Anxiety is a disorder that cripples many today. It is characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with ones daily activities. That is what the internet tells you when you look up the definition of anxiety. But it is so much more than that to those who suffer from it. It is a mental health disorder that can keep you from enjoying life due to fear or worry, and it may even keep you from things you love to do. The symptoms of anxiety can vary from person to person. Oftentimes the disorder cripples all, but the severity and how it keeps people from their daily activities can vary. This is why I love to hear other peoples stories and how they have experienced anxiety. So, if you have anxiety and are comfortable doing so, I would love to hear your story and how you cope. You can contact me through email on my contact page, link above, or through instagram @whollyhealthyblog. Also contact me if you need someone to talk to about it, or are wanting help in any way.
Anxiety disorder can affect any and everyone you may pass throughout your day. It can grab hold of anyone no matter their gender, age, religion, race, or power. Once it gets ahold of your mind, it does not let go easily. Anxiety causes both mental and physical symptoms, which is incredible when you think about it. It has such a strong influence on your mind that it is able to harm you physically, and even make decisions for you on what you do that day. Hypervigilance, which is when you constantly scan your surroundings using all senses to make sure there is not a threat around, is extremely common in those with anxiety. Hypervigilance keeps those it entraps from having any fun or being comfortable ever. It is extremely miserable and hard to overcome. Mentally, anxiety can cause irritability, restlessness, uncontrollable thoughts based on fear and worry, and the inability to concentrate. Seems like a lot? It is. These thoughts are excessive, full of unimaginable fear, and include strong feelings of impending doom. The minds of those with anxiety never ever stop. This snowballs into the restlessness, inability to concentrate, and then into irritability. Physical symptoms of anxiety are serious and scary for those experiencing them. Insomnia comes because of the racing mind at night, heart palpitations, nausea, trembling, stomach issues, and just about any other physical symptom is possible as well. For many the physical symptoms cause their anxiety to increase significantly. How? Because the heart palpitations can cause fear they are having a heart attack, the nausea can make them feel as though they are becoming serious ill and may not live, and that can go on and on with any physical symptom. That is the thing. It is a never ending cycle of fear that just continues to be fed by new fears and worries.
I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder two years ago by my doctor. It has been very difficult on me for many reasons. The first being the stigma on it. I always feel as though people will think there is something wrong with me or think I am crazy. Why would they not? I am always told to just quit thinking the way I do. I do not understand how people believe it is possible to do that and I never will. Another reason is because I do feel some think anxiety is cute and trendy, and I do not like admitting I have it because I do not want people to believe I am one of those people. I have many of the typically anxiety symptoms. For me it started with paranoia, constant fear and worry that kept me from doing things I wanted, constantly thinking something was about to go horribly wrong, hypervigilance, insomnia, the list goes on and on. I have researched anxiety and the different symptoms people have, and I have them all. Physically it eventually lead me to trembling, palpitations, stomach problems, and the inability to eat. It does not stop and it never does. It is horrible and something I do not wish on anyone. It causes me to feel crazy because the smallest thing makes me believe I am going to die, like I actually believe I am dying. Here is a good example. Two summers ago I went paddle boarding on a river. I had recently come across a news article on an amoeba that thrives in fresh, warm water and can end up attaching to your brain by water splashing up your nose. After a few weeks the first symptoms would show up, then eventually seizures, and brain death. While paddle boarding I was pushed off my board, fell into the water, and the water went straight up my nose. I spent the rest of the evening convincing myself I was not worried, but that night everything went downhill. I PANICKED. I genuinely believed the amoeba was in my brain and latching on in order to kill me. For 20 days I did not sleep or function because all I did was have an anxiety attack over this. I had read that after 2 weeks if symptoms do not show up, then odds are you do not have it. So, I spent 20 days, to be safe, making myself believe I had the symptoms, debating on going to the hospital, and it was a constant cycle. It was debilitating and horrifying for me. During this time I felt completely alone. I was told I was crazy for thinking that way and that it was just silly for me to let it worry me that much. But I could not help it. That is the picture of anxiety and what it can do to someone.
I highly recommend therapy. It actually really helps and has gotten me through many anxiety attacks, fears, and worries. Do not think about what others will think, there is absolutely nothing wrong with going to a therapist for help. A therapist can help talk you through things, help you find the root of your anxiety, find grounding techniques that work for you, and many other things along those lines. If therapy is not doing enough, go to your primary care and talk to them about medication. I have been on anxiety medication for a while now and I found one that works for me. Many people talk about the side effects and the scary things about the medication, but if you find the right one it really does work. I also recommend items from an online store called sensacalm. They have essential oils, weighted blankets, and my favorite ever weighted stuffed animals. It is great through the anxiety attacks and fears for many reasons. Next, and I cannot stress this enough, self-care. Try loving on yourself, taking time to do what you love, go outside, and take breaks from all the work you have in your life. Your mental health is more important than your schooling, job, etc.
The stigma on anxiety has got to end. In order for people to help others and get the help they need, they need to be able to not feel judged for having this disorder. On the other side, you need to start caring more about yourself than what others think of you. Anxiety is real and you need to get help. Go get diagnosed, see a therapist, try medication, do what you need to be the healthiest you you can be.
You are not crazy. It is impossible to just simply “stop thinking that way”.
Kokonaomi
