Asked of me on Quora #7

“Why is anxiety so difficult to cure?”

Because, for a variety of reasons, we can become attached to the fears, the worries, that cause it.

We hold on to it even though it's hurting us. When I'm accustomed to thinking/feeling that way, it becomes my 'default state of being’.

Intellectually, I may understand that I shouldn't think/feel like that. (perhaps a kindly old crone on the internet repeats it to me, though I've heard it over and over til I'm sick of it!)

Holding on to, remaining attached to, that state of mind, is familiar. It's uncomfortable, but I'm used to it.

Change, no matter how often it's recommended, is a bit frightening, maybe very frightening…

If I make a small gap in my ego, my fear of doing something new, and allow myself to be vulnerable, allow someone who has been through it and come out the other side… Allow myself to learn from them…

Being vulnerable is frightening. People have taken advantage of me in the past when I was vulnerable.

Simply being open, vulnerable, to change is a frightening prospect. I recoil from it, like recoiling from an open flame.

Personally, I've been greatly helped by learning from Tibetan Buddhist Nuns and Monks on YouTube. It's videos. There's no one physically present to feel threatened by. It's essential to feel safe when I let down my defenses.

Pema Chodron, Venerable Thubten Chodron and Thich Nhat Hanh are my favorites…

--weezi--💜🙏🏼🦄🥳🎉