Living with an Anxiety Disorder by Aaron Tanner

The year 2020 has been rough for everybody. At first, I could handle the pandemic. Throw in civil unrest and a tense election, and it can be too much for anyone to take.

Even before the pandemic, I struggled with high anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder related to having Aspergers. I was formally diagnosed with having Generalized Anxiety Disorder in 2015 by a counselor. Everyone has anxious moments from time to time. However, my anxiety can be excessive and crippling.

There are different types of anxiety disorders. For example, a social anxiety disorder can cause an affected person to avoid certain social situations for fear of being judged. Panic disorder can feel very similar to having a heart attack as panic attacks can come on suddenly and cause one to feel short of breath and having a tight chest with one’s heart pounding. Agoraphobia is when one feels trapped in a particular place, and one cannot escape. By having Generalized Anxiety Disorder, it is like having several of these anxiety disorders rolled into one.

Several things bring on anxiety disorders. They can be brought on by having a mental illness or having a chemical imbalance in one’s brain. Having a traumatic childhood can also bring on anxiety disorders. Many posts I’ve read online of those who have Aspergers say they have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to being bullied in school for having different wiring in their brain. Substance abuse related to medication can also bring on an anxiety disorder.

The current news of 2020 is sure to bring on a new wave of those diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Combining isolation from social distancing and being bombarded with bad news and arguing about the current social climate in America is not good for those who already suffer from high anxiety.

Although medication can help, there are other things that one can do to better manage anxiety for those who suffer from the condition. For starters, I have stopped watching the news. Turn on any news channel, and it seems that the commentators are always yelling.

I’ve also cut back on my Facebook usage as the wall has devolved into constant arguing. I might visit groups on Facebook that I like, such as Childfree Christians and Highway Ends. However, I rarely write things on my Facebook wall anymore, and I don’t get into arguments with those who follow me, especially if it is related to politics.

Recently, I started praying to God and trying to talk positively to myself on my way to work, with my eyes open, of course, to help my mind feel at ease before I step into the often chaotic atmosphere of my job. Some days this method works, and some days it does not.  However, this is the first time in my life where I am trying to change my way of thinking.

Journaling is also an excellent way to get one’s thoughts down on paper, so the mind is not so cluttered. When the weather is pleasant, go outside for a walk and get your mind to be in the calming sounds of nature rather than spending all your free time on your smartphone. When I am anxious, having a cup of Tension Tamer from Celestial Seasonings helps me calm down.

People don’t choose to get anxiety disorders. However, one can learn methods to help better manage it, so anxiety does not control you. It took me a long time to figure out that lesson. For more information about anxiety, click here.

What do you do to control anxiety? Comment in the section below.