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Getting Rid of Toxic Relationships by Stephen Price
At the time of my first panic attack I
lived with the fear that my parents would not approve of me
if I was not perfect in everything that I did. I lived in
fear that my peers might also reject me if I did not live up
to their expectations. In short, my significant
relationships were based on fear.
Maybe you have people in your life who
put unrealistic or perfectionistic expectations on you, too.
In the end, I replaced fear-based
relationships with relationships based on unconditional
love. In some cases, as with my parents, I had to changed
the nature of existing relationships. In other cases, I had
to replace old friendships with new ones. Without letting
myself feel smothered by the unrealistic expectations I
perceived others had of me, I was literally able to breathe
easier.
There are many "toxic" people in the
world who will put unrealistic expectations on you which can
lead to anxiety and agoraphobia. You do well to surround yourself with people
who offer unconditional acceptance.
I was a total people pleaser like most
of us with agoraphobia. I discovered that the more I
was around critical people I had to constantly live up to
high standards to please and get approval from - the more
anxious I became.
The more I surrounded myself with
unconditional acceptance, the more I experienced peace of
mind.
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