Hi again Teebs,
I am really loving reading the forum entries here and reading so much from real people that resonates with my experiences.
Anyways, I too was a workaholic and work was a place where i could excel without being bothered by anxiety most of the time - i think i am really good at what i do but i suspect i could be even better if my anxiety was more well managed by me. Work was where my focus could go into feeling productive whereas relationships and things outside of work felt frustrating, upsetting, anxiety inducing etc..
anyways, for the first time ever, i have reduced my paid work specifically to take care of myself. i am working only part time right now. and boy is the transition hard! so when i read your post here i was like "me too!"
some days i feel i am 'getting it' as in, figuring out how to live without focusing on paid work all the itme. other days i flounder. its been about a month. i have about 10 hours of work a week i do from home. a routine found me after a couple weeks, i do the dishes once a day now which is new instead of not having a routine to housework. i took up quilting because as my counsellor says, i can't just focus on journaling and reading and working on myself actively all the time.
do you find an automatic feeling of guilt when you do those self care things (bath, yoga, walks, etc...). i know i struggle with that. i met a new friend recently and she treats herself without feeling so bad about it and that helps me to see her do that. i come from a very "catholic martyr" family. one where no one ever used the bubble bath they got for xmas sort of thing....as if there's some magic day that will come around that will be worthy of the bubble bath thats collected dust for 10 years. literally. i am taking a stand against that sort of life. its great seeing other people here determinied to take care of themselves. i love being here.