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stayingafloat
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Default Mar 01, 2019 at 12:42 AM
  #1
I have a difficult time reflecting myself as to who I am actually is. Even coming up with a decent nickname for myself is hard. My nickname may sound like I'm doing well but I'm struggling to an extent. I also don't understand my real personality, and how to portray myself properly in front of others without feeling anxious. It all seem like anxiety is my only personality and identity. Can anyone else relate to this and how do you cope with it?
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Default Mar 01, 2019 at 04:10 AM
  #2
I'm so sorry, stayingalfoat I'm sure many other people here on PC can relate to what you've just wrote. Unfortunately we're so busy trying our best to survive that we can forget who we truly are. Just remember that you're NOt defined by your label or MI. Finding ourselves is certainly not an easy task. Many people are struggling with it. Do you see a therapist? Maybe that could help. You could learn new ways to cope with your feeling. I feel like it may be really helpful to you if you don't have it already of course. I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. Please don't give up. Stay strong, stayingafloat. Stay safe and take care of yourself. You're a wonderful person. You're awesome! You're strong! You're a warrior! Remember that we're here for you if you need it. Feel free to PM me anytime. Let me know if I can do something to help you. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this
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Default Mar 01, 2019 at 07:59 AM
  #3
To "know thyself" has been the goal of philosophies and religions from the beginning of written history. Many see this as a valid quest and many of the religions believe that if a person truly knows oneself, only then will that person know God.
I have been having many of the issues you speak of unfortunately it is not so easy to know oneself. Who is the captain of the ship? Can the "I" really know itself? The "I" or the "I am" is the experiencer or the witness, but it really is not the one always in control although it could be. We are not our minds or what minds feel or think, we are not the thoughts. The mind is a tool, like our lungs we have the ability to voluntarily use our minds, but our minds also work without our volition, our minds change, we do not. I have an anxious response in many situations, but really I do not, my body does, I am not anxious, but whispering to my body to calm down, if I were the body I would be able to control this without so much work. When we truly know ourselves we are the same person no matter who we are with and that is important because much anxiety comes from our questioning of why we acted the way we did. Do not worry yourself over it, when you ready you will learn it. Once you know yourself truly, you are free. Self inquiry and meditation are good tools to start.
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Default Mar 02, 2019 at 09:11 PM
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Great question StayingAFloat. I think a lot of people struggle with knowing and understanding themselves. Would you be open to discussing with a therapist? Or trying meditation? I wish you peace.
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Default Mar 02, 2019 at 09:44 PM
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Originally Posted by SilverTrees View Post
Great question StayingAFloat. I think a lot of people struggle with knowing and understanding themselves. Would you be open to discussing with a therapist? Or trying meditation? I wish you peace.
Yes we are working on this as part of therapy. Its just that I have great difficulty searching my real self and what are the personal values i stand for.
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Default Mar 02, 2019 at 09:58 PM
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Yes we are working on this as part of therapy. Its just that I have great difficulty searching my real self and what are the personal values i stand for.
I understand. That's a great goal. Perhaps you could try a stream of consciousness exercise. Write your name in the middle of a piece of paper and write down everything that pops into your head associated with yourself. See what presents.

Something I read suggested thinking about what causes you most hurt or pain in life...if you reverse that you can start to identify your values. For example, someone who feels deeply hurt by feeling disconnected would have a strong personal value of connecting with others. Just an idea for you.
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Default Mar 05, 2019 at 04:28 AM
  #7
The opposite is true: the anxiety comes about because you can't show your real personality.

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Default Mar 06, 2019 at 07:55 PM
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Yeah I can relate feel the real me died along time ago. No idea now. Just felt nothiness just existing waiting to die really
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Default Mar 09, 2019 at 01:56 PM
  #9
Here's what I think. In each one of the personality disorders you will find a list of symptoms. In each list, one of the symptoms is a consequence of living in America. If you have feelings like you don't know who you are, my guess is because you don't have the identity of a career. We forget all the time that the DSM is a political document and that diagnoses are but one metric the government uses to organize the populace into groups it can exploit. These metrics can also be used to gauge how will policies are working or not. Your diagnosis goes straight into the computer system and straight to the CIA, or whatever department is responsible for keeping track of the metrics this week. Could be a university somewhere.
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Default Mar 09, 2019 at 07:05 PM
  #10
I have these thoughts too. ive heard of others dealing with identity issues too. I have no answer as I am in the same boat with you right now, especially recently. my son is too.
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Default Mar 11, 2019 at 10:31 AM
  #11
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Here's what I think. In each one of the personality disorders you will find a list of symptoms. In each list, one of the symptoms is a consequence of living in America. If you have feelings like you don't know who you are, my guess is because you don't have the identity of a career. We forget all the time that the DSM is a political document and that diagnoses are but one metric the government uses to organize the populace into groups it can exploit. These metrics can also be used to gauge how will policies are working or not. Your diagnosis goes straight into the computer system and straight to the CIA, or whatever department is responsible for keeping track of the metrics this week. Could be a university somewhere.
I'm sorry but I cant swallow this.

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Default Mar 11, 2019 at 01:08 PM
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It all seem like anxiety is my only personality and identity. Can anyone else relate to this and how do you cope with it?
I can definitely relate to anxiety (and I was diagnosed with it). As far as your identity, you could try taking the myers-brigg personality test if you haven't already. It may not always be accurate, but may reveal something about yourself.
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Default Mar 17, 2019 at 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by stayingafloat View Post
I have a difficult time reflecting myself as to who I am actually is. Even coming up with a decent nickname for myself is hard. My nickname may sound like I'm doing well but I'm struggling to an extent. I also don't understand my real personality, and how to portray myself properly in front of others without feeling anxious. It all seem like anxiety is my only personality and identity. Can anyone else relate to this and how do you cope with it?
I can most def relate to this feeling. I have had so many nicknames and I honestly can't stick to just one. It seems to change with every new phase or every new social group I encounter. I've never really had any stable life-long friends, and I find myself too scared to get close to anyone, due to that. I have GAD, ADD, and Depression. I find it hard to really socialize with others and be 100%. I'm not being fake, but just reserved I suppose. I listen more than I converse... and most days I feel like I kill conversations.. so the fear of that alone keeps me from pushing harder to repair these views of myself. I honestly have been doing a bunch of research lately, reading articles, and trying to understand how to cope. I found a book that's been helpful today, if you'd like to check it out.. "Are U Ok?" by Kati Morton, LMFT.
So far I think it's helping me to wrap my head around my Mental Illness and honestly helping me to feel better about everything (even the way I react to others and myself). I would suggest seeking help.. I am also on my path to finding some sort of Therapy.. I believe I am just going to say "I think I may have BPD (borderline personality disorder). Can you help me?" lol. I hope that you start finding answers and ways to understand yourself and how to go on about your days without stress and anxiety. <3 I'm rooting for you!

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Default Mar 29, 2019 at 05:59 PM
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Default Apr 30, 2019 at 01:11 AM
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I'm sorry but I cant swallow this.
I gave it a nice "Thanks" cuz I like the way he thinks..
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