Anxiety - the Unwanted House Guest You Need to Show the Door

Photo by Jan Tinneberg on Unsplash

It's a funny thing, anxiety. It's like that annoying house guest who shows up uninvited, stays way too long, and never seems to take the hint that it's time to leave.

But here's the thing: you invited anxiety over. You welcomed it with open arms and asked it to make itself at home.

And now that it's settled in, you can't stand it. You complain about it to anyone who will listen and try every possible remedy to get rid of it, yet, you can't seem to kick it out the door.

It's like that old saying, "You can't live with it; you can't live without it." Except in this case, we're not talking about your in-laws; we're talking about your own anxiety. You create it, you feed it, and then you hate it. It's the ultimate self-sabotage.

I have to remind myself about anxiety and stress all the time. My beloved 9-year-old Black Labrador, Bojangles, is currently at the veterinary hospital with acute pancreatitis. He is a very sick dog; we don't know if he will pull through.

I spent more than an hour crying this morning, worrying about him, and mostly feeling sorry for myself. Then it suddenly hit me that my anxiety is not serving the dog or me very well. It won't change the situation, and it won't help him recover.

Think about it: you worry about the future, ruminate on the past, and stress about the present. You constantly compare yourself to others, set impossible standards, and beat yourself up when you don't meet them.

You constantly check your phone, scroll through social media, and get lost in a never-ending cycle of FOMO.

And then, when you're lying awake at night, heart racing, mind racing, you curse yourself for having anxiety.

It's like you're playing a game of "Anxiety Roulette," and the only prize is a lifetime supply of stress and worry. And yet, you can't seem to stop playing.

You worry about something happening, and then it happens. It's like that time you were convinced you would fail your driver's test, and sure enough, you did.

You know what they say, "If you build it, they will come." Well, in this case, if you worry about it, it will happen. The universe is playing a cruel game of "I told you so."

But it's not just your worries that create your anxiety; it's also your habits.

You know, like that one time you were convinced that the world would end if you didn't clean your house. So, you spent the entire day cleaning it, only to realize that the world didn't end and you wasted a whole day.

Or, like when you're convinced you'll be late for an appointment. You leave extra early and end up waiting for hours. It's a classic case of "cutting off your nose to spite your face."

And let's not forget about procrastination. It's like playing a game of "Anxiety Chicken" with yourself. You put things off, worry about them, and then put them off some more. It's a never-ending cycle of stress and worry.

Photo by Frida Lannerström on Unsplash

We all know that feeling of helplessness when it comes to controlling our anxiety. It's like trying to tame a wild animal; knowing where to start and how to do it is hard.

But fear not, my friends, because you can do plenty of things to stop feeding your anxiety and start kicking it to the curb.

Ultimately, we all have a bit of anxiety, but it's important to remember that you're not defined by it. You're not your anxiety; it doesn't have to control your life. So, start taking control of your anxiety instead of letting it control you.

You can start by facing your fears instead of avoiding them. Be honest with yourself - recognize when your thoughts and actions are feeding your anxiety. And take action instead of procrastinating.

Now let's talk about the elephant in the room: social media.

It's like a buffet for your anxiety. You scroll through your feeds, comparing yourself to others and getting lost in a never-ending cycle of FOMO.

But here's the thing, social media is not real life. It's a highlight reel, and we're all guilty of only showing the good stuff. So, give yourself a break and put your phone down. Take a social media detox; it's like a cleanse for the mind.

Another thing you can do is to start practicing gratitude. Instead of dwelling on the negative, focus on the positive. You can list things you're grateful for; it can be as simple as having a roof over your head or having a good cup of coffee. Trust me, it's hard to be anxious when you're feeling grateful.

You would also benefit from learning to set boundaries, not just with others but also with yourself. Stop setting unrealistic goals and expectations and start being kind to yourself. Give yourself a break. You don't have to be perfect all the time.

Lastly, let's talk about the power of laughter. Laughing is a natural anxiety reliever. It's good for the soul and for the mind. You can watch a funny movie, read a funny book, or hang out with a friend who always makes you laugh.

So, next time anxiety comes knocking, remember: you invited it over. And you have the power to show it the door!