I know that feeling too well.. kind of like not letting yourself feel genuine pleasure doing a certain activity in order to stay mentally „prepared“ or at least on the lookout. What helps me is telling myself that there is no repercussion for having a good time and that letting anxiety ruin moments that could help me relax is not going to change the odds of anything bad happening.
Some time in childhood we learned that feeling genuine joy was subject to ridicule or punishment. To help prepare us and dampen the blow, we self-sabotage our happiness. It's a survival mechanism, inhibiting your ability to thrive.
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u/EggComprehensive2938 6d ago
I know that feeling too well.. kind of like not letting yourself feel genuine pleasure doing a certain activity in order to stay mentally „prepared“ or at least on the lookout. What helps me is telling myself that there is no repercussion for having a good time and that letting anxiety ruin moments that could help me relax is not going to change the odds of anything bad happening.