My Personal Anxiety Experience

I was really overwhelmed when I received the generalized anxiety disorder diagnosis. My body and mind felt as though I had lost control of them. At times, my thoughts were so gloomy that it was too much. I was worried I wouldn't make it. I put up a lot of effort to fight, but it was taxing. I almost gave in to my fear.

I couldn't get a low-income scale until I eventually located counseling that was affordable. Due to severe anxiousness, I had to inform my current employer of my situation and submit my resignation for a new position that I had applied for. They were all incredibly understanding. For me, it was the darkest period. Prior to becoming ill, I had to push myself to excruciating limits and was constantly worn out. No matter how much sleep I got the previous night or how many naps I snuck in, I was genuinely fatigued.

I can still picture how anxious I was when I was seated at my first therapy session. My emotions were all over the place and my anxiousness was through the roof. It was a two-hour session, and I sensed that my therapist would provide me with a number of challenges. We created goals, and I immediately felt motivated because I realized this was the drive I needed. The most agony in the world is felt by my body: headaches, chest discomfort, tightness in the chest, pain in the chin, and pain in the abdomen. Everything was very painful. It has been difficult for me to learn how to manage my physical anxiety symptoms because they can be brought on by stressful situations.

I first practiced sitting in a car and learning how to express my emotions after starting counseling. We moved really slowly because everything was so brand-new. There was a great deal of suffering and crying. Even if it feels impossible, I have to put in a lot of mental practice to convince myself that I can complete this. Driving the car around my neighborhood and paying attention to my body signals required some trial and error. Every time I drove, my fiance would give me encouragement and would give me praise for even the little accomplishments. Truly, the only thing that got me through the days was having that support.

I was soon able to drive to TARGET after a few weeks of driving around the neighborhood! Although it was important, I was really anxious. The journey there and back was fantastic! I cried out of pride because I didn't think I'd be able to repeat it. I may now go through my city, neighborhood, and adjacent places by car. While driving, I practice grounding myself and taking deep breaths when the physical agony is still present. I've developed a number of coping mechanisms to employ when I'm extremely worried.

I've looked through earlier entries in my journal and can clearly see how much my body and mind have changed. Even though it can be challenging at times, I do my best to be very compassionate with myself when I experience setbacks. My anxiety has helped me be more patient and inspired me to try new activities, even when they are intimidating.

Three months have passed since my diagnosis, and occasionally I think I ought to be "completely healed," but then I remind myself that these things take time. Everything I've experienced has shown me that, despite the difficulties, I can manage my anxiety. I can either wake up feeling upbeat or incredibly fatigued and be fine with spending the day in bed. I'm still learning a lot of stuff. Although having anxiety doesn't define me or make me feel less of a person, it has helped me realize who my real allies are, how I view myself, and how I need to make some changes in my life. It's been an eye-opening experience, and I'm hoping that things will get simpler as I go along.