“The truth is that there is no actual stress or anxiety in the world; it’s your thoughts that create these false beliefs. You can’t package stress, touch it, or see it. There are only people engaged in stressful thinking.”
-Wayne Dyer
The store is crowded, I can hardly see the aisles beyond each person that walks past me. Black Friday swarmed in like a million hostile enemies devouring every associate in the store. My chest slowly begins to tighten, a crescendo of anxiety hits me and all at once I can feel it, the beginnings of an anxiety attack. My hands begin to tremble, fingers gripping the cart harder and harder with each passing moment. I’m sweating and I don’t quite understand why. My mind is a mess of thoughts that I cannot even begin to make sense of. All of this culminates in me leaving my empty cart dead in the middle of store. My legs can’t take me fast enough to the bathroom, somewhere less crowded, in search of a bit of solace. I lock the stall door, eyes fluttering shut as I struggle to steady my breathing. I could feel the gaze of every person I walked past, their eyes like drills burrowing into my person. Perhaps they were watching me, perhaps it was all in my head. I’ll never know. After a few moments, I find that I have gathered myself, able to go out and face the swarm once more. All on account of things that had more than likely been created in my own mind. This is anxiety, a painful and often crippling problem.
The American Psychological Association describes anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes”. It is a natural response to stress that can cause you to be nervous and fearful of the unknown. At times anxiety can feel insurmountable, like a fight that can never be won. The Mayo Clinic explains that “intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations” is not a normal amount of anxiety, but is actually considered an anxiety disorder which may surface as an anxiety attack. Anxiety can be triggered by many things. Each individual has their own arch enemy, or trigger. It could be anything from the fear of a small dog to speaking in public. For me, it was an unending sea of intense shoppers. I was there.
Some people with excessive anxiety or an anxiety disorder tend to imprison themselves in attempt to avoid their kryptonite. There are many ways to help overcome anxiety so you can have a happy, peaceful existence. The most obvious, yet frequently avoided, way of combatting anxiety is seeking professional help such as a doctor or a counselor. I can hear my fellow college students now, “who has time or money for that?” One great benefit of being a student at Amarillo College is the availability of tons of resources, including counseling. This may be a small stepping stone to finding your niche in the fight against anxiety. Others seeking alternative solutions may find relief through yoga, listening to music, or just writing your thoughts down. There are endless activities that can help decrease your worries and stress. Getting a good pump going from lifting weights, pounding the treadmill with my beats, and then melting in the hot tub always do the trick for me. This was not just an overnight achievement. I had to dig myself out of my rut and face my problems. The counsel of friends and family along with the determination to get better, I overcame the anxiety beast. I’m not going to lie. It stirs it’s ugly face on occasion. During those intense moments, I use deep breathing and positive self talk to avoid the stifling paralysis. My challenge to you, find the remedy that works for you. Recognize that you are more than the anxiety. You can overcome!
Mind Talk 