Anxiety, The Sleeping Lion.

Always in the background ready to tap you with his paw

Sometimes when you suffer from anxiety and depression another feeling takes hold. The feeling of not caring. The thought of “bring it, let it come” manifests in the mind. Those feelings when you are too fraught can be freeing and bring you down to reality but not worrying about the reality that surrounds you. No longer are you concerned about whether the trash is out or the washing is done. Those feelings can be very empowering but also bring a mellowness to your mind. Something that is all too rare in the anxiety sufferer. We are not talking here about not caring at all but enjoying the moments of peace in your mind. Those moments are precious.

Stress levels in anxiety sufferers can get so high that a feeling of derealisation and depersonalization can step in. A feeling of stepping out of time and place. Gila Lyons is quoted in Health Online as saying “ I used to have bouts of it several times a day, every day and it was incredibly distracting, uncomfortable and scary” Gila also goes on to say “Anxiety is a lie. It tells you you’re in mortal danger when you're safe”

That is the thing. Anxiety is a lie. It distorts your thinking and your body. Many a patient has pitched up to the Emergency Department convinced they are having a heart attack and anxiety is the cause. Your body has tricked you, yet again. Tricked you into thinking it’s dying and the world is a dreadful place.

There are ways of treating anxiety. Tablets, talking therapies, positive affirmations are all well and good. But when the mind is in the midst of that anxiety attack, for a lot of people all this means nothing. You are trapped by a body that has been tricked by anxiety. The rush of too much adrenaline sending things spiraling out of control when all you want to be is back in control with a calm mind and a quiet body.

A full-blown anxiety attack can send the sufferer to their bed with body and mind worn by it all. Anxiety is indeed a tiring condition to live with and can reside with you like a low rumbling lion for hours. It’s there, ready to pounce, and can come at any time.

Anxiety sufferers are in fact very brave people. Many seek help and many do not. Either way, both have to live with this blight in their lives. Oh to know true calmness of mind and peace in your body. For severe sufferers, one must wonder if that will ever come. Driving an unknown car journey or going into a different shop can send that anxiety rollercoaster off again.

Anxiety needs talking about by us all because it can strike any of us at any time and cripple the daily lives of many. It’s okay to not be okay and we don’t have to ask anyone's permission to say that.

Know when to run away from suffering and if you are not mentally up to it today then there is always tomorrow when you may feel better.

Keep hope because that is sometimes all an anxiety sufferer has to cling onto and hope brings light and power.