Anxiety Strikes Again!

 Hi, all.

Okay, first of all, I've been retrenched from my job of seven years as a subtitler at a local huge TV station. No, the other one. Right now, I'm about four months into unemployment. Well, everything was good. I kinda relieved about being released from the company, from the job (as I know there are a lot of freelance jobs I can fall back on). I enjoyed doing freelance jobs until lately, I don't know if it's the uncertainty of my future, or because I'm jobless and I have commitments to fulfil. All I know is that my anxiety and depression slowly creeping in, finding their way back into my brain and mess with everything. I think they have made themselves at home now, because for the past month I've been dreading to see new e-mails coming in. Or phone calls. Even text messages make me jump now.

I know it's funny. I've been looking for freelance jobs, because I don't think I can work in an office anymore, given the environment, the ambience, the politics, the meetings, all the live interactions with people in general (plus the traffic congestion I'll have to go through every morning and evening, even night). It's painful. I know I want replies, but I'm too scared to see if there IS any reply. It's getting hard since I can't go out to release all the built-up tension from the anxiety, due to the MCO. I can't even go to the hospital (actually scared to go to) because the COVID-19 cases are on the rise. I don't want to catch anything while trying to ease my mental issues.

This has resulted in me putting off signing things for work, although the work has been done. Signing stuff is always so dreadful. It feels like I'm signing up for a hellish life even though that's not the case. At all. I don't interact with the officer for my SOCSO's EIS. You know, that insurance thing for laid-off workers. I never contacted him to apply for the second relief. I don't care. I still have enough money (hopefully) until I can find a steady freelance job.

I love being a freelancer. The joy of working from home, or from anywhere you want (if travelling is allowed again), the uncertainty, the out-of-work period, the hit-or-miss income. I just don't want to sign anything. Just give me the job, I'll do it. I'll complete it on time, just don't ask me to sign anything. Forget about contract. But it doesn't work that way.

I wonder if there is any job that isn't anxiety-inducing. Is there?

Third month into unemployment, I started to work-out. You know, shed the fat a little, because I was expanding like nobody's business. I like it, the post-workout feel. The sweats dripping from all over your body, how your cheeks turn red from all the workout (quoting Emma Watson). I don't know why I stopped doing it. Not much progress but I like how I look now. I feel lighter, but my heart feels heavier. I hope this is just a hormonal thing.

When things are fine again, I'm planning to take up tap dancing. I've found a studio in KL, but I want to look for a studio nearer to where I live. And finally learn to play the violin or the piano. Maybe this will give me the peace of mind that I need so much. To have control of my life again. I'm 38, for God's sake. I should have control of my life.

You know what I need so much right now?

A hug. Tight and warm.

Good night.