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I live with extreme anxiety. Almost every day, I encounter some kind of tragedy. My kids get injured, my husband dies in a car accident, my home is broken into, or I die suddenly from some freak accident.

No, this doesn’t actually happen, but this is what it’s like to live with anxiety….

In case you've ever wondered... this is what it's like to live with anxiety. #mentalhealth #anxiety #mentalillness Share on X

Living with anxiety

Today, everything fell into place for me to take a shower. When my kids are busy, and I can steal a few minutes to clean up, I seize that opportunity. After all, I may not get another chance to shower for a few more days.

I left snacks out for the girls and told them I would wash up. Their little eyes barely moved from the television screen as they nodded with understanding.

I ran upstairs, stripped off my clothes, and stepped into the shower.

No sooner did I lather my hair with shampoo, my mind started to run wild.

Did I lock the door when they came in from playing in the yard? What if the door is unlocked? And then someone comes into the house? What if someone kidnaps my kids or, worse yet, hurts them? The shower was so loud that I would be clueless if anything happened downstairs.

I stepped out of the shower with my hair full of suds and wrapped a towel around myself.

The kids looked briefly stunned as their sopping wet mom came down the stairs to check the front door.

It was locked… of course it was.

I briefly direct my kids that if anyone rings the doorbell, they are NOT to answer it. They give a nod. I make them repeat my instructions and then trudge back upstairs. Then I step back into the shower to rinse the soap out of my hair, relieved that I didn’t have to think about the door anymore.

No sooner does the water hit my head my mind starts to wander again.

What if one of the girls chokes on their snack? I briefly pondered the crackers I gave them and told myself that one of them would undoubtedly come running up the stairs in a panic if someone was choking. Or would they? They’re so absorbed in their show that would either of them even realize something was wrong with the other one? I shake the thought from my head and convince myself that they will be okay.

Then, I lift my leg onto the tub’s edge and start to shave. I imagine losing my balance and falling in the shower.

What if I slip, hit my head, and die? What would my girls do? Panic sets in.

I can’t let my children discover the body of their mom! I begin to cry, thinking of my girls growing up without a mom. I’m crushed by the thought of missing any of their lives… graduation, marriage, and grandchildren; I don’t want to miss one second of it.

Suddenly, I stop.

What am I doing?!

Friends, I struggle with anxiety. Every day is a battle to stay grounded and not let scenarios like the ones I just shared take over my days.

Anxiety is a struggle. It is an everyday, win-or-lose struggle.

My emotions are heightened by the fact that I’m a Christian. I wrestle with my mind silently because I perceive that others will judge me harshly. I fear that others may perceive my walk with God as flawed or that I’m a failure because God heals, right? Moreover, I feel like how can I tell others about Jesus if fleeting thoughts of injury, death, and loss torment me? I feel like an outsider in my spiritual community because I have a mental illness.

I HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS

Yes, I have a mental illness. It’s taken me a long time to write those words.

I’ve shared about my battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, but I’ve been frightened to tell others about the anxiety I deal with. Why? Because I already feel alone in my illness.

I’ve tried medication, and it made me feel worse. Thus, the alternative is that I have to approach the anxiety holistically. So I swim and drown, sink and float, soar and plummet through my days.

STRATEGIES TO MANAGE ANXIETY

I have strategies… an arsenal to fight against the thoughts that sometimes take over my head.

My main strategies are reading my Bible, praying, and singing worship songs. If my schedule gets busy and I’m not spending as much time with the Lord, I can immediately feel the anxiety climb. So, at a minimum, I try to spend time with God first thing in the morning, after lunch, and near the end of the day.

I avoid watching or reading the news and try to fill myself with joyful and uplifting stories rather than frightening or sad ones.

Also, I try to eat healthy, exercise, and write. If I’m mindful of what I do with my spare time, I can fill my mind with healthy thoughts instead of unhealthy ones.

I do what I can to manage the beast in my brain.

Yes, I can go a few days with just the occasional frightening thought, but when I’m not taking care of myself, the anxiety crawls back and seems to be ten times worse.

I haven’t been taking care of myself lately. My recent anxiety attack showed me that I have to reset… and, like anything else I do, plan for wellness.

This is a battle. This is a journey.

While I hold onto the hope for healing, I pray that the war will be over one day, and peace will settle in my heart and mind.

Update. My doctor asked me if I wanted to try anxiety medication. I thought I would try it, and after a couple of months, I felt terrific. I can’t believe I lived in this tortured state for so long, and I genuinely wish I had sought out medications earlier. If you’re struggling, talk to your doctor. It may take time to find the right medication and dosage, but it is really worth it.

 



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Jennifer Bly
Jennifer Bly
Author of My Kitchen, My Classroom: An Introduction to Homeschool and creator of The Deliberate Mom. Jennifer writes about parenting, homeschooling, her faith, and life with her husband and two girls. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Applied Human Service Administration Degree with a specialization in Early Learning in Child Care.

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