How do I deal with my anxiety?
This is probably a very difficult question for some to answer. How do you keep your anxiety at bay and what helps? Obviously there's days where nothing helps. Everyone deals with things differently too so how I deal with things might be completely different to other people!
For me it's about having an escapism, something to keep my mind off the darkness and keep me occupied. It's something that lets me escape the real world for a while.
1)Harry Potter
Harry Potter helped me at probably one of my darkest times. I became a fan back in 2011 after watching the films. I then read the books and they became my escape. I went off to Hogwarts with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Fred and George Weasley were my best friends, who always put a smile on my face. Many a time I'd long for the Weasley twins to come pick me up in the flying car and take me to the burrow. The dementor affect is how I'd describe one of my very dark days, feeling like I'll never be happy again. As well as reading the books, I'd watch the movies. I would avoid deathly hallows part 2 though due to a certain death that happens in it. I'm very passionate about Harry Potter, my Hogwarts house and my favourite characters.
Harry Potter helped me at probably one of my darkest times. I became a fan back in 2011 after watching the films. I then read the books and they became my escape. I went off to Hogwarts with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Fred and George Weasley were my best friends, who always put a smile on my face. Many a time I'd long for the Weasley twins to come pick me up in the flying car and take me to the burrow. The dementor affect is how I'd describe one of my very dark days, feeling like I'll never be happy again. As well as reading the books, I'd watch the movies. I would avoid deathly hallows part 2 though due to a certain death that happens in it. I'm very passionate about Harry Potter, my Hogwarts house and my favourite characters.
2)Disney
I grew up watching Disney films and I'm just as big a fan of Disney now, if not more so than I was when I was a child. Watching my favourite Disney films takes my mind off the crap that I'm going through and puts a much needed smile on my face. It's only a short fix but it still helps. I hate it when people say you're too old for Disney because you're never too old for Disney EVER! If I could apparate like they do in Harry Potter, I'd probably take myself off to Disneyland when I'm having a crap day because it's one of those places where you can leave your problems at the door and immerse yourself in the magic, let your hair down and have some fun without having to worry about what people think of you. Disney will always be part of my life, especially if I have children of my own. When people constantly feel the need to slate me for loving Disney and Harry Potter so much it adds to my shitness but it makes me even more passionate about my love for both. Like what you like and screw what other people think.
I grew up watching Disney films and I'm just as big a fan of Disney now, if not more so than I was when I was a child. Watching my favourite Disney films takes my mind off the crap that I'm going through and puts a much needed smile on my face. It's only a short fix but it still helps. I hate it when people say you're too old for Disney because you're never too old for Disney EVER! If I could apparate like they do in Harry Potter, I'd probably take myself off to Disneyland when I'm having a crap day because it's one of those places where you can leave your problems at the door and immerse yourself in the magic, let your hair down and have some fun without having to worry about what people think of you. Disney will always be part of my life, especially if I have children of my own. When people constantly feel the need to slate me for loving Disney and Harry Potter so much it adds to my shitness but it makes me even more passionate about my love for both. Like what you like and screw what other people think.
3)Once Upon a time
I only started watching this TV series this year while off on the sick from work. I became hooked very quickly and it kept me sane for being off for nearly 3 weeks. Colin O'donoghue who plays Captain Hook actually mentioned once about fairy tales and stuff being an escapism and he's correct. Watching ONCE, I'm off to the enchanted forest, Storybrooke or Neverland and again it takes my mind off real life for a while. Mary-Margret/Snow white actually has a great quote in one of the episodes
"Fairy tales are a reminder that our lives will get better if we just hold onto hope!"
I only started watching this TV series this year while off on the sick from work. I became hooked very quickly and it kept me sane for being off for nearly 3 weeks. Colin O'donoghue who plays Captain Hook actually mentioned once about fairy tales and stuff being an escapism and he's correct. Watching ONCE, I'm off to the enchanted forest, Storybrooke or Neverland and again it takes my mind off real life for a while. Mary-Margret/Snow white actually has a great quote in one of the episodes
"Fairy tales are a reminder that our lives will get better if we just hold onto hope!"
Once upon a time has a strong message of the importance of hope, something that those of us with anxiety can lack in. It's also got the belief of magic too. Of course it's the battle between good and bad magic but good always wins!
Jefferson: "You know what the issue is with this world? Everyone wants a magical solution to their problem, and everyone refuses to believe in magic."
4)Writing
I love to write. I've got a great over active imagination so I need to get those ideas written down somewhere. I usually write Harry Potter fan fiction where I write myself into the wizarding world or I write about Fred and Hermione (my favourite ship). Sometimes I write stories that no one will ever read due to the content being too personal but it always feels good to write everything down. On a bad day, writing helps because I can really do feelings and emotions well. Writing helps me to escape. I'd love to write a story good enough to get published one day. Annoyingly, I get my best ideas at the worst times like when I'm in bed, on a train somewhere with no way of getting them written down.
I love to write. I've got a great over active imagination so I need to get those ideas written down somewhere. I usually write Harry Potter fan fiction where I write myself into the wizarding world or I write about Fred and Hermione (my favourite ship). Sometimes I write stories that no one will ever read due to the content being too personal but it always feels good to write everything down. On a bad day, writing helps because I can really do feelings and emotions well. Writing helps me to escape. I'd love to write a story good enough to get published one day. Annoyingly, I get my best ideas at the worst times like when I'm in bed, on a train somewhere with no way of getting them written down.
