Anxiety: Something I've Learned

Anxiety: “A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.”

Everyone has a form of anxiety, whether it be for just a moment here and there, or severe with it being a reoccurring issue that hinders their way of living. There are many different forms, severity, and reasons for it. No one way is the same. I’ve dealt with it on a very small scale and a fairly big scale. I’ve learned multiple things about anxiety and people that deal with it. I decided to share one of the biggest things I’ve learned on the matter here.

 Everyone handles it differently. Some just move on until it passes like nothing is going on. Some bury it until they blow up. Some curl up, go quiet, and shut down. Some stand, pace, and speak at a leveled volume. All of those things are ways to cope or one’s defense tactics against the anxiety filled moment or stretch. NONE OF THOSE WAYS ARE WRONG. The person going through it usually, naturally kicks into one that suits them best, and there are many other ways not mentioned there that people deal with anxiety. Whether you’re a person in the room with someone going through it, or a person going through it next to another person going through it, the last thing you want to do is discount or belittle the different way the other person is handling their anxiety. You’ll escalate theirs and yours at the same time. If theirs is counterproductive to yours in the moment, remove yourself from the area until you are able to cope with it yourself first. Anxiety can’t fix anxiety. You’re the worse kind of person if you think your coping mechanism is better than someone else’s. YOU ARE LITERALLY THE PROBLEM. The only wrong way to cope with your anxiety is become violent or belittling of someone else during your moments. We can all help each other out by learning what’s your best way and what’s needed from the people around you and learning what others need from you too.