ANXIETY

​IT can paralyze you. You may come off as a bitch, shy or even a snob because you are not as engaged in conversations or other social settings as others.  IT will prevent you from picking up the phone, texting or even contributing to social media. Noises, crowds, traffic, social media, can be the gas pedal that drives IT.  You don’t want to get out of bed, yet you can’t sleep.  Insomnia will set in and  your mind races and reverses back to that day, that week, that conversation, that rash decision, that bill, that number on the scale, that little minor thing that others would find trivial is a huge trigger for IT.  There is no off button nor is there an on button…. IT only idles… ready to go yet so unpredictable.  IT is not a weakness or a choice.  IT does not discriminate and can be suffered by anyone including the rich, the poor, the pretty, the ugly, men, women, black, white, the secure, the insecure, outgoing or the wallflower. Phrases like “just don’t worry about it”, “things could be worse”, “get over it”… and my all-time favorite CALM DOWN are not the magic words and may actually make you feel worse as it can be perceived as being “selfish or ungrateful”.  IT has no face, but has a name.  IT can be different for each one that suffers.  You can’t run IT off, sleep IT off, ignore it or bury IT inside. You may never be cured from IT.  You will feel as though you are sinking into IT or trapped by IT.   IT can last a minute, hour, day, week, month….but IT will pass.  However, IT’S boomerang nature will just have you catching it on the way back. No amount of cheering from your pep squad will make IT magically go away.  Sweets, shopping, drinking, or any other vise will not help IT.  Friends and family can help but some can perpetuate IT.  Choose wisely who you surround yourself with… as some can be the match for the gasoline that lights IT.  Some will understand IT, some will support you through IT.  But no one else can truly sympathize unless they have IT too.  Don’t run from someone who has IT, don’t be afraid of someone who has IT.  You may feel powerless to help them.  Thankfully, unconditional love and compassion may be all they will need from you.  Remind yourself that it is not you.  IT is ANXIETY.