Anxiety

Hi everybody!

Anxiety is the subject today because I think this is probably the most common and most under recognized of everything I have talked about so far. Anxiety is weird. It can come out of nowhere and make you panic. It can make you feel angry for no reason. It can lead to other issues like depression.

I have had anxiety for as long as I can remember, I just didn’t know what to call it for a long time. I didn’t know my weird off the wall mood swings were because I was having anxiety. I have always been a worrier but never knew getting up at least 10 times a night in elementary school to make sure my homework was really done was anxiety. I still do odd things like that but at least I know why now.

Anxiety is caused by triggers sometimes. I say sometimes because I still do not know all of my triggers but I know a few. I know that if you are a middle aged man that triggers me into an anxiety attack. If you are yelling, even if in fun, that triggers me into an anxiety attack. If I am somewhere new, if there are a lot of people, if I am in a stressful environment, if there is any confrontation all of these things send me into an anxiety attack.

Now everyone has different triggers. You are the only one that can decide what those are.

Sometimes if my kids are really loud, or fighting, that can give me anxiety. Then I have to find calm relaxing ways to stop it. Sometimes that is just sitting down on the couch with my children and reading a book or putting on lavender essential oil to help me feel better. Everyone is different and require different means to calm themselves.

I also do not recognize when I am having an anxiety attack 6/10 times. My significant other has to tell me it is happening because anxiety starts out small and builds until it is something affecting your whole body. It may start as stress but in the end you are not able to have a conversation because of the physical involvements from anxiety.

You can be a fully functioning person and still struggle with anxiety!!!! You can work a good job and have great friends and still have this battle. Anxiety does not discriminate. It does not care how much money you make or how hard you work. It is out there and I am sure many people you know have it.

So take a moment to make sure your family and friends are okay. Ask if they need help. Sometimes that is all that someone with anxiety needs, support.