Awareness of Hyperhidrosis in Social Anxiety

Summary: Hyperhidrosis, often mistakenly called 'sweaty dos handinos,' is a condition that is sometimes a secondary symptom of social anxiety disorder.

Up to 32% of individuals with social anxiety experience hyperhidrosis, as highlighted by the International Hyperhidrosis Society.

Transcript: Speaker 1 In fact, there's a joke in my family that I have sweaty dos handinos and named my dad jokingly made up and I believed and told people for years that was what I suffered from. The actual condition is called hyperhidrosis and quote, hyperhidrosis is sometimes a secondary symptom of social anxiety disorder. In fact, according to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, up to 32% of people with social anxiety experience hyperhidrosis. That's Journey 2019. (Time 0:10:15)

Physical Symptoms of Hypervigilant and Tension Systems

Summary: Physical symptoms of hypervigilant systems may manifest as insomnia, nightmares, jumpiness, fear of loud sounds, trembling, racing heart, migraines, digestion issues, and autoimmune disorders.

Tension symptoms can include teeth grinding, migraines, muscle tension or aches, exhaustion, and chronic fatigue.

Transcript: Speaker 1 Possible physical symptoms, so hypervigilant systems include insomnia, nightmares, jumpiness which is easy to startle, fear of loud sounds, trembling, shaking, racing heart, Migraines, digestion issues, autoimmune disorders. Tension symptoms include teeth grinding, migraines, muscle tension or aches, exhaustion, and chronic fatigue. (Time 0:14:30)

Self-Reflection and Emotions

Summary: Self-reflection is akin to flying above a storm, providing perspective on our emotions.

We cannot rush the storm or control the weather, but we can control how we respond to it. Similarly, we cannot control emotions by denying or avoiding them, but must face and deal with them directly.

Transcript: Speaker 1 Self -reflection is sort of like flying a plane above the clouds. We are reminded of the clear sky above the weather conditions and we can watch the storm from a distance rather than being caught up in it. But we can't rush the storm, or control the weather. We can only control how we respond to it. Much like the weather, we cannot control our emotions by denying them or trying to force them to go away, ignoring them or distancing ourselves from them in the hopes that they'll be Gone by the time we've finished doing something else and we won't have to deal with them. (Time 0:21:16)

Empowerment through Emotional Vocabulary

Summary: Expanding one's emotional vocabulary allows for a better understanding and expression of emotions, reducing their power over oneself.

With a broader emotional vocabulary, one can recognize the actions their body is prompting and prevent emotions from getting stuck inside.

Transcript: Speaker 1 If I could not find the words to describe them, I was restricted in my ability to identify what action my body was trying to evoke from me. I could not understand the messages it was sending me. They were written in a language I didn't recognize or relate to. The broader my emotional vocabulary expanded, the greater ability I had to express myself. And the less power my emotions held over me. They did not get stuck inside of me when I was able to recognize what action they required. (Time 0:25:30)

Embracing Emotional Learning

Summary: Learning about emotions can happen at any age.

It is important to acknowledge and let go of feelings of embarrassment or fear of not knowing something. Recognizing and accepting our emotions without judgment is key to personal growth.

Transcript: Speaker 1 When my oldest toddler feels overwhelmed by her emotions, she likes to read books about feelings. So I picked up one of her favourites and I read it to myself. Not to read aloud to model it for my kids, but for my own learning. Part of me felt embarrassed that I didn't know what emotions really were or what they felt like and that I was learning from the same book that my toddler was learning from. I recognized and labeled that embarrassment and I saw it for what it really was. I fear of not being good enough and being expected to know better and I let it go. I disputed the thought by recognizing and reminding myself that there was no shame in not knowing something. (Time 0:33:50)

Embracing Fear and Riding It Out

Summary: Fear can build up and manifest physically, causing distress.

By acknowledging and allowing fear to engulf us, we can find a sense of calm and realize that it is temporary, like a passing storm. Embracing fear, experiencing it fully, and waiting for it to subside can lead to a return to a state of peace and clarity.

Transcript: Speaker 1 It builds up and builds up and it can make us physically sick. Instead of letting that happen this time I left the door open. I let the fear surround and engulf me. I found the calm blue sky of my mind, and then I reminded myself that it's just a feeling that it would pass in its own time and I could ride it out, just like a storm. The thunder and the lightning of fear would pass and I could sit and experience how the rain felt in my body until the blue sky came back when it was ready. (Time 0:37:15)

Addressing Emotions Before Problem-Solving

Summary: Emotions signify a need for action. By immediately problem-solving or ignoring emotions, the speaker failed to process emotions, identify root causes, or address underlying needs, ultimately not completing the stress cycle.

Transcript: Speaker 1 That's DeMasio 2012. They are our mind's way of telling us that something needs action. By following my conditioning and always jumping straight into problem solving or dismissing, I was not allowing myself to feel the emotion and let it pass, nor was I taking the time To identify the root cause or the underlying unmet need that caused the intense emotion to begin with. I did not complete the cycle of stress and I did not address the root cause or underlying unmet needs. (Time 0:43:56)

Acknowledging Emotions for Mental Wellness

Summary: Acknowledging and processing negative emotions, rather than suppressing them with forced positivity, is crucial for mental wellness.

Ignoring emotions leads to the accumulation of negative energy in the body, resulting in increased feelings of imposter syndrome, anxiety, and depression.

Transcript: Speaker 1 Or deeper sadness because just ignoring all other emotions creates more stuck negative energy inside our bodies that cannot be processed as long as we pretend that they're not there. Forced positivity has led to mass feelings of imposter syndrome and increased anxiety and depression. I've got a note to myself that I had a quote from Flourish. Nothing else. All right. I'll do that then. (Time 0:44:49)

Understanding and Acting on Emotions

Summary: Emotions serve as signals demanding our attention and action.

To respond effectively, we should acknowledge and delve into our emotions to interpret their underlying message. It is crucial to recognize that experiencing intense emotions is normal, and it is essential to be present with them without causing harm to oneself or others.

Reflecting on emotions allows for a deeper understanding and appropriate reactions, a practice that may not have been demonstrated during upbringing.

Transcript: Speaker 1 They are there to tell us something that requires our action or attention. In order to act on them appropriately, we need to tune into emotions and explore what it is they are trying to tell us. I wish I knew earlier in life that it is okay and totally normal to feel intense emotions and simply be present with them, but it is not okay to act out act on them in a way that hurts others Physically or emotionally. Oh, all hurts ourselves. It seems so obvious now that I know. However, it's not what I was modelled. (Time 0:48:54)

Personal Bill of Rights

Summary: One: You can ask for what you want. Two: You can say no to requests you can't meet. Three: It's okay to express all your feelings.

Four: You have the right to change your mind.

Five: You're allowed to make mistakes and not be perfect.

Transcript: Speaker 1 Personal Bill of Rights. 1. I have the right to ask for what I want. 2. I have the right to say no to requests or demands I cannot meet. 3. I have the right to express all of my feelings, positive or negative. 4. I have the right to change my mind. 5. I have the right to make mistakes and to not have to be perfect. (Time 0:57:18)