Address Anxiety...

My lack of knowledge and understanding about anxiety meant I had a late realisation that I was experiencing it on another level-one that I wasn't sure how to handle. I believe that our approach and thoughts on this topic will differ but

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Disclaimer- My intention is not to provoke anyone but to use my platform to help people struggling with anxiety. Please seek medical advice if in doubt about any symptons.

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I've had multiple visits to the doctors about my physical discomforts - The results were traced often to 'growing pains' or 'intense physical activity' which was understandable but not reflective of my continuous discomfort. It was frustrating, to say the least not knowing the root cause of the issues. Don't get me wrong I was relieved that nothing was serious or worrying but it was disappointing not finding the answer. Soon the doctors' responses shifted to being 'anxious' It was then I learned that the anxious state could manifest in the physical body - but being young I didn't fully understand and dismissed it. Nevertheless, I became my own doctor (check out that blog) and slowly started to learn how to cater to my own needs (as much as I could at least). Fast forward to recent months, I discovered through self-reflection how to identify symptoms of anxiety. So my journey began to recognise influencing factors for feeling that way.

I realise how big of impact anxiety can have on a person. I noticed it became difficult to socialise well (leading to unhealthy isolation), my self-confidence was low and my mindset was negative. The list could go on but I won't burden you with that. Acknowledging that anyone can become extremely anxious and as a result behave differently is a step in the right direction. It means that we start to accept that it is ok to feel worried - we are not alone.

Recently I've educated myself on how people deal/have dealt with their anxiety, which has really helped me to discover useful resources. I'm not an expert but my knowledge has increased by taking the time to actually understand 'anxiety'. I've got a few things that I working on implementing in my life to help me relax, take control and feel much better. These include:

- Meditating

-Journaling

-Exercise & Yoga

- Using lavender scents

-Doing a therapeutic activity (e.g.cleaning, creating music, etc)

I must admit that they have made a great difference in my wellbeing. I encourage you to give it a try yourself -handling your anxiety. Please seek professional help to ensure you are medically checked and supported if needed. Thankfully there are options to help you such as prescribed medication, therapy sessions, specialist organisations exercises etc. There is no shame in needing help to deal with your anxiety and I urge you not to suppress the feeling because I know to some extent that it will get worse doing so. For some people like me, who aren't diagnosed, implementing organic methods should hone the effects of being anxious.

More recommendations:

- Talk to someone

- Try getting more 'you' time/ sleep

-Try reading for leisure (to ease your mind)

-Listen to mental wellbeing audio guides (podcasts)

- Try eating healthy ( camomile tea helps with calmness)

My faith has brought me undeniable peace and has been a firm foundation in my life. I love the scripture that says 'Be anxious for nothing... '(Philippians 4:6-7). It has bettered my attitude towards things out of my control. I am aware that your beliefs will differ from my own and that is perfectly ok. I wanted to be completely open about what has personally helped me deal with intense emotions at times.

It's become an issue in today's society to discourage people from expressing how they feel. It's hard enough as it is for some to even build the courage to speak up and it's not fair to put their courage to waste. Some may think we aren't responsible for each other but the truth is we all have an impact on someone. Why not make it a positive impact, to create a positive effect? I'm hopeful that people will realise that experiences and interpretations of anxiety are unique, different but ALL valid.

Thank you for taking the time to read today's blog, Let me know how you handle anxiety in the comments below. Connect with me on Instagram @Ludel_92 and stay tuned until the next blog.