I feel like everyday, I’m teetering on the verge of living in the moment, and a panic attack. It’s an odd combination, I know. They shouldn’t mix together so fluidly. But, with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, thats pretty much what an average day looks like.
I could have just woken up, after sleeping in, on my day off; with “not a care in the world.” Except, I have too many cares. My inner thought consists of, “Oh shoot, what if I’m wasting my day by sleeping in”, “I know I’m doing fine at work, but what if my boss calls me to reprimand me?”, “I don’t want to leave my room for fear of making a fool of myself in public.. in front of STRANGERS!”.
It is these dangerous thoughts swirling around my head, causing an increased heart rate, and a panicky feeling in my chest.
Ever since Junior year in high school, when I first began struggling with anxiety, I’ve been learning ways to cope with, and ease these anxious feelings and thoughts. It is not easy, but it is possible. Even when it feels like 100 tons of stress weighing you down, I am telling you from first hand experience that it IS DOABLE.
Ways I get myself out of my downward spiral:
The key phrase here is “GET MYSELF OUT” Because a common belief for someone who struggles with anxiety/depression is that there is a magic trick to being happy; That you just wave a magic wand and all the bad things go away. Or a set of rituals to achieve personal fulfillment. Which, there is, just not in the way you would expect. All you have to do, is acknowledge that life consists of The Good, and The Bad.
It is where you CHOOSE to focus your energy that will begin to manifest in your life. Example, a “Negative Nelly”, someone who constantly notices/points out/focuses on the bad; They tend to experience more bad things, because the negativity is easily recognizable/comfortable for their brain.
If you want to achieve happiness, whatever it looks like to you, train your brain to be comfortable with positivity. My advice would be to live everyday in love and gratitude for this beautiful life. Train your brain to focus on the good and you really will start EXPERIENCING a more positivity filled life!
1) Listen to positive music with an overall inspiring message.
I connect to my spiritual self through music. Its very easy for me to think and feel my truest thoughts while engulfed in a song. Here are some of my faves
(i.e.) Clearly by Grace Vanderwaal
Crazy Dreams by Carrie Underwood
The Climb by Miley Cyrus
2) Positive Reaffirmations!
You have to constantly remind yourself who YOU really ARE. And, who you really want to BECOME. In the bathroom mirror before school, In the car on the way to work, and even in your own head during a meeting, constantly be reminding yourself how awesome you are! Because even though it is OBVIOUS how awesome you are to the world, sometimes its not so easy to really see ourselves this way. So saying things like, “I am a rockstar”, “I will crush this presentation!”, “I am made beautifully and articulately, with purpose”. And before you know it, your brain will become so comfortable hearing this that… you will ACTUALLY believe it!!! And start LIVING it!!! It might seem silly, but sometimes you have to dip your toes in the silly part of life to really start living in the moment.
Thank you for Reading!
-Jordyn Nicole
