The word “anxiety” is tricky.
When we hear the word “anxiety,” we often envision crippling panic attacks, awkward nervous behavior, psychologist offices, and medication.
But the truth is, many of us cope with the more subtle symptoms of high functioning anxiety every day, and we find small ways to work around it. Because it can be such an uncomfortable topic to discuss, many people with anxiety don’t really tell their friends and family how it’s really impacting their day-to-day lives.
I’ve been there. When I was struggling in the worst phase of my anxiety and depression, I didn’t like to talk about it out loud. It’s still a topic that makes me a bit emotional. But if I’ve learned anything from my experience, it’s that honesty and understanding are strong healers. And compassion serves to bring us closer to those we care about, even when anxiety threatens to isolate us.
I discovered this great article by Simon Segal the other day: 11 Things Others Don’t Realize You’re Doing Because of Your High Functioning Anxiety.
The takeaway?
The things we worry about can have a very real effect on our physical health and our relationships, but the people around us may not understand what’s happening. That our little tendency to worry, the days we feel so tired, the way we fret over mistakes we made ages ago, those times we back out of social plans at the last minute– they’re all signs of high functioning anxiety. And that’s okay.
You are WAY more normal than you think.
Lots of other people are living with the same things– have loved ones experiencing the same emotions– and the more often we choose to empathize with those we love, the better off we’ll ALL be. Click here to read the whole article.
- Did any of the points in this article resonate with you?
- Do you know someone who experiences similar feelings?
- How have you supported your loved ones when they feel anxious?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below or on my Facebook page. And, if you are ready to loosen the grip anxiety has on your own life, I want to support you. I have some helpful tools and strategies to help you feel relief, and I’m here, waiting to hear from you. Please feel free to get in touch any time.
Namaste,
Kristal
VisionBoarding Workshops
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