I have a lot of restless, anxious energy today. It’s not uncommon for me to feel this way, but usually I’m not stuck in an airplane for over an hour with no way to get that energy out. And so when I feel like my anxious energy is trapped, it tends to lead to anxious thoughts.
How do I deal with anxious thoughts? I use mindfulness strategies. I question the narratives floating around in my mind. I focus on what I can control. I remind myself to breathe deep and even breaths. I just try to get through each moment, one moment at a time.
Sometimes I don’t know where my anxiety is coming from and sometimes I don’t feel like I have the capacity to dig deeper to find the root cause, or other times I know the cause deep down but don’t want to admit it or confront it. No matter the reason, taking bite sized pieces, and dealing with the symptoms of anxiety can be enough to each moment. You can only do so much, and whatever it is you do, however big or small, it is enough.
Do I wish I didn’t have anxiety? Yes, of course. But I also don’t want to cling to the label or the identity so hard, that I am unable to move on and remedy what I am feeling.
