What it is like living with anxiety (Re-Upload)

When people hear that one has anxiety, they simply just think it’s a weakness. Anxiety is something that MANY people have gone through and you may not have even noticed. To some, it is a weakness, a defeat, and a flaw… but it is not. It just simply shows how strong an individual is.

Living a life with anxiety is hard to put into words. Some days I do feel defeated and unproductive, but others, I feel as if I’m on top of the world. Have you heard of someone being bipolar? Just think of that but inside your own head. I constantly have thoughts going through my head and most of them aren’t bad. It’s the overwhelmed clutter that is just scattered inside my head like a filing cabinet with all its papers outside.

*insert that SpongeBob episode*

Kenzie did you get that homework done?

Shoot when is that due?

Okay, so this has to be done this day and that.

Crap when do I babysit?

Do I really wanna pick up this extra job?

Should I go out with friends this week?

Do I have time to take a nap?

Notice that most of them are questions. I constantly have numerous questions running through my head day in and day out and most days I CANNOT TURN THEM OFF. I went to therapy the other day, and she said something that I didn’t even realize. She simply asked, “how do you feel during these times?” I replied I mainly feel overwhelmed, but others I don’t feel anything (kinda numb). I’m so used to feeling this way, that most days, I cannot feel anything.

Imagine going throughout a day not feeling happy, sad, overwhelmed, tired, energized, or even loved.

Living with this and trying to cope, is so hard. I tend to think that I know what’s best for myself, but I often tend to make it worse. For example, I rather be alone in those types of situations, but often I should be surrounding myself with friends instead. That’s when I tend to overwhelm myself with babysitting, or taking on too much.

As I’m writing this I’m figuring out that it isn’t truly describing how a person with anxiety feels like and ultimately what it’s like having to deal with it on a daily basis. That’s because it is so hard to even explain how one feels during this time and let me say it is truly frustrating. I personally can’t even start to explain how to cope with it, because I haven't 100% figured it out myself.

Overall, having anxiety is something that no one should go through alone. With that, here are some things that have helped me.

1. Go for a walk, surround yourself with a different environment

2. Breathe

3. When you start to feel overwhelmed, go with a friend and get some food or coffee and for 30 mins don’t think about anything that is overwhelming you

4. Go talk to someone whether it is a family member, friend, or therapist

5. Find something that comforts you and hold/do whatever it is during this time

6. Take a shower

7. Read, draw, write, sing, dance

8. Create a day/night of activities to get you away from the environment you are “stuck” in

9. Watch something funny

10. Power nap to re-energize yourself

Those are just a few of my coping strategies, and some of them don’t necessarily work 100% every time. Sometimes I have to switch it up, do one thing one day, do a different one another. Find what will work best for you and if you don’t personally experience this, try to do this for someone you know who does. I can guarantee it would make their day so much better and less overwhelming.