I’m a Therapist and I Live with Anxiety
For as long as I can remember, I’ve suffered from anxiety.
I didn’t know that’s what it was until I was in my early 20’s. My anxiety has looked different over the years but it’s always been there on some level. Sometimes it’s worse than others. From the outside, people typically see someone who is motivated, willing to help others, and successful. What they can’t see is the anxiety.
My anxiety isn’t all that different from others who suffer from this illness. My thoughts never seem to stop. I overanalyze and catastrophize everything. This makes it really difficult to relax and concentrate. I snap about the littlest things. I fear failure of any sort and never feel “good enough”. Then there are the physical symptoms – panic attacks, headaches, nausea, and extreme fatigue. Sleep evades me on a regular basis.
The anxiety was overwhelming.
Not only was it causing me stress but it was affecting my work and relationships. I have memories where the anxiety or my reaction to the anxiety is what I remember most. On my first trip to New York City with my now husband, I had panic attack after panic attack. It was so bad that I couldn’t enjoy the trip!
There were several things I tried to get relief from my anxiety… controlling situations, overworking, agreeing to do everything people asked, compulsive diet and exercise, and numbing my emotions. It wasn’t working. The depression set in many times because I felt incapable of managing the anxiety.
About 5 years ago, a co-worker (a fellow therapist) mentioned she thought I could benefit from therapy. I was already on medication for my anxiety but it was out of control! So I made the call to a therapist who was recommended to me. ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS OF MY LIFE! Therapy is hard but it’s also worth it! I’m at a point in my journey where I have the tools to manage my anxiety and it’s taken a back seat in my life. I’ll share more in the coming weeks about my experience with therapy.
Sharing this with you is vulnerable AND it’s important.
Some people might discourage me from sharing my personal experiences with anxiety since therapists aren’t supposed to talk about themselves. I would be perpetuating the stigma surrounding mental illness if I kept quiet. I want other people to know they are not alone. I’ve been there. I know how difficult it can be to live with anxiety.
My lived experience also makes me a better therapist. I understand what my clients are going through and meet them where they are in their journey. I’ve done many of the things I ask my clients to do. Coming to therapy takes courage. Addressing your challenges head on is hard and scary. It won’t always be easy but it is always worth it!
You are worth it! Take the next step today.
The post I’m a Therapist and I Live with Anxiety appeared first on Gateway Behavioral Health Consultants.
