Easing Anxiety (On a Monday Morning, or Any Time)

Oh, anxiety— after formally being diagnosed with you (“Generalized Anxiety Disorder”, and OCD, officially) when I was 12, I had to find ways to cope with you (and I’m still finding ways to this day).

Mondays can be a huge trigger for my anxiety— looking at the calendar for the week ahead can feel so overwhelming, and sometimes my heart rate will start to increase even before I’ve had my morning coffee. So, what can I do? What can any of us do, any time, when anxiety comes calling? Here are some tips that have helped me, personally, in my fight against anxiety (and I hope they help you, too)—

Anxiety can pull us into a dark place; but we don’t have to stay there.

Easing anxiety: advocating for yourself and “taking it easy” when you can

As you all know by now, boundaries are a huge part of my life and identity. A huge part of my anxiety, I’ve found, is triggered by other’s expectations of me, which means I had to learn to advocate for myself in a meaningful, powerful way in order to keep some anxiety-inducing situations (and thus, anxious feelings) at bay.

For example, if I’m truly at max-bandwidth, I’m not going to be able to do everything someone asks me to do. If it’s important and needs to be prioritized I can try to make time, sure— but if I’m maxed out and stressed out, I have the right to say “no” in any situation, no matter what, to those who ask for my time and/or expertise (in anything).

Sometimes, we don’t have space to take on other’s tasks, feelings, or “things” in general, and that’s not selfish. That’s okay. If it’s not critically important, we have a right to say “no” to protect our peace and preserve our time and our sanity. I promise, that is not selfish— it’s a downright necessity, sometimes.

Remember: “this, too, shall pass”

It’s cliché but it’s true— this, too, shall pass, and no feeling lasts forever. If you find yourself in the midst of a high-anxiety situation, sometimes it’s best to simply take a step back, take some deep breaths, and disconnect for as long as you need. When you start to feel anxious, remember that it comes in waves, and as the waves crash over you, you have the power to rise above them. You’ve made it this far and you’ve done so well— you can do this, and this storm will end.

What are some methods you use to ease anxiety? Let’s discuss—

Xoxo, MM.