The feeling of being trapped in your own collection of worries is exhausting. When you have anxiety, there are worries that are so unrealistic that your constant search for their validation can take over your life. You think of the worst possible scenarios coming true and you live everyday in a way that ensures your betterment. You try to provide yourself with some kind of reassurance that if you think about the future enough, than you can eventually control it. There isn’t a thought more taxing on the human mind than fear. For me, anxiety has always felt like a fear of the unknown. It’s something we all experience, some of us at different levels than others. Regardless, it is something that everyone has the ability to overcome.
For as long as I can remember anxiety has been the one thing that has held me back in life. It has held me back from trying new things and going places. A majority of my time is spent worrying about tragedies I subconsciously know will never occur. Because of anxiety, everyday my mind talks my body out of doing the things that I want to do. I often feel as though I am stuck in a pit of quicksand and no matter what I do to free myself, I sink down deeper. I get nervous before regular activities that should be exciting and fun, such as hanging out with friends or going on vacation with family. As a child my friends knew me as a “worry wart” and for a while I couldn’t help but be angry with myself for the way I was. When all the other kids were trying daring things outdoors, I was in my room where I could ensure that I was safe.
Something important that I have realized about anxiety is that it affects us differently based on our age. Now that I am older I am facing my anxiety in many new ways. It can take many years to overcome anxiety. The worrying and overthinking that anxiety can cause might get the best of you at times but if you surround yourself with positive people who encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone, eventually it will diminish. Although I might still suffer from anxiety, which every person does from time to time, I have learned how to not let it get in the way of how I live my life.
The best way to overcome your anxiety is to treat it like a demanding friend and learn how to compromise with it. Any demanding person you meet requires lots of attention, but if they are your friends than you will most likely try to keep them and yourself happy at the same time. Grab anxiety by the hand a let it know you're not afraid. Don’t view your anxiety as your enemy. It’s okay to worry a little because our worries keep us conscious and aware of our surroundings. Push yourself to do things that are out of your element and you will start to become less anxious. Life is short; don’t let anything hold you back from doing what you want.
