Afraid to take up too much room...

I've realised that my default response to noisy people and certain situations, is to retreat. To move away. Become invisible and small. I go into a corner and make myself as phyisically small as possible. Please don't notice me. I become hyper aware that other people might experience me badly. I can see now that this is child me trying to hide away from a scary parent. The scary parent. But I'm realising that this coping mechanism isn't functioning for me anymore. I run a business, I'm an artist. I need to start taking up my alloted space in the world. Not continually hiding away. This coping mechanism, which kept me safe, when I was young, is derailing adult-me's life. This isn't going to be an easy process, it's difficult to carve new pathways in my brain. But push out I must.

#artandanxiety #dycp #artscouncil #anxietyrecovery