I have Anxiety, now what?

Wow! Do you know how hard that was for me to admit? Let alone share with the world? I have a severe anxiety issue. Funny thing is, I didn’t realize what is was until December 2018.

Anxiety, the definition

Anx-i-e-ty a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease. Typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. An estimated 264 MILLION people have an anxiety disorder worldwide. So fear not, you and I are not alone!

When Reality Hit

My entire life I have been a “worrier”. I worry about finances, I worry about the future, I worry about past screw ups, I worry about literally EVERYTHING. I used to joke about my “worrying” and thought it was just how I functioned. That was until the last 2 years. My “worrying” took on a whole new level. I knew there was a problem, I just didn’t realize what the problem was called.

Unfortunately, I started having panic attacks, some in my car, while driving. Definitely not a good situation. I would go days wondering what could go wrong and not being able to function. I was completely unproductive during these times. Unfortunately, I wasn’t really putting two & two together. I would temporarily snap out of it, and think, Yeah! That is until the next time is happened. It has taken me over a year to finally get control over my anxiety. It took some serious issues in December for me to finally realize what the problem actually was. And even now I struggle, but I know some of my triggers and have taught myself some tricks to deal with it. So I don’t plummet down the rabbit hole.

I have always had abnormal stress/anxiety during the holidays. 2018 was particularly bad. And I’m not sure if it is my age that has caused it to get worse, or not really dealing with it as I should have. Either way, the little things I was doing to deal with my anxiety were no longer working. I was a hot wet mess. Even I didn’t particularly like being around myself. So I can only imagine how my family felt. Knowing there was something extraordinarily wrong, but not knowing what to do about it. Or how to help. Anxiety is a disorder that affects your entire household.

Some of My Tricks in Dealing with Anxiety

Mind Games:

This was hard, but if you can be disciplined, these things can help reduce anxiety. The hardest part for me was not slipping down the slope when I knew I was starting to spiral out of control. So here are some of the things I do when I start feeling my anxiety spike.

Accept what I cannot control. I am a control freak at heart, so this was the hardest thing for me to accept. If I cannot control it, then I need to step back and let things follow their course. Easier said than done, I know! But once I started letting go, things became clearer and easier to accept.
Maintain a positive attitude! I have several, and by several I mean about 20-30, uplifting and positive quotes that I can see all the time. I have them on my walls, tapped to my bathroom mirror, inside my journal, passion planner, office, etc. You get the picture. Surrounding myself with positive quotes and affirmations, I figured I would be less likely to succumb to an anxiety attack.
I learned my triggers. I started making notes on when I would start having anxiety issues. The weather is a huge trigger for me as my hubby’s business relies on snow as part of his income in the winter. 20 years in the making, and I still cannot handle seeing no snow in the forecast. That is until now. I still have some issues, but not nearly as bad as what they were. And trust me, I have made huge strides over the past 1-2 months. Not because I am super woman, but because I finally started sharing with people I trusted what was going on. And with their support and suggestions, I have made huge progress. It is interesting how when you share your biggest vulnerabilities, help is there. All you need to do is ask.
Keeping a journal. I write in a journal, just about every day. I write what I am grateful for, my affirmations, what I plan on accomplishing on that particular day. There are so many things to be joyful about.
Watch funny movies! For me, watching a joyful or funny movie helps get me from focusing on what is causing my anxiety!

Body:

I have always been very active. I walk the dogs on a daily basis, I love working in the yard and I have no problem getting my hands dirty! But I started looking into things that exasperate anxiety symptoms. Because what I had always done, wasn’t working as well anymore. Here is what I have found:

Per the Anxiety and Depression Association of America limit alcohol and caffeine intact. And stay hydrated with water. I am not a big drinker, I will have the occasional social drink, but I do love me some Starbucks! Venti Mango Dragon Fruit Lemonade please! Daily! So this one was a little hard for me to swallow, literally. So cut back I did, no longer daily, but still a treat on days when I am feeling good!
Now this is just plain commonsense. Have a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and veggies. I have always eaten healthy and I love to cook, but I do like my junk food and sweets! So I have cut out all (ok, most of) my processed food! And I eat a lot less of the sugary things I love! But all is good because I am feeling better than ever. And honestly, that is much more important than a cupcake.
Get 8 hours of sleep. Our bodies need time to rest and regenerate. How are they supposed to do that if we never take the time to sleep?
Exercise daily. I have always walked our dogs on a daily basis. Usually, we do two walks a day. My walks equal 2.5 miles or more each day. On days when I am feeling particularly down, I will take more walks or longer walks. When we exercise, our body releases endorphins. Or as I like to call them, “happy hormones”! They are instant mood lifters

Take Positive Action

Take positive steps in dealing with your anxiety. Don’t let it run you, keep it in balance. I have found natural products that work for me to help keep my anxiety in check. But if you need more, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Every day I have more and more people that are admitting to dealing with anxiety. You are not alone, and there are so many places we can get help! Here are some action steps I took and helped.

Inhale the good, exhale the bad! Seriously, in my head I talk to myself and focus on my breathing. I pretend I am inhaling all the good in my life and exhaling all the bad & things I cannot control. Breathing deeply and slowly really works!
Count backwards from 100. This is no joke. When I pre-occupy my mind with something mindless, like counting backwards, my anxiety starts to fade. Because I am focusing on the numbers and not the anxiety!
Meditate, practice yoga or listen to a special playlist! I have a playlist on my phone that is nothing but upbeat songs I love! I am an 80’s freak and it is filled with songs that I used to laugh and dance too before I became an adult! It is a powerful way to get out of a “funk”!
Talk to someone. Until last year, I never shared my anxiety issues with anyone. Even though my husband knew something was wrong at times, I would never admit to the problem. Talk about burying my head in the sand! So talk to someone you trust, you may be surprised by how much it helps!
Get help. I cannot emphasis this enough. If you have severe anxiety or depression, talk to a professional! There is free online therapy available at and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America is a wonderful resource to use and share.

In conclusion, you are NOT ALONE! It stinks to have anxiety. But with the proper treatment and positive action, it can be controlled. All you need to do is reach out and ask for help!

If you are dealing with anxiety or depression, I hope some of the things I shared help you in your journey of dealing with it. This has been my personal experience. I am not a professional doctor, so if you need additional help, please seek care from a professional.

Here is another post I did recently, When to Shed Toxicity From Your Life.

Want to know more on how I have kept my family healthy for over 15 years? Email me at kelly@coloradokelly.com and I can tell you how I got started, and never stopped staying healthy with fruits and veggies!

*This post may contain affiliate links! That means; I may get a commission at no additional cost to you! I do not recommend any products/services that I don’t use and love myself!

I have Anxiety, now what?