14 years later...anxiety update.

Just thought I’d pop by to say hi!

I used to have terrible anxiety, couldn't go out, continual shakes, couldn’t sleep, eat or anything really. My stomach churned excessively and I was forever in the loo with upset tummy.

So, racing forward to today...I’ve been on a trip to visit my family, we were stuck in traffic jams 3 times but arrived safely eventually. We ate in a busy restaurant where I hadn’t been before. I’ve got a shitty cold but it didn’t affect my anxiety.

I have a very good job with responsibility, time constraints and targets, all things I couldnt cope with before.

I’ve also booked, without hesitation, a few days holiday in Las Vegas for my big birthday this year.

Tomorrow, we are travelling again to see more family members.

I feel a touch anxious a couple of times a month now but it’s very slight and I can recognise it coming and can therefore manage the symptoms quickly and continue my day.

There’s just a few handy hints that I can give anyone who is suffering anxiety.
1st, cut the crap out of your diet..sugar, caffeine, alcohol and ‘brown’ food all increase anxiety.
2- get enough sleep.
3- exercise..a good few minutes of running, swimming or cycling does wonders to eat up all that excess Adrenalin and trust me, you won’t die of a heart attack!
4- see a therapist. A lot of my behaviour was learnt from my dad. I have learned to rest, move more slowly and importantly, say NO.
5 - don't discount meds, eventually after about 5 years of fighting I gave in and started taking meds...I was embarrassed and ashamed at first but truthfully, I couldn’t do everything normally without them. As my doctor explained, if I had say, a thyroid problem I wouldn’t mind taking a drug to stabilise it and it’s no different with mental illness.

Lastly, anxiety wont kill you, it’s a sneaky bastard that throws sh** at you for a laugh, whether headaches, diarrhoea, palpitations, sweating etc etc, but even though there’s probably an underlying message somewhere, just pause for a moment, let the anxiety do it’s thing or learn how to ‘centralise yourself’ and then move on again.

My very best wishes to everyone.