I decided to start this post off with a cheer to Anxiety. Can you imagine being at a football game and hearing such a cheer? I’m guessing there wouldn’t be whole lot of crowd participation with that one.

As you already know if you’ve read my introductory posts, anxiety and I have been friends in some way for about 37 years. I am convinced I came out of my mother’s womb anxious and had things I was already worrying about when I was only hours old. Maybe you too can relate? Maybe anxiety has always been a friend you’ve begrudgingly formed a friendship with.

Side note: If you haven’t read my first couple of posts. You really should. Otherwise, it’s like starting the Harry Potter series on Book 5. There’s a lot you’ve missed and you have to catch up on. I haven’t received my Hogwarts letter or killed a three headed dog or anything, but still there’s things you’ve missed

My anxiety seems to wax and wane. Some days she’s the best actress and other days she’s just an extra on set. She is always there though. That feeling of tightness and worrying swimming just underneath the surface of each day. I’ve tried medication, meditation, deep breathing, journaling, flat out ignoring her, and a whole host of other “fixes” to get rid of my anxiety. Recently though I’ve tried something new, accepting her and listening to her. Instead of ignoring her and trying to pretend she’s not there, I stop and say to myself, “I am experiencing an anxious moment. Where is this coming from?” For me at least, this practice has helped take away some of her power. It’s the whole “The enemy you know is better than the enemy you don’t know” and after 37 years I know my anxiety quite well.

I will say my anxiety isn’t all bad. It has helped me prepare for numerous situations that will probably NEVER happen in my life, but if they do I’m ready. If I’m at the zoo and a lion gets loose, your girl has got a well thought out plan of what to do to not become said lion’s next meal. Also, I am amazing in ACTUAL emergencies. For some reason I can handle actual real-life emergencies and crises very well. It’s the emergencies and crises my brain likes to invent that I am not very good at tackling.

If there’s something in your life that you’re doing your best to ignore, run away from, get rid of, etc. Maybe try acceptance and listening. Running gets tiring after a while unless you enjoy running and are one of those people who get the illustrious “runner’s high” when you run. I just get achy feet, tired muscles, and I never seem to run fast enough to escape what it is I’m running from.