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Living with Anxiety

You are not alone.

By Madison StonePublished 6 years ago 3 min read
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When I was first diagnosed with an anxiety disorder 30 years ago, it wasn't as common as it is now for people to admit that they have panic attacks. It was rare for me to actually meet another person that had these same feelings as I did, and it was even rarer for others to understand what I was going through. I was told over and over by doctors, classmates, and even family members that I was faking it. If they could not physically see the pain I was going through, then it must not exist. I wanted to just give up. I wanted to isolate myself from the world because I was different and I thought I would never live a normal life again. That's what I wanted to do, but I didn't.

With any kind of mental illness, it's up to us to keep going or to give up. We may feel like it's out of our control, but it's not. We are in complete control. All we have to do is change our way of thinking. Think only positive thoughts. Push the negative feelings aside and tell yourself that you can do this. This is your life. Nobody is living this life for you. Take baby steps if you need to in order to achieve your goals. There is no time limit as long as you keep focusing on what is ahead of you.

Times have changed tremendously since I was diagnosed. There is so much more support out there for people like us. It helps to know that we are not alone. We no longer have to feel different because we're not. We can talk openly to others and share our experiences without prejudice or shame. We don't have to seek professional guidance because the ones with the degrees don't always know how we feel inside. Sometimes just talking to someone who has been there is all the therapy you need.

You may have a long road ahead of you to get where you want to be, but that's okay. Take your time. You may have days that just aren't as good as they were the day before, but don't let that get you down. It's perfectly normal. We are all programmed differently. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you proceed. As long as you keep moving forward, you will see success at the end. You are not alone.

Here are some tips that I use to get through my panic and anxiety:

  1. Focus on breathing. Sometimes when we feel anxious, we actually forget to breathe. Deep, cleansing breaths help to slow down our heart rate.
  2. Keep telling yourself that you are okay. It's important to remind yourself that this is not physical and that nothing bad is going to happen to you.
  3. Slow down. Sometimes when we rush to get something done, it can cause stress which speeds up your heart rate and you can easily mistake that for a panic attack. Slow and steady is the way to go.
  4. Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is good for your whole body. It keeps you feeling refreshed and lowers your blood pressure.
  5. Don't worry about what others think or say. If you are out in public and have a panic attack, you do what you need to do to get through it no matter what it is. Ignore the people around you. Focus on you and only you. If you worry about others staring, it may make your anxiety worse.
  6. Call someone. It's always good to have someone you can call who understands and can talk you through a panicky situation.
  7. Think about something else. I know this is easier said than done and it takes practice to be able to shift your thoughts from your anxiety, but if you keep doing this a little at a time, it will become second nature later on.

I hope some of these tips are able to help someone. Everyone is different, so you just have to find what works for you and stick with it.

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About the Creator

Madison Stone

Madison Stone grew up in a small town in Mid Michigan. She has been writing short stories since she was a teenager. She now lives in Central Florida where she continues to write and has taken up photography as well.

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