How I overcame anxiety

As we grow up, we start to feel more and more pressure. We have work to do, a house to clean, deadlines to meet and expectations to exceed. In all of that chaos, our mental health becomes optional. Forgettable. Well, it should not.

Part of the problems caused by anxiety (panic attacks, overwhelming…) could easily be avoided if we just learnt to listen to ourselves and to our needs. Instead of pushing ourselves to complete all the tasks, to tick all the boxes of our to-do lists, we should take a breath and stop for a moment. How often do we ask ourselves:

“Do I really need to do this? Does it make me feel happy or satisfied?”

In my opinion, not often enough. When we push ourselves beyond our limit, that we fall apart. We feel unsatisfied with ourselves, with our life, we feel unfulfilled and overwhelmed. And here comes anxiety. All of the pressure we build up, will eventually explode and become that well-known feeling of a weight on the chest. We have to face the truth: humans do not have superpowers. Our body needs to rest, our mind needs to unwind and our soul needs to be fed.

We need to re-learn how to put our well-being first. Before expectations, before the pressure that society exerts on us, before our full time-schedule. None of this matters if we lose sight of what matters in life. Human relationships, health, well-being, passions. Stress should not overcome the beauty of living.

Well, that’s all well and good, but how do you do that?

First thing first, you need to remember the golden rule: here and now. Whenever you feel stressed or anxious about something, ask yourself:

Where am I now?

More often than not, our fear comes from something that might happen in the future. It is not happening right now. And there’s the possibility that it will not happen at all, not even in the future. Then what’s the point of worrying? Remember where you are right now. In your room, at your desk, on a sofa. Wherever you are, I’m sure that the source of your anxiety is not right there with you in the present. If there’s a problem worrying you, ask yourself:

Is there anything I can do about it, right now?

If the answer is no, then you can deal with that when the time comes.

Secondly, you need to take some time for yourself. There must be something you love doing. Going for a walk, baking, listening to music, reading a book, drinking a cup of tea or taking an extremely long shower. Even if just for 2 minutes, take your time and do something that makes you feel good. That makes a good reason to feel grateful for your day.

That’s how you find yourself again. Buried under that pile of work you have to do and meetings you have to attend, there’s a voice telling you what you want to do. Listen to that voice, every now and then. Kill the anxiety. And leave no evidence.