Anxiety and the Everyday

Generalised anxiety is when you feel anxious most of the time. It is when there is no turn off button. It is worrying about day-to-day things that can be as big as financial or relationship worries and as small as planning what you are going to eat that day.

My Day-to-Day

Firstly, I am not anxious every day and I can go for weeks where I have no anxiety. However, there can be days, weeks, and months where I am overwhelmed with anxious thoughts.

On an anxious day I wake up drained, I have no urge to do anything even when my mind is telling me how much stuff I need to get done. I will be on edge and agitated all day. Comments or jokes that are meant to be light-hearted can come across as hurtful. This is because my mind is already coping with worry about whether I have said the wrong thing, or worn a stupid outfit, or I have not been exercising enough so I will subsequently put on weight, etc. I sometimes hear strangers laughing and immediately think it is because of me. Combined with this I have physical symptoms such as fatigue, gut issues, anxiety attacks, pins and needles, headaches and shaking.

Helping My Day-to-Day

The key with having anxiety is routine and practice. I (almost) everyday wake up before 10AM. I turn the tv on and watch something to help me wake up. I then get up and make my bed before I leave the room. This is so mentally I have ‘put to bed’ last night’s worries. I then do my morning routine which includes a five-minute meditation. I try to do some form of exercise each day to engage my endorphins. I make sure I eat 3 reasonably healthy meals a day and take vitamins on top, so I am getting all my nutrients. I plan out each day, so I know what I am doing so I don’t get overwhelmed. Later, I wind down. I either watch TV or read and then do my night-time routine. Once I am ready for bed, I will write in my journal. This includes everything about my day, the good, the bad and the ugly. I then do a five-minute meditation and go to sleep.

My Advice

Some days we are out of routine but by having one in place, it makes dealing with everyday anxiety easier. We can easily get back into a routine if we are used to it. Your mind will begin to crave a routine. This is because by putting small mindful tasks into place such as mediation, exercise, and self-care routines, you are managing your anxiety which your mind relies on.

Taking small steps is still stepping forward. Start with creating a structured routine and work from there. When you are ready, begin to add mindful practices that will eventually become your everyday norms.