Anxiety is a natural stress response, a common thread in the tapestry of human experiences. However, anxiety can significantly impact our daily lives and well-being when it becomes overwhelming and persistent.
Anxiety is a natural stress response, a common thread in the tapestry of human experiences. However, anxiety can significantly impact our daily lives and well-being when it becomes overwhelming and persistent.
Worry is a universal human experience, and it often seems our brains are wired to fixate on potential problems or sources of stress. However, chronic worrying can harm our mental and emotional well-being, hindering our ability to enjoy life and accomplish our goals. As someone who once struggled with persistent anxiety, I’ve found techniques and ways of thinking, which help manage worry when it comes, and often keep it at bay.
Throughout my teens, I suffered from bouts of depression. Through my 20s and early 30s, I began having panic attacks and severe anxiety. I didn’t experience significant grief or trauma, although I later learned that depression was inherent in my family.
I had my first panic attack at the age of 15. I didn’t know it was at the time, but it hit me hard, and it took several weeks to get over it. It didn’t fit my idea of a panic attack. I didn’t have any difficulty breathing. I wasn’t shaking or running around screaming. I felt completely overwhelmed by doom. The only way I could describe it was that it felt like a near-death experience, as I became detached from life.