ANXIETY - Because Deep Breathing And Therapy Don’t Always Work.

I wish I could tell you about the magical cure I’ve found for anxiety. I wish I could tell you that therapy or deep breathing or retraining my brain to think positive have taken away my fears completely — but that would be a lie.

The ugly truth is that I deal with anxiety by creating an escape plan for myself. Whenever I walk into a room, I glance around in search of the exit. Where is the bathroom? Where is the front door? How far away is my car parked? The less trapped I feel, the more comfortable I become.

Sometimes, for me, running away is the answer.

I deal with anxiety by having lies lined up in the back of my mind. My mother just texted me and she needs me to come home immediately. My Crush just read the text without replying me, maybe i annoyed him?, I have a test early tomorrow morning. My neighbor needs me to babysit for her

I have a playlist of songs that make me feel more active, more alert, more alive. I will blast them in the car on my way to a party to get myself in a better mood. I will lose myself in the lyrics so that by the time I reach my destination, I feel less stressed.

I deal with my anxiety by practicing what I’m going to say ahead of time. I will talk to myself in the car. 

I deal with my anxiety by dressing nice when I know I’m going to be surrounded by strangers in an uncomfortable situation. When I feel confident about the way I look on the outside, it’s a little easier for me to stand up straighter and feel like I belong. It sounds shallow, but it’s what works for me.

i deal with my anxiety by sleeping on my couch everynight, with TV on but i dont even watch it.

I will keep moving forward, even when I feel like I am eternally stuck in the same place.