If you’ve read my Anxiety Workbook then you know that I’ve been anxious since I was a little human. Last week, I talked about how my anxiety about returning to work after two months off was pretty high. I was nauseous the whole week leading up to it and whenever I’d try to relax there was a little voice constantly reminding me I was anxious.
And then I went back to work and everything was fine like I knew it would be. And that’s the frustrating thing about anxiety. Even when you know things are *fine* or will be fine, you can’t make your brain/body co-operate with logic. I can use coping skills to manage anxiety, lessen anxiety, and keep myself from reacting impulsively to anxiety but it’s still there.
Which is something that’s hard to explain to other people. We know that we have no reason to be anxious but we are anyway.
And sometimes it’s over the weirdest stuff. I can type all of this out, I can put my whole life on the internet and talk about mental health and relationships and self-care and it’s fine. But you want me to make a phone call or order food at a new restaurant (without thoroughly researching the menu online beforehand?) and…. nope.
Here are some things that make me anxious or used to make me anxious.
Used to make me anxious:
Keeping track of my finances
Travel
Relax
Check the mail
Order food at restaurants
Maintain friendships
Reach out for help
Share my feelings
Go out shopping
Go new places
Work as a team
Still makes me anxious:
Starting conversations
Making decisions when I can’t control the outcome
Listen to voicemails
Drive
Answer emails
Talk on the phone/Return phone calls
Talk to bosses
Go to the doctor
Deal with change
So, I’m calling it progress! I still get anxious over a lot of things but I’ve also done a ton of work to get where I am today!
I’d love it if you’d share something that makes you anxious that you don’t commonly see talked about!
*Everyone is different and this list might not accurately represent your symptoms
*This is not intended to diagnose an anxiety disorder
*Therapy, coping skills, and talking to your doctor if you feel anxious are the best paths forward!
I find it very difficult to spend time in my front yard, gardening etc. Even though I know that they’re not, people are watching me. I also find it difficult to go to shopping centres because of the number of people and the volume of noise.