![\"anxiety](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/positivelyjessicaward.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/anxiety-is-more-than-worrying.png?resize=1200%2C630&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHey there, I hope you\u2019re having a good day \u2014 and if you\u2019re not, I hope this gives you a chance to pause and take a moment for yourself.<\/p>\n
This week, I\u2019m sharing a piece of writing about anxiety that I stumbled upon while browsing Facebook. (I\u2019m not a fan of the platform, but I have to keep it for work.) When I came across this passage, I knew I had to share it here. This is for someone experiencing anxiety, for the friend who is a shoulder to cry on, and for the lost parent\/guardian of an anxiety sufferer.<\/p>\n
For as long as I can remember, I\u2019ve struggled with anxiety. It began at a young age when I was severely bullied at school, and it has had a profound impact on my mental health ever since. I\u2019ve experienced intense anxiety attacks, and at times, it has kept me from leaving the house, holding a job, and even maintaining relationships.<\/p>\n
Over the years, I\u2019ve had therapy, counselling, and medication, and I\u2019ve also tried many holistic approaches. Through this journey, I\u2019ve developed my own toolkit that helps me cope when anxiety flares up (I\u2019ll be sharing more about this in the weeks and months ahead). However, I found this passage relatable, and it spoke to me in ways I can\u2019t even articulate.<\/p>\n
If you think this passage might help someone you know better understand anxiety, please consider sharing it with them. And if you or someone you care about is struggling and needs support, I encourage you to reach out to a medical professional or a trusted mental health resource. You can also find a list of helplines and resources on my blog.<\/a><\/p>\n Anxiety is more than just worrying.<\/p>\n Anxiety is waking up tired, even though your day has only just begun.<\/p>\n It\u2019s learning how to function on little to no sleep because it took you until 2 am to finally close your eyes.<\/p>\n It\u2019s overthinking every text \u2014 How do I word this properly?<\/em> \u2014 and sending double or triple messages just in case you said the wrong thing. <\/p>\n It\u2019s answering embarrassingly fast, then replaying the silence while your mind spins through scenarios: Are they upset? Did I say something wrong? Are they ignoring me?<\/em><\/p>\n An unanswered text feels like it\u2019s eating you alive. You try to reassure yourself \u2014 maybe they\u2019re busy, maybe they\u2019ll respond later<\/em> \u2014 but anxiety\u2019s voice insists, No, they\u2019re deliberately ignoring you.<\/em> And you believe it, because you always believe the worst-case scenario.<\/p>\n Anxiety is waiting. Always waiting. Waiting for answers, waiting for reassurance, waiting for relief. It\u2019s the conclusions your mind invents, dragging you along for the ride, no matter how destructive the path.<\/p>\n It\u2019s apologising for things that don\u2019t even need an apology. Anxiety ruins relationships before they\u2019ve even had a chance to grow. It whispers: You\u2019re wrong. They don\u2019t like you. They\u2019re going to leave.<\/em> And before you know it, you\u2019ve already jumped to the ending you feared.<\/p>\n It\u2019s living in a constant state of worry and panic. It\u2019s irrational fears. It\u2019s thinking too much, caring too much \u2014 because at its core, anxiety comes from caring deeply.<\/p>\n It\u2019s sweaty palms and a racing heart hidden behind a calm smile. To strangers, you appear fine. To friends, you\u2019re met with phrases like \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d<\/em> \u201cRelax,\u201d<\/em> or \u201cYou\u2019re overthinking.\u201d<\/em> They can\u2019t always understand how you got here, but they try to be there while your mind spirals further.<\/p>\n Anxiety is wanting to fix things that aren\u2019t even problems. It\u2019s the uneasiness at a party, convinced everyone is watching you and wishing you weren\u2019t there. It\u2019s that extra drink to loosen up, the temporary relief that disappears by morning \u2014 replaced by regret, hangover anxiety, and the urge to apologize for things you can\u2019t even remember saying.<\/p>\n It\u2019s overcompensating, people-pleasing, always trying too hard. Anxiety is needing a plan, a schedule, a sense of control. It\u2019s the voice that whispers, You\u2019ll fail.<\/em> It\u2019s taking on more than you can handle just to distract yourself from overthinking.<\/p>\n It\u2019s procrastination born from paralysis \u2014 waiting because the fear of failing is stronger than the will to begin. But it\u2019s also resilience. Picking yourself up, trying again, even after your mind tells you you\u2019ve already failed.<\/p>\n Anxiety is that relentless critical voice: You messed up. You should feel awful.<\/em> But at its core, anxiety is caring. It\u2019s never wanting to hurt someone. It\u2019s never wanting to disappoint. It\u2019s the need to be accepted and liked \u2014 so you push harder, give more, and sometimes exhaust yourself trying.<\/p>\n And yet, when you find people who truly understand, they become anchors. They remind you that this battle, though daily, doesn\u2019t have to be fought alone.<\/p>\n Anxiety is the restless nights of sleep, as you toss and turn. It\u2019s your brain never being able to shut off. It\u2019s the thoughts you over-think before bedtime and all of your worst fears become a reality in dreams and nightmares.<\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes I struggle to put my feelings into words, but I think this captures anxiety in a way that many people will relate to.<\/p>\n No matter what you\u2019re going through and how alone you might feel, you\u2019re never alone. Please don\u2019t suffer in silence.<\/p>\n Also, if you\u2019ve stumbled across my blog and you don\u2019t follow me on social media,\u00a0head over to my Instagram\u00a0<\/a>\u2014 I\u2019m there every day, sharing little glimpses of life, creativity, and positivity.<\/p>\n Warm love,<\/p>\n Jess x<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"anxiety](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/positivelyjessicaward.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/anxiety-and-worry.png?resize=1200%2C630&ssl=1\")
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It\u2019s self-doubt and a constant lack of confidence \u2014 in yourself and in others.
It\u2019s being so hyper-aware that you can detect a shift in someone\u2019s mood from just a single word or change in tone.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the endless stream of questions that gnaws at you:
Did I lock the door?<\/em>
Did I turn off the stove?<\/em>
Is the straightener still on?<\/em>
It\u2019s doubling back just to make sure.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s arriving everywhere early because the thought of being late feels unbearable.
It\u2019s the fear of failure that drives you to perfectionism \u2014 then punishes you brutally when you fall short.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s triggers you can\u2019t always predict.
It\u2019s breaking down in private, crying silently so no one sees.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the desperate need to control something, anything, when everything else feels uncontrollable.<\/p>\n