Life Without Anxiety
What is it like to be anxiety-free?
It is an interesting concept to talk about people who do
not experience severe anxiety, as so many of us are attempting to raise
awareness and lessen stigma about life with anxiety. But it is supposedly
helpful to reflect on others and how they may be able to think and deal with
situations in a constructive way. For some, life may not always be directed by
anxiety. Consequently, assessing how they think and go about things might help
bridge this barrier towards a happier way of life.
For those who experience a debilitating level of anxiety,
it is hard to imagine how things would be without the relentless bubbling of
worry that occurs in the background as you go about your day to day life.
However, there are individuals who have never experienced severe anxiety
before, or who used to suffer but not to the same extent as before, or who only
experience a very low level of anxiety at any given time. There is a huge
difference in the interpretation and perception of events, emotions and
situations when anxiety is removed from the picture.
Every one of us experiences anxiety as a natural human
reaction to things that we find threatening. While worries and stressors are an
unavoidable part of life, they do not have to leave you feeling defeated or
overwhelmed. Learning how to manage your anxiety and maintain your coping in a
healthy way can open doors to a more harmonious and carefree way of life.
You can ‘be’ without doing
This relates to being able to relax, slow down and be
mindful without having other worries take over your mind. It is incredibly
empowering and therapeutic to be able to have down time without the thought
that you are wasting your time and have to attend to other more important things
in your life. Remember, your mental health is also important, and people
without debilitating anxiety are often able to choose to relax and dote on
themselves without guilt.
You admire the bigger picture
It is easy to fixate on finer details, whether that be in a
project that you’re working on, your appearance, a situation or even your life.
Accepting that things will never be perfect, and that a mistake or an awkward
moment are completely normal aspects of life, can be the difference between
obsessing/worrying and moving on with things.
A different perspective on worry,
stress, and anxiety
Anxiety or the experience of anxiety is no longer dangerous
or scary, but rather a temporary uncomfortable feeling that is maintained
through healthy means. A stressful day at work might be followed up with a
relaxing jog around the neighbourhood or some time spent with the family pet or
lounging around watching the TV. Once you realise that you are in control of
how you are feeling, anxiety becomes more manageable. As such, the more able
you are to reflect on and understand anxiety and why you might be experiencing
it, the better your ability will become in dealing with it.
Anxiety triggers are manageable
Many who used to experience extreme anxiety can very well
be triggered by different things that exacerbate their anxiety. For some this
can be very stressful and upsetting as they believe that their anxiety is back
for good, however this is not usually the case. Managing anxiety triggers, like
anything else, requires plenty of practice and effort. Therefore it is
important to acknowledge that over time, triggers will be managed a lot more
efficiently and effectively due to practice. Essentially, things get easier as
you learn how your body responds and how best to control it.
Chains loosen
Anxiety can have the power to bind you and make you feel
powerless. Becoming in control of your anxiety means a role reversal where you
take back the power. Instead of being dictated by anxious thoughts in any given
situation, people
attend to what they want to do, regardless of interruptions.
A good example of just being able to switch these off is winding down before
heading to sleep. It is the ability to fall asleep without any nagging feelings
that they haven’t done something, or they haven’t done enough, without staying
up and ruminating or contemplating the day’s decisions, actions, or
consequences.
That constant feeling of discomfort is lifted
It’s a sense of freedom, to be able to exist without worry
or fear. Life for the most part is free of discomfort or dread and anxiety only
ever pops up in expected, normal situations like before a test or a speech.
Once again, really understanding your anxiety can help with dissipating those
bubbling thoughts that can just sit in the background and make things
uncomfortable, leaving you constantly on edge.
An important factor to always consider is that some days
are better than others. Life, unfortunately for many, is a rollercoaster, and
will always find a way to bring about hurdles at the worst of times. For those
who have learnt how to cope with their anxious bodily reactions, it is easier
to tend to these obstacles without a barrier of worry; facing a difficult
situation rather than running from the initial anxiety it may cause.
Everyone is different, and everyone is facing their own
battles and demons. It is always useful to reflect on your thoughts and
behaviours, and endeavour to find effective self-help strategies that work best
for you. Living life without anxiety is a learning process, a battle
that needs to be diligently fought and never an easy road to accomplish. But
most importantly, the ability to control anxiety is possible and it’s
never too late to use this as a drive to grab a hold of it so you too can break
free.
Written by
Apeksha Das, ADAVIC Volunteer