Everyone deals with a little anxiety. Some people experience it a lot worse than others. I have experienced anxiety ever since I could remember.
For me, anxiety feels suffocating.
I sweat, have a hard time breathing, and often go into a panic. It's like a blanket is weighing me down and I can't get out of it. Anxiety keeps me from doing the things I love. It keeps me from doing what I really want to do. It feels like you're trapped inside your own head.
There are times when I can deal with the weighted feeling, but there are other times when it's too much. It's exhausting trying to fight it. Some days, I'm able to carry this blanket around and do my daily tasks. Other days, I feel completely trapped in it. I feel trapped under this blanket. Sweating, heart racing, restlessness, and mind racing thoughts are only a few things that happen under this blanket.
With this blanket of anxiety, comes anxiety attacks. These attacks are like when I'm completely trapped under the blanket and can't get out. I have trouble catching my breath as if oxygen can't get through the blanket. I feel like I'm going crazy and often try to pull my hair or scratch myself. I get chest and stomach pains that feel like they'll never go away. When I have anxiety attacks, I don't think it will ever end.
Even if someone says I'll be fine, I don't believe them.
Even though weighted blankets are supposed to help people with anxiety, sometimes anxiety feels like an unwanted weighted blanket. One that permanently is on you and it feels like you'll never get it off of you. Thankfully, I've learned to carry the weight of this blanket through therapy and new coping tactics. One thing I always try to remember is that this blanket doesn't define you. You have to be strong and learn to carry the blanket even when it gets hard.
If you are suffering from anxiety and don't know where to start, take a look at resources here, here, and here.
