Are You Your Own Worst Enemy?

Coping with anxiety

About a year ago, I was whining.

“Sometimes, I feel like I am making my own life small” I complained to a friend.

“I have a lot of ‘there is no way I could do that’ self-talk in my head”.

I hadn’t wanted to admit it before, but it was true.

Sure, I joked to friends that I was afraid of my own shadow. But sometimes the joke wasn’t funny. There were days I spent paralyzed by fear, afraid to make any sudden move, or any little decision. Living this way was exhausting me.

And at the time of this conversation — though somewhat better than in recent years — anxiety was ruling my life.

Can you relate?

If you can, you aren’t the only one.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4% of people struggle with an anxiety disorder. That equates to over 300 million people across the globe!

Unfortunately, only about a quarter of those people seek treatment.

So I wanted to make this post to encourage you — help is out there!

Let’s talk about that.

Therapy, for example, can work wonders for many. Medication can help others. A combination of both may be necessary, too — as is the case with me.

One particular thing I participated in that I found very helpful was a group class for CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It’s an effective form of psychotherapy that teaches strategies for living with and handling mental health issues.

(The group setting was just a bonus — it was nice to be surrounded by people who actually understood me!)

I completed that class in late 2019. I wanted to continue but…the new year had other plans (thanks, Covid.) I felt it was helping me. So if you’re looking for ways to cope with your anxiety, CBT might be worth trying.

Now, I will be honest and say that none of my treatment choices have been a magic fix. Medication seems to help the most, and quitting my job was a huge aid. But I still struggle at times. (That is why I began therapy last year.)

However, professional assistance IS making a difference in my life. Combined, of course, with the work I am putting in myself. At the very least, I am making progress. I am much happier now.

If you are affected by an anxiety disorder, please don’t feel that you have to fight the battle alone. There are tools out there to help. And I want that for you.

Not sure where to start? Call your doctor. Tell them what’s going on. This is nothing to be ashamed of.

I won’t promise that it’s going to be easy — only that it will be worth it.

Take a chance on yourself.

After all…you, too, deserve to be happy.

Can you relate? My writings often touch on issues surrounding mental health. Consider subscribing to my emails to never miss a post!