Anxiety is already our most common mental health problem.
Since I’m no stranger to the so-called anxiety disorder, this is the other pandemic that I’ve been thinking about a lot. Too often, we are ashamed to admit our struggles or don’t validate our own feelings.
While the media has reported on this, I’m not sure it gets the attention it deserves or that those “helpful” tips are so helpful.
Its hard to get enough sleep if you can’t sleep. If you’re in a panic, you can’t think or talk yourself out of it. Taking a walk or a deep breath is great, but if you’re in an anxious trance, it may do little to relax you.
The challenge with anxiety is that the thing you’re worried about feels like its actually happening (in your mind and body). Logic and reason won’t always stop you from believing that.
While anxiety is manageable and there are tools to help, there’s no magic cure. I suffered from it intensely for years and thankfully my episodes are now few and far between. However, this pandemic can easily lead to a flare up at any moment.
One question that I always ask myself is “What is true now?”
Instead of believing your thoughts, take notice of what is actually true. Is the thing I’m worried about actually happening? Even if it is, what is true? Am I safe? Am I alive? Is there a way to resolve the problem? Oftentimes, the thing your most worried about will never happen.
A little awareness and compassion of what’s happening to your body and mind also goes a long way. Instead of trying to change our feelings, we can relate to them in a different way
We’re in this. We can’t control it. But we can play the long game and “just hold tight.” One day at a time.
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