- How to beat it
- How to live with it
There is plenty of information out there as to how you can beat anxiety. We can talk all day about therapy and medication, and I would say without hesitation that you should investigate those two things.
But little is said about learning how to live with your condition. The unfortunate truth is that it takes time to deal with anxiety, and you still want to have a good quality of life as you are trying to fight it.
So the question then is, how do you go about having as €normal' a life as possible whilst coping with anxiety? Well, I am not going to sugar coat it €" dealing with anxiety is tough. But that is not to say that there aren't things that can be done.
Friends And Family
Those who you are closest to have a huge part to play in you dealing with anxiety. I cannot possibly exaggerate how much of an effect the support of your friends and family can have in such difficult times. Unfortunately, I personally made a habit of hiding my anxiety issues, which was a foolish thing to do. Please do not follow my example.
Part of the problem is the taboo that still surrounds anxiety and other mental conditions (such as depression). Because the suffering isn't €physical€ (like say a broken leg), it is more difficult for people to empathize with you. And even worse, certain people will ridicule and belittle sufferers of anxiety.
If you have such people in your life, you should reevaluate whether or not they are worth playing a part in your life.
But most importantly €" do not suffer alone. These days, many of my family and friends know about what I went through, and ask me why I didn't tell them. I really should have. It would have made things so much easier.
Remain Optimistic
Now I can recognize that simply telling you to €remain optimistic€ is easier said than done, but it is really important in helping you to deal with anxiety. You do have to €keep your chin up€, as they say. Anxiety is not a battle €" it is an ongoing war. And as long as you are winning the majority of the battles, you are heading in the right direction.
Take comfort from the times that you do deal with your anxiety successfully. Give yourself a pat on the back whenever you cope with a situation well. Concentrate on winning the little battles, and work your way up. This will put you in a better frame of mind for dealing with anxiety.
Never Stop Fighting
This really is the key. As long as you are still fighting against anxiety, you will eventually win. It is the giving up that causes ultimate failure.
For a period of weeks, I completely gave up. I started to simply sit back and accept my situation. Thank God I was able to pull myself out of that mindset before it was too late. I decided that to simply live with my situation was absolutely not acceptable.
So please €" never stop fighting. Surround yourself with loved ones. Try to remain optimistic. Then get all of the help you can possibly get