Living with anxiety can be very difficult especially if you are the type who always wants things to go as projected or as planned. If things do not go your way, you tend to have anxiety and worry too much. But anxiety does not happen only when things don’t go the way we want them to. Some people have anxiety when they want to do something and cannot do it while some people naturally have anxiety from time to time even when there really is no problem. They could be having a good day and slip into anxiety at different times of the day and this often interferes with their daily living.

Everyone has different signs and symptoms of anxiety which often affects them mentally and emotionally. For the longest time, I have had difficulty falling asleep at night. It doesn’t matter whether I am happy or sad or not even feeling anything at all, I still would not be able to fall asleep most of the nights. And recently I find that I worry too much about everything and anything and I always have anxiety attacks which has taken a huge toll on my mental and emotional well-being. It happened for a while until I had a deep conversation with with a friend who told me to try to be in charge of how I feel and what I think about and also try to do the things that makes me happy as that would distract me from thinking and worrying for a while. This is not a permanent solution to my anxiety but it has helped me in some way.

Anxiety will not disappear overnight but of course it can be managed if you are willing to put in the work. I took to my friend’s advice and the first thing I did was to call a friend to hangout with me at an amusement park. We played some games, I had an artwork done on my face. I naturally am scared of heights but I went out of my comfort zone and rode on a rollercoaster and some high rides which felt very good. I had so much fun that day that I did not have anxiety for a few days after which felt really good.

After some days, I left the city I was in to go and celebrate Eid with my family in another city. We had a lot of fun. I had an outing with my cousins which went really well and I hung out with some friends.

I haven’t done everything I have on my to-do list but the little I have done has really helped me deal with my anxiety to a good level. Even though once in a while I fall back completely, I try to get back up as soon as possible and get moving and I feel a lot better now. I am not completely over it as I know it is almost impossible to get over anxiety completely but I am happy that it can be managed and if managed properly, it would almost be as if you do not have it. It is a gradual process but I am loving the results I am seeing and of course I am willing to continue to put in the work to get better everyday. If you have had anxiety or are dealing with anxiety at the moment, please feel free to share your experience.

Love

Maryam