Mental health and the increasing importance of talking about it has come to the forefront in recent years and as someone who struggles daily with anxiety, I am so thankful for the spotlight it’s been shown. Looking back I realize anxiety is something I have always struggled with. Even as a kid I would have moments where my heart felt like it was going to come out of my chest and I no-longer could think logically, but I had no idea what was happening. As an adult my anxiety hasn’t gone away, its triggers have just evolved from fear of getting a bad grade to fear of falling short in my job performance or letting down a friend or significant other.
Knowing that I am not the only person who struggles with anxiety, I wanted to compile a few things that I have found throughout my journey with anxiety that have helped me learn to manage it. Anxiety ebbs and flows from day to day. Sometimes you feel like you’ve got it figured out and then BAM you can’t remember how to breath normal. If you’re in a good place with your anxiety right now, celebrate that — it’s a victory, but keep these tools in your back pocket for the days when you can’t think straight. I hope this list helps you, even just a little. We’re in this together.
Remember You Are Not Alone
Remember this. Always. On the days I’ve felt the most alone are the days my anxiety has spiraled out of control. The anxiety that probably stemmed from something completely different bounced off my additional fear that I am the only person who has ever felt this way. Believe me, you are not alone in your feelings.
Let Someone In
Anxiety happens in your mind. Unlike food poisoning where someone can see you physically throwing up and runs in to help, people don’t know there’s something wrong until you tell them. You have to LET THEM IN. I suggest having a go-to person that you can call at anytime of day just to talk to. My husband is this person for me. He doesn’t struggle with anxiety to the same degree I do, but I know without a doubt that when I need someone to calm me down, he will. Maybe you don’t live near the person that comes to mind for you, but as long as they’re a facetime or a phone call away, they can be that person.
Exercise
Moving my body has given me the opportunity to release built up energy and bring my mind back to a healthy state. It temporarily distracts me from how I am feeling and helps me work through some of the painful moments I’ve experienced with anxiety. Running, hiking, Barre workouts, and biking have been my current go-tos.
Eat Mindfully
This is an easy one to skip over because it feels like there’s not actually a connection, but our guts and minds are connected. If we eat terrible, we feel terrible. Too many processed foods can wreak havoc on your digestive system which then wreaks havoc on your brain.
Meditate
Meditation has helped me so much . It has given me so many tools to use in a stressful situation —breathing exercises, mantras, etc. I’ve used the Calm app and recently started using the app Headspace because of it’s wider variety of options. I used to think that meditation was a little woo woo, but it’s become a part of my life that grounds me so much that I truly can’t imagine life without it.. My goal is just 10 minutes a day and then sometimes i’ll try to sneak in a second session prior to bed. If you’ve never tried it, give it a shot.
Remember Healing is not linear
Give yourself space to have good days and bad days. Sometimes you’ll feel like you can handle anything life throws at you and other times getting out of bed is enough of a trigger to send you into a frenzy. Be gentle with yourself and take it one day at a time. One bad day after a long stretch of good doesn’t mean there won’t be any more good days ahead or that you’re doing something wrong. It just means you’re having a bad day.
Give Grace to Others
just as others might not know your struggle with anxiety, you don’t know theirs. Give grace to people for the actions you see. You never know whats going on in their mind.
I hope that these couple little tips help you create a toolbox that you can access to help you navigate your anxiety journey. If you need a safe place to talk, let me be your safe place. Let someone in, we are all in this together.
