This begins as the tale of three colleagues - a devout Republican, the guy who became president of the Young Democrats for the county, and me. All three of us were friendly and on good terms, but I naturally had a better political bond with the Young Democrat. It began one day when we were… Continue reading Economic Anxiety
Tag: Anxiety
Sure, Sex Is Great (Unless You Have Social Anxiety and a Touch Aversion)
Yesterday was a "sexy" day. It came up as a topic of conversation among friends, and then I continued reading "The Shadow of the Wind" and its charming sex scenes. I have a strange relationship with sex. The topic does not bother me because I think it's perfectly natural and healthy. If anything, society does… Continue reading Sure, Sex Is Great (Unless You Have Social Anxiety and a Touch Aversion)
Medical Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and OCPD – Going to a Doctor When You Hate Medical Offices
TW: Brief discussion of a graphic injury Every time I sit down with a new medical professional, they will invariably ask how things are with me and I will struggle with a concise answer. Physically I am a picture of health. They take their vitals, and everything will look perfect. Mental health is another story… Continue reading Medical Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and OCPD – Going to a Doctor When You Hate Medical Offices
Climate Anxiety
It's something I don't think anyone has ever seen in their lifetime. You've seen stories like it before. A headline will scream that "an asteroid the size of North Dakota will pass remarkably close to Earth" and everyone runs to see how likely we are to experience an Armageddon or Deep Impact scenario. "The asteroid… Continue reading Climate Anxiety
One Death: How One Event Shaped My Anxiety and OCPD
TW: death I feel like I learned the truth about death far too late in life, a combination of natural insulation from the subject and a consequence of my social anxiety. I cannot remember the exact age, maybe eight, but I was watching television in my living room while my mother ironed clothes. A life… Continue reading One Death: How One Event Shaped My Anxiety and OCPD
Social Anxiety and Animals (Especially Those We Call Humans)
I cannot stress this enough, not only on my behalf but also in the interest of all who share these descriptions. Those with social anxiety are anxious in social situations. Introverts lose energy in social situations. Neither of those things is misanthropy. It's quite possible to love people and see good in them while having… Continue reading Social Anxiety and Animals (Especially Those We Call Humans)
Parasocial Anxiety
Parasocial relationships play an ever-increasing role in our world. Whereas these sorts of relationships have always existed to some degree, the advent of social media, which allows direct communication and further personal insight, means that more people feel a deeper sense of connection in one-sided relationships. I am no expert in this field and have… Continue reading Parasocial Anxiety
I Hate My Body (Too)
Where does this even go in the spectrum of my mental health stuff? It's hard to say with any precision because the only person who knew any of it prior to this piece was my wife. Even the multiple counselors, many physicians, and two psychiatrists I have seen during my life do not know it… Continue reading I Hate My Body (Too)
A Most Perfect Contradiction
Humans are contradictions. It's something that I find beautiful and frustrating (see how easy it can be?). We can hold two disparate beliefs sincerely at the exact same time, be aware of the fact that the beliefs are antithetical, examine them thoroughly, and still arrive at the conclusion both must be right. Perhaps that is… Continue reading A Most Perfect Contradiction
Mental Health and Sexuality
We need to begin this post with a pure truth: definitions describe; they do not prescribe. Some definitions are by their nature comparative. For example, I could describe myself as tall while context might dictate that I am average or even short. Other definitions are strict. When considering human sexuality, things exist on a spectrum… Continue reading Mental Health and Sexuality
Celtic Riverside 