Thread by @kazweida

#AnxietyMakesMe unable to be present & enjoy spending time with the people I love.

For those with anxiety disorders, it's frustrating to hear others compare anxiety to occasional nervousness or stress. Anxiety is the temperature of every room I'm in, a constant background noise

(2) I can't tell you what anxiety is like for other people, but for me, it's like my brain is trying to operate while standing next to train tracks as a freight engine goes roaring by. Those busy, loud, self-sabotaging thoughts pull you out of every moment if you let them.

(3) Sometimes anxiety is panic attacks that steal your breath for no good reason at all, a small trigger you didn't consciously identify that sends your heart racing.

Other times it's when a cough from your child triggers panic, an impending sense of doom you can't shake.

(4) It's avoiding parties and loud, crowded social situations because they deplete every ounce of energy you have. Or pounding the pavement at 2 am because persistent thoughts are nipping at your heels.

You can keep anxiety at bay but it's always in the shadows, ready to pounce

(5) Anxiety isn't an occasional worry or a period of prolonged stress. It's not feeling nervous when faced with the unfamiliar. Those are all perfectly normal, human reactions when dealing with stressful situations.

Anxiety is a thief. It steals joy.
#AnxietyMakesMe

(6) Some of have asked me to share how I manage my anxiety. I'll detail what has been helpful and essential for me but with the caveat that because everyone's triggers are different, the best coping mechanisms that work for you may not be the same.

(7) I think of mental conditions like anxiety in the same way I would any lifelong physical condition (diabetes is a good example). You need support and the right tools to manage it. You will have to change some things about your life and learn to take better care of yourself.

(8) LONG TERM THERAPY
This was essential. Meds didn't work & actually triggered my anxiety about side effects. Finding the right therapist took years. Once I did, it took several years fo working closely together to be able to recognize triggers and consistently manage them well.

(9) JOURNALING
In the same way that some doctors have patients keep a journal of symptoms, it helped me to keep a journal in the beginning to spot patterns and identify triggers more reliably. I'd note exercise, what I was eating, emotions, major events, physical symptoms, etc.

(10) HEALTHY DIET
Journaling made me aware that my anxiety was closely tied to my eating habits, How I was eating was simply a coping mechanism, but it was also an early warning sign that my anxiety was getting out of control and I needed to slow down and be more intentional.

(11) EXERCISE
I had to find something that would switch my brain off and exhaust my agitated energy. Bouts of intense exercise through boxing were helpful, but I can also get the same result through hiking where I can let my mind wander in peaceful, solitary settings.

(12) Some find group therapy helpful, but it wasn't my thing. Some have panic attacks so intense they need meds to control them. No judgment. It's a journey. You find your own way through it.

But please, don't try to do it alone. Get the support of professional mental healthcare