anx●i●e●ty

noun

1. A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.

2. A nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and typically associated with a compulsive behavior or panic attack (medical definition)

Everyone deals with anxiety, but not everyone suffers from anxiety disorder. Let’s use applying for a job as an example to explain anxiety. It’s a pretty straightforward process. You complete the application, submit relevant documentation, and wait.

Average person: Periodically checks to see if the status has changed. Occasionally thinks potential outcome.

Me and my anxiety: Checks everyday, sometimes multiple times, to see if a status has changed. Looks over submitted application and documents for mistakes and things that could have been worded differently. Lists off the possible outcomes, along with the pros and cons.

That’s just a minor example of what my anxiety is like and in some more serious matters, like getting an apartment, or deciding on a grad school, it’s worse. In some situation I am unable to sleep because my brain just won’t stop thinking. This typically lead to an anxiety attack where I completely freak out or shut down.

It’s impossible to avoid things that trigger my anxiety, most of them are a huge part of adulthood. However, I have found better ways to deal with my anxiety that don’t involve shutting down.

Here are some activities to do when you are feeling anxious and need to clear your mind.

Get out of the house and go for a walk.

Going for a walk isn’t just a great form of exercise, but it helps to clear your head. There's just something about taking a stroll by the water that erases all of my problems. Before you go for a walk, make sure to send your location to a friend.

Phone a friend (or text).

Hiding won’t solve you problems. Some situations just require you to let out your concerns and frustrations. When I am feeling anxious about a social situation, I like to vent to a close friend. Typically I start the message out by saying something to the effect of, “I’m slightly panicking", or, "My anxiety is being rude”. This is their way of knowing not to take anything I say personally. It feels good to get things off your chest every once in a while.

Let your frustrations out on paper.

Everyone has their own schedule, and sometimes your friends can’t be there right away. That why it good to have a journal handy. Just write down what you are feeling and your concerns. It doesn’t have to be neatly done, it’s meant to be therapeutic.

Coloring is always fun.

In recent years there has been a spike in coloring books meant for people dealing with stress and anxiety. Honestly I can’t explain what it does, but there is something about staying in between the lines that relaxes me.

It’s perfectly normal for someone to deal with anxiety, and it doesn’t make you any different from everyone else. We all deal with things in different ways. Hopefully my personal methods will help you with your journey of controlling your anxiety.