Emily (one of the twin kidlets) has school related anxiety issues that we have been working on. I suffered horrible anxiety when I was on Paxil and it was even worse while I was tapering and during withdrawal. I completely understand what she is feeling. I understand the desire to run from it and try to hide from it. I also understand that running and hiding doesn’t make it go away, it only makes it stronger.
For her Freshman English class she is required to stand in front of the class and recite two poems. She has been so afraid of doing it that she has put off doing it until the very last possible moment …. a typical anxiety response.
I just called her to see how she did:
me: hey .. it’s momma … how did you do on the poem?
her: she got mad at me ’cause I kept asking if I could go up and say it, but she let me do it at the end of the class and I only messed up twice and got an 85
me: (with tear filled eyes) oh honey … that is great! I am so proud of you for doing it and tonight we are going to work on the other one and you can say it tomorrow … I love you and hope you have a good day
her: thank you for calling me momma … I love you too … bye
She could have run from it. She could have taken a zero. She could have given up.
…. but SHE DIDN’T !!!
TAKE THAT ANXIETY !!!
Awesome for her!!
I have an extreme fear of speaking in public. EXTREME. I would cry the night before and the hours and minutes before having to give presentations at the University. I always felt like I did horribly and just struggled through. I even feared speaking to children. Children. Honestly that is the dumbest thing ever. What is to be afraid of speaking to 5 or 6 kids. It wasn’t even like it was high school kids who would be judging me. Just little kids. The first Botany lesson I gave at Lo’s school was torture. The second lesson a little better. Now, I don’t even give it a second thought. What they say is true. The more you do it the easier it gets. I haven’t tried speaking in front of a group of adults yet so I don’t think I’m cured of my public speaking anxiety but I am okay in front of a class of kids.
I’m so proud of Emily. Give her a high five (or if that’s too lame a great big kiss) from me!
I will so do that! The biggest myth about anxiety is that you can just hide from it …. but that only makes it stronger. You have to confront it and not be scared to be scared.
What a girl I am not good under pressure and have had many anxiety attacks over the years
Jo-Anne recently posted..A Wet Wednesday
Keep forcing yourself to do things that make you uncomfortable. It really is the only way to move past it. I know … I did it.
I’m so proud of her! I’ve never had a fear of speaking in front of others…it’s been a gift of mine, so I don’t understand that fear; however, I do have other fears that leave me paralyzed sometimes, so I can relate.
Tristine recently posted..The Great Prophet: YOU
Face those fears !! I have a few that I am working on too.
What a beautiful lesson for her to learn — to believe in herself. Good job helping her with that, momma!
I am pretty darn proud of her !!