Happy Monday guys!! About the topic of Anxiety, it's a topic we mostly put under the table because it's either you're sick physically or you're perfectly okay. Trust me not everyone with anxiety will agree that they have anxiety.
You know that uneasy feeling you have when you're in a crowded place, maybe you're out with your friends and you start feeling some type of way, your chest gets tighter like you need more air, you start hearing some buzzing sounds /voices, sometimes you get cranky for no reason and you suddenly have the urge that you need more air or else you'd faint , yup! That's anxiety.
Anxiety can feel like an overwhelming weight that takes over your mind and body whenever you're asked to do a simple task . It's that constant voice in the background robbing you of your joy , this voice makes you make the most out of the tiniest and simplest things.
Honestly, you wouldn't know how much anxiety controls your life until you're asked to do something so basic . For some they feel it's totally normal to feel uneasy all the time , sweetheart that's anxiety hiding by the door.
I remember one time in church, during Sunday school, We were so many and the teacher asked a question, she didn't point at me to answer but my heart was already beating fast, not Because I didn't know the answer, but for some reason I couldn't explain. my heart was just racing and I started to feel out of breath. I excused myself and quickly went outside to take some fresh air and calm myself down. .
Source
I read in a book about anxiety and everything they talked about in the book was how I felt. I looked back at how it affected my life, from my relationships with my friends, to answering questions in class, even from doing the simplest things my heart would race. In that moment, I knew I needed to find a way to cope or in my terms get rid of it.
Here's how I coped with my anxiety ( it's not something that magically goes away, and to be frank, up until this day, I still get that feeling sometimes, but I've grown to understand it and not let that voice get the better of me).
- The first step to solving any problem, is acknowledging that the problem exists.
I had to tell myself that what I was feeling was more than just having a bad day( you can't have a bad day everyday). For me anxiety was more than just worrying about everything and having that constant voice in my head, it was how those worries started to affect me physically and emotionally. one minute I'm smiling and the next I'm having a bad day.
- Reaching out for support
One thing I learned was that I wasn't the only one who felt this way,and having anxiety didn't mean I had a mental issue, rather it was just my minds way of playing tricks with me. Talking to my friend about it helped me a lot. The way she reacted to the topic made it seem less scary.
- Who would've thought taking deep breaths and just relaxing helped with anxiety.
Practicing mindfulness helped a lot. Whenever I felt anxious, I tried as much as possible to face what's in front of me instead of focusing on what's on my head. Practicing gratitude also helped. I remember last year, I had a little jar where I wrote down all the things I'm most grateful for everyday and that really helped me.
- Trust me when I say anxiety thrives better in an environment where there's constant pressure .
Learn to say no to some things, you don't have to take responsibility over everything, and always have boundaries . Saying No was not easy, but it helped me prioritize my wellbeing over external expectations.
Another thing was taking care of myself, whether it was self-care or hitting the gym, I started doing both. I started going to the gym last year and it helped me release so many tensions in my body. Of course I don't force myself to workout everyday.
Looking back at my journey, coping with anxiety did not happen overnight. Infact it took a lot of months for me to understand everything. Just Learn to be kind to yourself, and find things that work for you. And if you're the type that doesn't like sharing your problems, sweetie you have to open up about it , if not to your friends, maybe your teacher, or your mum if you both are very close but if you want neither of them to to know, then you can share it with a therapist that way you can get help. Trust me when I say you're totally normal and fine, all you need is a little pep talk.
This post is in response to Inleo's monthly prompt
Do have a splendid week❤️
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I like your post a lot sometimes coping with anxiety it's really hard but I like your tips ❤️
Thank you ❤️, I really appreciate you taking your time to go through my post 🙏
Anxiety can tear your soul apart. I feel when on is expectant and when things are not forthcoming, that could be one major factor that brings anxiety.
Yes, especially when you refuse to accept that it's there
Glad you worked your way out of anxiety through your own effort. Acknowledging you have the issue is the first step indeed. One will be more intentional in the next steps in controlling or getting rid of it. Thanks for sharing these tips.
You're welcome, and thanks for stopping by 🤗
Always a pleasure, Meya :)