Dealing with Gossip and Anxiety

[Guest Anonymous]

WJKK WJKF!

Recently I've been delving myself into the Sri Guru Granth Sahib slowly. All my life I've had issues with anxiety, not so extreme, but to the point that it causes great pain and suffering. I am always thinking that people are talking about me behind my back and that I am a victim of being targeted by co-workers. I have serious trust issues, especially sometimes with my own family. This is probably coming from my childhood upbringing (most likely).

I want to understand this through the lense of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and really overcome it. I've been trying to do more naam simran and it has helped put my mind at peace while I am doing it. I definitely need to incorporate more of it into my life. 

I learned about the costs of slandering others through the SGSS. I am consciously making choices not to gossip about others and slander others, however there are times that I do fail but I catch myself and ask Waheguru to keep me on the right path. Just even typing this brings great peace as I am reaching out for support from the online sangat. 

One thing I read was "Let your hopes and anxieties depart..Everyone asks for happiness; no one asks for suffering. But in the wake of happiness; there comes great suffering. The self-willed manmukhs do not understand this. Those who see pain and pleasure as one and the same find peace; they are pierced through by the word of the Shabad."

Am I supposed to in some way embrace the pain and see it one as the same as pleasure? 

 

I consider myself a decent human being. Trying to keep myself aligned with the teachings of our Gurus day by day but it is an uphill battle with my own mind. I hate feeling anxious. I hate having conflicts with people because of my trust issues. I am trying to think about Love for the Lord and Love for all of his creations. 

[simran345]

Guest Anonymous ji, you need to see a professional for your anxiety issues. It's nothing to be afraid of. Counselling is a good idea, they will give you methods to deal with your anxieties, trust issues and any fears, no matter how small they maybe. The thing is you don't want this to escalate into something bigger. If you don't wish to see a professional, there are many resources online that you can refer to and work on those self management tools. 

It's good that you are experiencing positivity from Gurbani and that Guruji's words are allowing you to see life from a different perspective to what you are used to. Simran will help you, not only to relax your mind, but also your soul and build your bhagti, aswell as help reduce any bad karams. 

"Am I supposed to in some way embrace the pain and see it one as the same as pleasure? "

 Gurmukhs see pain and pleasure as one, as they don't focus on the physical body and know that it isn't permanent. 

Hukam - God's Will, and acceptance of it is what makes them see pain and pleasure as both. 

 

ਜੇ ਸੁਖੁ ਦੇਹਿ ਤ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਅਰਾਧੀ ਦੁਖਿ ਭੀ ਤੁਝੈ ਧਿਆਈ ॥੨॥

Jae Sukh Dhaehi Th Thujhehi Araadhhee Dhukh Bhee Thujhai Dhhiaaee ||2||

जे सुखु देहि त तुझहि अराधी दुखि भी तुझै धिआई ॥२॥

If You will bless me with happiness, then I will worship and adore You. Even in pain, I will meditate on You. ||2||

SGGS ji Ang 757

?? Dhan Guru Ram Das ji

 

 

We can learn from this and let go of haumai (ego), and when one puts themselves in the hand of God, and when they grace their blessings, they give strength to deal with the pain and hardships or they reduce that pain. 

 

 

Some shabads to help with the anxiety issues:

 

 

[jkvlondon]

agree with Simran , see doctor , in meantime try to eat vitamin C, B,  and zinc rich foods  to support you and take vitamin B complex which will help with the anxiety and its effect on your nervous system.