Skip to main content

Coping with Isolating Emotions

A couple of months ago I experienced isolation, self-doubt, and fear, that was triggered by my travels out of town, and lack of immediate contact with my support system. In fact, I journaled in that moment and this was some of the concerns I identified:

I feel negative energy. I feel alone because I don't feel like I can trust my support system, and I don't know why? Maybe it's paranoia? Or indifference about some relationships, and guilt about others; I don't know. What energy am I putting out?- I try not to complain. I try to be easy-going. I feel a range of negative emotions: emptiness, void, depression, sadness, exhausted, alone, struggling, uneasiness, tension, unsettling...

While my emotions were real, they came from a place of fear that manifested emotional instability. For example, I could not explain why I should not trust my closest supporters. In that moment, I created more anxiety. In turn, I tried to calm myself by asking a series of questions in order to think my way out of my fears. Ultimately, I addressed my feelings by reverting back to my personalized coping skills. I encouraged myself to engage in practicing my coping tools to help soothe my spirit; that included: listening to music, writing in my journal, watching television to help distract myself, and positive self-talk by creating positive affirmations, which I recited out loud; "I am strong," and "I am loved!" Utilizing these coping tools rekindled emotional wellness for those feelings. The following day's journal started off with "Today is a new day!..."

Suffering from isolation are side effects of stigma and fear, among a range of other issues. I understand how isolation can be a huge challenge, and its resolutions to that demands adequate supports such as a support system, unique coping skills, and ongoing customized engagement in self-care acts. For me, self-care acts involves oneself validating experiences and prioritizes them into a desire and need to focus on getting oneself well again.

Feeling isolated is real, and fighting to overcome it is a process. If you are feeling any of the negative emotions I shared I encourage you to fight back with your customized coping skills. Finally, I shared this experience with you to offer a glimpse into what my isolation looks like, and how I fought through it in the moment. However, my way is not the only way to get through it, you must resort to your own coping skills that generally works well for you. I hope my experience offers insight and awareness that validating our emotions is essential, as well as practicing coping skills to maintain emotional and mental wellness.

If you feel that you experience severe isolation, depression, and self-doubt, however you define severe, I urge you to seek professional help, immediately. The following resources may be a great starting point:








Comments

withallmyheart said…
Ashley,

This post is outstanding, so real, and reflects the work of recovery. It takes practice, willingness, and being able to reach out - for support, for help, to be heard......

I am so proud of you!

Leslie in Baltimore, Maryland
Ashley Smith said…
Hi Leslie,

Thank you for your encouragement! And I do agree with you- [recovery} "It takes practice, willingness, and being able to reach out-"
Ang said…
Ashley,
Do you have experience with anyone with schizophrenia having anger outbursts. I do not know if this is part of his schizophrenia or mood disorder or drugs. I am lost on how to help him. The anger is very scary and he'll throw things and scream that he's going to kill himself.

Any advice is appreciated.
Chris said…
Hi Ashley,

It's Chris.

I just want to tell you that going out of town IS often a trigger for intense feelings. It's completely natural.

I once declined having a guy on campus bring my luggage up to the dorm room I was staying in. As a New York City girl I did not trust a random stranger to accompany me to the dorm room where I was staying alone. So of course for the first night I could not sleep. Who was that guy and why was he there? was my first thought.

A tactic I use is to listen to music on the radio in a hotel room. Keeping a travel journal also helps.

Regards,
Chris
Shubham said…
Hi Ashley,

I read your blog and found it very inspiring. I am 28 years old, an MBA and have been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. I always felt I am alone and was looking for support groups when I happened to see your blog. You are very brave having coped up with the symptoms.I am still looking for support groups in India.

I too have been experiencing side effects of the medication but I am not loosing hope. Have you fully recovered? I would like to know more people with schizophrenia and stories from the US/outside India.Do you know of some online community kind of place where I can interact with other people suffering from Schizophrenia? I am still paranoid but on medications and have lost my job owing to paranoia(mainly delusions).

Shubham Agrawal
Ahmedabad,India
www.zenithofzest.blogspot.com (My blog)
Thank you for sharing your difficult day and thoughts. I had a day like that the other day and my main support, my adult daughter, immediately texted me my list of coping skills which was beyond helpful. I knew them but at the moment I was so paralyzed by my feelings of desperation that I couldn't remember to do them. It eventually passed and the next day was a new day and much better but it was scary because I was doing so well.

Victoria Marie Alonso
victoriamariealonso@yahoo.com
https://mypersonalrecoveryfromschizophrenia.wordpress.com/
joseph muita said…
This was such an inspirational piece; thanx for sharing!

Popular posts from this blog

No, Please, That's Not Me

Prior to my diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia I did some things that I am not proud of. Now that I look back on things I blame my illness for my poor judgment. I am by no means condoning the behavior I carried out, and will share with you here. I will provide a few instances where my behavior was unlike me and caused an uproar. This post shows how schizophrenia affects other people. This post is for the family members and friends of people with schizophrenia, or showing bizarre behaviors. First, I asked my mother permission to give my friend a statue that was in my mother's house. My mother agreed to give my friend the statue, however, I took her permission a step further to get rid of what she had at my discretion. At the time I did not live with my mother who was away on a business trip. My mother buys and sells things so she had a lot of collectibles, antiques, and other interesting stuff. While my friend and me were in my mother's house my friend saw a lot of stuff that s

What Is Remission?

Remission is the absence of symptoms for at least six months with the support of medication. In other words, a doctor who has never seen you before may not diagnose you as a person with schizophrenia anymore. Remission is also high functioning in several aspects of life, living independently, goinig to school or to work, and socializing with other people. However, this does not mean the patient is cured or the illness has went away, the illness is still present, however, under control. Remission is achieved with the assistance of medication. "Published studies suggest that 10% to 20% of people with schizophrenia have remission of their illness as they get older, 20% get worse, but in a large majority (60% to 70%), the course of illness remains relatively unchanged." To reach remission it is recommended that you aim for a stress-free environment. Therefore, do things to relieve stress such as journaling, exercising, talking to friends, listening to or creating music, making a

by A Guest Blogger: For Addicts, Recovery Means Creating a New Life

If you’re struggling to maintain your sobriety, you aren’t alone. There are millions of fighters just like you working toward reclaiming their lives from drugs and alcohol. There are a few common traits that many successful recovering addicts share. Keep reading to find out what they are and how you can follow in their footsteps. They establish new patterns You can’t continue to live your life the same was you did when you were using. You must change and adapt to your newfound sobriety. Consider a career change; many recovering addicts find they have more success by starting their own business. One career that is easy to enter is dog walking. As a dog walker , you’ll reap many rewards including getting to spend time with dogs, which can actually boost your recovery efforts and stave off depression. Dogs have been used as part of a treatment plan for users as young as 11 and come with the added benefit of helping you stay physically active. Plus, being with