Anxiety

If I could describe anxiety, it can feel like the world is speeding up or slowing down. You can sense this familiar feeling like you have no control of a situation. Your stomach is in knots and your body goes into autopilot mode. You can’t seem to shake off this unpleasant feeling until the issue you’re experiencing, or worry of something gets closure or a problem is resolved. Sometimes, things with every day stresses can get on top of you. We’re only human after all! That sense of dread, feeling nervous, high heart rate that you can hear it inside your ears – imagining the worst case scenario of something that probably the likelihood of it happening is just a very low chance or not at all. The mind is quite a powerful thing and as crazy as this all sounds, it is the body’s way to protect itself and react faster to life’s emergencies.

Some of us have preconceived notions that for people, like myself who experience anxiety are weak minded. It’s in fact the opposite! Yes, sometimes stress can unfortunately get the better of us, but reaching out for help and getting the support to manage life’s challenges and stresses is a huge strength. Research has shown that people who suffer with anxiety are highly intelligent, creative and emotionally intelligent and incredibly empathetic. For those who are caring, kind people who will put others first before themselves, usually have a tendency to overthink and therefore don’t care for themselves enough that they start to experience feeling overwhelmed and certain things that trigger it isn’t responding in a positive way.

Yes, it’s a horrible thing to experience and many of us go through these periods. But once we know how to manage it, we can get on with our day feeling a lot more clearer in the mind and much more balanced.

Few things to try out are:

• Exercise – You wouldn’t believe it but some form of exercise can really help lift your mood. Gentle walks or gym workouts, whatever suits.
• Listen to calming music – I have been listening to sleep easy music podcasts and they have been great!
• Keep talking to family and friends about your worries and concerns. – If you have a good group of friends and family around you and are there to support you, you’re already halfway there.

• Self care – Practice breathing techniques. The simple in through the nose and out through the mouth technique will help learn the body to relax.
• A little bit of pampering – I find that treating yourself to that much needed pampering such as a good long massage with lovely smelling candles really helps a lot!

Finally, reach out to someone who maybe able to help you. It could be a trusted medical professional or counsellor who will provide you with the right support that you need.

Life is tough, incredibly difficult sometimes. But for anxiety sufferers, let’s take each day one day at a time. We’re survivors and we keep on surviving..