be over sensitive and it seems it also control long term memory. Anyway I remember everything anyone ever says or does more than other people so I wondered if we replay these things and are tortured by them more because of this part of the brain?? both causing the anxiety and the emotional memories that fade for others.

I might be talking complete bull****!! Im sorry...it just seemed to all link up when I was reading it, but I actually dont know anything about all this haha

CPA23 · 09-10-2009

I used to do it ALL THE TIME!!! I can so relate to this. I would replay bad moments in the past and would get angry that I didn't say what I should have said or be angry when I said something that sounded funny. I would beat myself up for it constantly and would obsess over it so much that my chest would actually hurt from the strain I put on myself. I am better at it now though. I am slowly learning that we all make mistakes and we all need forgiveness. As hard as it is to do, we can't beat ourselves up for the rest of our lives for something that happened months or years ago. That would be unnecessary punishment to ourselves and that would make our anxiety worse than what it already is.

this_portrait · 09-10-2009

All the time. I'm always feeling down about something I've said or done in the past.

But then I come back to the present, and all my anxiety seems to fade away.

inspirer · 09-10-2009

Same with me here. I think one thing is we may be over analyzing things (worrying too much). They say you learn from your past mistakes, but why must it make me have more anxiety?

zlench · 09-12-2009

I always get it with past stuff that has happened to me and can never get over it and just wanna get over it.

IJustWantMyLifeBack · 09-13-2009

Yes, all the time... I'm no sure why I think of the past so much but I do... it's funny I thought it was only me unto now.. I have learn t something new today...

JCS008 · 09-13-2009

I don't know about anxiety, but I definitely feel a lot of regret over my past and the thigns that I did. I always wish I could go back in time and re-do things, but I understand that's just not possible or realistic. I try to learn and not make the same mistakes, but that's sometimes easier said than done. You are who you are, and one of the hardest things is changing who you are for the better.