5)Having a good old cry
Sometimes all we need is a good cry to get it out of our system. I tend to bottle everything up then it only takes own small thing to set me off on an emotional downward spiral. I'll lock myself in my room and have a good cry to myself. Does it help? To me it does, most of the time. I do sometimes make myself feel worse by longing for good things to happen. Wishing my favourite red headed wizard twins would come and look after me probably doesn't help though. Nor does longing for comfort from certain people but we'll not go there. Sometimes I'll have a good scream, shout and completely loose my mind because everything will have been building up and building up then I'll just explode. I'll want to hurt the people who have hurt me! I tend to like throwing things too for some reason. To some I may turn into a physco bitch.
6) Watching a DVD
This sort of ties in with the Harry Potter and Disney one but sometimes I will opt to watch something else, like a McFly concert DVD. Again it takes my mind off the bad thoughts and keeps me occupied for a bit. Usually I'll go for Disney or Harry Potter though.
7)Socialise
Due to my social anxiety, socialising with people can be a good or bad thing and it all depends on who I'm with. If it's people I don't have anything in common with or people who insist on leaving me out then it'll be hell for me. If it's people I can completely be myself then I can let down my guard and have a good time. I can't be around people who constantly feel the need to put me down and be negative towards me. I've had so called friends in the past constantly feel the need to make snide comments about my insecurities and also constantly lie to me. That hurts because you're supposed to be able to trust your friends, right? I don't like going to pubs and clubs because that makes my anxiety ten times worse. I get really nervous around drunk people due to past bad experiences.
8)Sleep
Sleep is great when my anxiety doesn't insist on keeping me wide away until the wee hours of the morning. During a bad day, I'll maybe go for a nap in the hope that I'll feel better afterwards. The best way for me to get over to sleep is to think happy thoughts. Heck I'll even count sheep if I think it'll help.
9)Working
Having a job is very important to me. It's not just about earning money, it's about having a reason to get out of bed every morning. It's about getting out there and meeting people and being around people. Yes, I enjoy being on my own at times but even I can fall out with myself after a while. In the past, a previous job added to my anxiety and I was extremely unhappy. With work, you do have to leave your personal problems at the door and do what you need to do which does help take your mind off things. Plus there's the rewarding part of working; helping a customer, beating your targets and doing a task well.
10)Shopping
Shopping for me is only a short fix that doesn't really last that long. I don't usually go on a spending spree or believe in retail therapy. Then again I don't really have the money to throw away on pointless items just for the sake of buying them. I like to save up for a rainy day. I guess when you've got a car to run and bills to pay, your priorities change and you have to be sensible about your spending. Not having any money or having money to pay my bills would cause me to stress out. It's added to my anxiety in the past.
"While you are alive, collect moments, not things."
Material things can make you happy for a short period of time but do they really bring you long term happiness? No they can't.
Sometimes all we need is a good cry to get it out of our system. I tend to bottle everything up then it only takes own small thing to set me off on an emotional downward spiral. I'll lock myself in my room and have a good cry to myself. Does it help? To me it does, most of the time. I do sometimes make myself feel worse by longing for good things to happen. Wishing my favourite red headed wizard twins would come and look after me probably doesn't help though. Nor does longing for comfort from certain people but we'll not go there. Sometimes I'll have a good scream, shout and completely loose my mind because everything will have been building up and building up then I'll just explode. I'll want to hurt the people who have hurt me! I tend to like throwing things too for some reason. To some I may turn into a physco bitch.
6) Watching a DVD
This sort of ties in with the Harry Potter and Disney one but sometimes I will opt to watch something else, like a McFly concert DVD. Again it takes my mind off the bad thoughts and keeps me occupied for a bit. Usually I'll go for Disney or Harry Potter though.
7)Socialise
Due to my social anxiety, socialising with people can be a good or bad thing and it all depends on who I'm with. If it's people I don't have anything in common with or people who insist on leaving me out then it'll be hell for me. If it's people I can completely be myself then I can let down my guard and have a good time. I can't be around people who constantly feel the need to put me down and be negative towards me. I've had so called friends in the past constantly feel the need to make snide comments about my insecurities and also constantly lie to me. That hurts because you're supposed to be able to trust your friends, right? I don't like going to pubs and clubs because that makes my anxiety ten times worse. I get really nervous around drunk people due to past bad experiences.
8)Sleep
Sleep is great when my anxiety doesn't insist on keeping me wide away until the wee hours of the morning. During a bad day, I'll maybe go for a nap in the hope that I'll feel better afterwards. The best way for me to get over to sleep is to think happy thoughts. Heck I'll even count sheep if I think it'll help.
9)Working
Having a job is very important to me. It's not just about earning money, it's about having a reason to get out of bed every morning. It's about getting out there and meeting people and being around people. Yes, I enjoy being on my own at times but even I can fall out with myself after a while. In the past, a previous job added to my anxiety and I was extremely unhappy. With work, you do have to leave your personal problems at the door and do what you need to do which does help take your mind off things. Plus there's the rewarding part of working; helping a customer, beating your targets and doing a task well.
10)Shopping
Shopping for me is only a short fix that doesn't really last that long. I don't usually go on a spending spree or believe in retail therapy. Then again I don't really have the money to throw away on pointless items just for the sake of buying them. I like to save up for a rainy day. I guess when you've got a car to run and bills to pay, your priorities change and you have to be sensible about your spending. Not having any money or having money to pay my bills would cause me to stress out. It's added to my anxiety in the past.
"While you are alive, collect moments, not things."
Material things can make you happy for a short period of time but do they really bring you long term happiness? No they can't.
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