Learning to Live With Anxiety
After a while, I kind of accepted that anxiety is just part of my daily life. Although it is possible for my anxiety to dissipate eventually, I know it isn’t going anywhere for a while. I have two choices, live my life with anxiety or let anxiety live my life for me. I decided that I would not allow my anxiety to control my choices and life. It’s been a hard journey, but with help of my friends, family, counselors, and myself, I’ve been able to manage it.
Here is what works for me:
10 minute rule: If I am feeling too nervous or don’t want to go to an event that I know will be fun, I make myself go for 10 minutes. If in 10 minutes I am not having any fun or still feel overwhelmed, I’ll leave. By doing this, I am able to force myself to go and face my fears, even if I am just going for a little while.
Speaking my worries aloud: Like my previous post about automatic thoughts, this is another trick I use to get out of my head. I say my worries and thoughts out loud to show myself that it doesn’t truly make sense. In your head, a thought can pretty much snowball and take over your mind, but saying it aloud can interrupt that process and make you more aware of the “snowballing.”
Stop drinking coffee: For me, coffee (caffeine in general) can make my anxiety spike. If I know I am doing something later in the day that will make me nervous, maybe a interview or public speaking, I won’t have any coffee. Although I will still have nerves to work through, I won’t have to worry about the caffeine making my stress any worse.
Taking time for myself: You’ll hear this a lot, “take time for yourself and recharge!” And, it’s true! When I get really stressed or overwhelmed, I find time to spend doing relaxing things. Whether this be self-care, watching a movie, or having something yummy, it truly resets my stress and allows me to “check-in” on how I am feeling. After, I tend to be a lot calmer and ready to tackle the obstacles ahead.
Even if these tips work for me, they might not work for you. And that is okay! Find what works for you to manage your stress and if that means doing the exact opposite of what I do, it is perfectly fine! Use this as inspiration, not a checklist. :)