I’m a Therapist with Anxiety—Here’s What It’s Like

Anxiety is like a rush of adrenaline coursing through your body, it feels like you are no longer in the driver’s seat of your own life and something terrible is right around the corner. It can feel like you drank too much coffee and are running off fumes, not feeling connected to your body and just on autopilot and not even hearing others and just cruising through the day.

Anxiety can feel big and bold, heavy and intimidating. It causes us to wake up at 4:30 with “what if” thoughts and this intrinsic feeling that something awful is about to happen.

Anxiety can also feel small and difficult to pinpoint, as perhaps it has been riding along with us for so long, we forgot it was there and have just become accustomed to feeling “off.”

Some of the physical/emotional sensations include (Source: Anxiety Canada):

·  Physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a racing heart, sweating, or stomach discomfort

·  Restlessness or fidgetiness, with difficulty staying still

·  Increased irritability, becoming upset easily or snapping over small things

·  Sleep disturbances, including trouble falling asleep, frequent awakenings, or feeling unrested despite sleeping

·  Problems with focus or concentration

·  Feeling tired or fatigued easily

·  Muscle tension or aches, especially in the neck and shoulders

What are the worries associated with anxiety?

Anxious thoughts come in all shapes and sizes and will often latch on to things that are important to us, such as friends, family, pets, and ourselves. Sometimes, the thoughts are outlandish and scary AF, such as someone we love dying or getting sick with cancer.

When these thoughts arise, it can be so difficult to not get sucked into the content, but thoughts are just thoughts, it is only when we attach meaning to these thoughts that we get in trouble. Let me explain: You have a thought that you will be late for work and your boss will fire you. One way to respond to this thought would be to notice it and get back to what you were doing. The other way to respond to this thought may be to engage with it, believe it, and build upon the thought. This may look like: “I will be late, my boss will fire me, and I will not be able to pay rent or my bills.” You can see how this will lead to increased levels of anxiety, right?

Some tips for living with anxiety:

-Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine can be incredibly helpful. Take something as simple as washing the dishes—pay attention to the sensation of the water, its temperature, and how it feels on your hands. By consistently practicing mindfulness, we can strengthen our internal “mindfulness muscle,” making it easier to manage anxiety. In fact, research has shown that mindfulness can be just as effective as escitalopram (the generic form of Lexapro) in treating anxiety disorders in adults (Drumm, 2023).

-Simply notice: Practice simply noticing the thoughts as they arise, and do not try and “stop” the thoughts, as this only makes them stronger. More on this: https://nesslabs.com/pink-elephant-paradox

-Move with the anxiety: Ride the waves of anxiety and take it with you (as uncomfortable as this is). Anxiety cannot overtake you or hurt you.

-Practice self-compassion:  Self-compassion is no different from the compassion we show others. The word itself means “to be with suffering.” Think of when a friend was struggling—you noticed their pain, recognized suffering as a shared human experience, and responded with kindness. Self-compassion involves the same three elements: mindfulness, common humanity, and kindness (Neff, 2024).

-Practice self-care: OK, I know this concept is starting to sound cliché but stay with me! It doesn’t matter what you call it, it is important! Self-care is anything you do intentionally to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health. Get curious with yourself and try new things and notice what leaves you feeling a little more grounded or at peace afterward.

I truly hope this helped you if you are experiencing anxiety or helping someone through anxiety. Always rooting for you!

Xo

Laura