Today’s #tentweets are on the always-topical subject of AUTHORS AND ANXIETY. Follow the hashtag to collect them all! #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
1. If you’re an author, chances are you’ve had anxiety symptoms at some time or another. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
2. Whether these are mild or severe, it’s worth acknowledging and dealing with, because lots of non-writers assume that a writer’s life is easy and privileged, and that therefore those with MH issues are just being writerly and over-dramatic. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
3. If this is you, the first thing to do is to acknowledge your feelings. They are valid and justified; and you share them with the majority of writers, whether they are struggling to be published or whether they are already successful. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
4. Get help if you need it. There’s no shame in seeking medical help to solve the problems that are impacting on your life and your writing. If your anxiety has a particular focus, try to identify what can be done to address the cause. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
5. Are you financially insecure? Lots of authors are. Having a second job is one way of feeling less stressed financially, and remember - you are no less of a writer if you only write at weekends than if you write full-time. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
6. Success has its own unique stresses, which can often be compounded by feelings of guilt that you’re not happier and more grateful for your success. That’s your anxiety speaking, right there, telling you that you don’t deserve nice things. You do. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
7. Are you putting your writing and promotion duties ahead of your physical and mental needs? Are you missing out on meals, sleep, exercise, or seeing your friends? Prioritise your well-being. Make sure the people you work with do, too. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
8. Lots of full-time writers suffer from a lack of daily routine, especially when they’re travelling, or have lots of public events to do. Try to find ways of keeping some kind of a routine, even if it’s only going for a walk at the same time every morning. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
9. Public events can be stressful, even if you enjoy them. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and hyped-up, which in turn makes it hard to sleep, and leads to exhaustion. Don’t underestimate the time you need to be alone and to recover. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
10. Don’t put yourself under too much pressure, or allow anyone else to do so. Tell your publishers loud and clear when you need to be left alone, or if a deadline is stressing you. And most importantly, learn to say no. FOMO is a killer. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
Finally, stop worrying about critics and reviewers.The more successful you are, the more likely to are to run across people who hate your work, as well as those who enjoy it. Don’t engage with your critics. You can’t change them. Don’t let them change you. #TenThingsAboutAnxiety
