How to Deal with Anxiety.
This title may not seem news to you but I am going to share my story and how I dealt with it and I hope it can help you along the way.
If you read until the end you’ll find out why I chose this picture and also some dope advice.
In January 2018, I started having panic attacks. Actually, I remember the exact date, January 20th 2018. The night before, I went out with some friends and I drank a lot, which had not happened for a long time, and it totally triggered my anxiety.
I have always been an anxious person. It started out when I was a kid. At the time, I just didn’t put the words “panic attacks” on it. My parents are probably the less anxious people on the planet, so, except telling me that everything was going to be okay, they didn’t have any other solution in mind.
My anxiety went away eventually because I am a resourceful person and I was always able to find the source of the problem and fix it.
But in 2018, for the first time, I couldn’t. For a control freak like me, I felt overwhelmed and completely lost. I had it all, the puking, my whole body shaking, tiredness, depression, etc... I went through some dark times my friends, I can tell you that.
It kept going for two months before I got my shit together and decided to go and see a shrink. News flash! I had what they call an “identity crisis”.
Meaning: I didn’t know who I was anymore and I was having trouble “finding myself”. It was so weird for me to hear that because I was always so sure about everything. I always knew what I wanted and suddenly, I didn’t anymore.
Your question: How did that happened?
In a few words, I was in my first real relationship (I’m still in this relationship and I’m happily married). In our first years, my boyfriend and I were spending all of our time together, we were working together and as we didn’t have a lot of money, we didn’t go out much or do a lot of extra activities. I was in fusional relationship that led me to the loss of my own person.
During my therapy sessions, I learned that having a healthy relationship means there has to be 3 people in it: your beloved, yourself and the couple. You have to take time for yourself. Don’t forget that.
Then, career wise, I was struggling as a freelance camera operator, working on dull projects and I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue a career in the movie industry anymore. I thought maybe the job didn’t suit me anymore, which also led to my identity crisis. But I didn’t know what else to do…
I am still having trouble finding myself but I’m working on it and I’m getting better at it. There’s nothing a few therapy sessions and a good book can’t fix!
Now that you know the story, more or less, I have some advice I want to share with you. Maybe you didn’t even bother to read until the interesting part. Shame! Just kidding. I would have stopped reading too.
Well, hopefully, some of you did stick with me and it might help you on your way to recovery.
First of all, talk to someone. No matter what your folks or friends or whoever thinks. It is normal to get help. If psychiatrists exist, there’s a reason to it!
You are not fucking crazy believe me! Your mind has just a weird way of showing it. It is worth it! It might not even be a therapist. Open up to someone, they could give you an outside opinion on what you’re going through. Sometimes you’re to close to the problem to see the big picture. You need a camera assistant to help you focus (sorry, terrible camera joke).
For example, my shrink told me there is no such thing as certainty. Life is change. Let it go. Worries tend to shrink when you walk towards them.
Then, I would strongly recommend that book “The Anxiety Solution: A Quieter Mind, a Calmer You.” which helped me a lot. I do not earn anything advertising it. It just really helped me.
Some of the following advice comes from this book.
· Quit drinking alcohol (I didn’t say forever), I assure you it helps.
· A rested you is a calmer you.
Most of the time, when I get panic attacks symptoms (yes, it still happens sometimes but I stop it right there!), I ask myself: Am I tired? If the answer is yes, I know the problem is solved.
· Quit junk food and sugar (not forever, and I know a good burger can cheer you up).
It may seem easier said than done. I am a junk food lover so I feel you my friend but if you eat healthy and early in the evening, you’ll soon notice the difference. You’ll find that an early digestion will help you sleep better, and therefore, you know the rest.
· Take a walk. Reconnect with nature.
When I have trouble sleeping, I think of a sunflower gently swept by the wind and it has a calming effect on me. It doesn’t have to be a sunflower; it just has a special meaning for me.
I won’t go into the meditation part because it is a whole other level. And if you’re like me, you’ll probably find it overwhelming at first but it is worth it too.
Last but not least, a therapist once told me this: When you’re having a panic attack, what should settle you down is that your body can’t keep up with the pace. At some point, when you will reach the apex of your panic attack, the only way back is to go down. So even if your mind can’t stop it, your body will. It has enlightened me!
You are strong. You are whole. No matter what you think; it’s in there. Remember, it is just thoughts!
And breathe my friends, breathe…
There is an app, it’s free, it’s called “Oak”; you have meditation but also breathing exercises to calm the fuck down!
No matter what happens you’ll handle it!
If you have any question, I’m here to help.
romaincrisis
yousharknotpass
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