I have had an interesting decade. 30 to almost 40 has been the most personal growth I have had in my life. I couldn’t be more proud of myself than I am today. This whet your whistle will give you some insight into some of the things I have worked through, continue to work on and where I want to go. There is also some fun stuff in here because who wants to be all serious!
I like to down play my anxiety because it isn’t a daily thing I deal with. However, it is real and for last 6 years I have had a dozen or more days where it has put me out of commission and made me physically ill. Some ways I handle it on the easier days are listed in these 7 hacks to dealing with anxiety.
I started going to my acupuncturist for a completely different reason but the effect it has had on my anxiety/panic attacks has been the best side effect. It may not work for everyone but it is certainly worth checking out.
I have a job that requires me to work 50 hours a week. It can get fairly stressful but I love it most days. Fifty hour work weeks sucks up a lot of time in the week so I have to work hard to balance my time at home and use it wisely. I found some good tips on getting the most out of my day and plan to put them into action this month.
I am prone to stress and stress related ailments so it is important for me to find things that ease the stress. The thing that has helped me the most sounds cliché. Having a positive attitude and stopping some unnecessary complaining has made the largest impact. If you need some tips on becoming a positive thinker this infographic could help you.
Now that I have found ways to balance some of my time I am throwing in new things. Tomorrow will be our first day of the couch to 5k program. Luckily, Tom is doing this with me or I wouldn’t get out of bed tomorrow morning to do it. Ginnie’s tips on what to wear for cold weather exercise hopefully help me out tomorrow because I am wimp in the cold.
While I am 25 years away from retirement my biological clock seems much closer. I have tried a lot of things to increase our chances. No luck so far but I have more energy and feel healthier after all of them. I am hoping the start of the Whole 30 program is one more thing that increases our chance and makes me feel even better. It is a paleo type diet that is said to reset your body and teach you better eating habits.
My husband is the person that makes me the happiest and the best part of the last few years. I am so grateful I get to spend another Valentine’s Day with him.
Love and Romance Infographic portion
I’ve always had anxiety issues, too. Compared to my twenties though (what a difficult decade!), I’m so much more confident and usually able to put things in perspective or at least control my anxiety so it doesn’t get out of hand. Thanks for sharing my tips! I’d love to run a 5K this year, too!
I have gotten better at this since I have made some lifestyle changes that seem to give me more balance. I know Joel runs a lot, have you runs 5k before?
I haven’t. I have a major love/hate relationship with running, and it’s hard to run with Joel, because he is so much faster than me;)
Ann says
Thank you for sharing your struggles. I am a huge believer that the more people talk about mental issues the more people understand they are not alone. On another note I just wrote a whole post on how my win for the day was getting out of bed. That is not always easy for me and sometimes it is close to impossible.
It makes it easier to know others have the same challenges I have. Good luck and thanks for coming by.
Rachel says
This post tugged at my heart strings because I have felt so alone as I quietly suffer from the same anxiety. I’ve googled a therapist about a million times but am having a hard time finding one and sticking with it. The option of acupuncture just recently came up for me and I considered it, but then the thought of all those needles made me anxious. I’m going to check out this links and hopefully find some resolution in this, because every day is a battle-especially lately. I broke my back in a car accident, and so now I’m completely unable to exercise (which was one of the main solutions to my anxiety).
the couch to 5k think is awesome- you feel so great and accomplished- so good for you on this! i can’t wait to get myself up and running again.
also, the Whole 30 is hard at first, but definitely worth it in the end. it feels so great, and your body (or at least mine did) really responds to it!
you’re definitely on the right track for 2014!
thanks so much for posting about this!
rachel
http://thegystofthings.blog.com
Most of us can relate to the “I’ve got 99 problems…” quote! And it’s true, sometimes just moving through your hard day is the best (bravest) thing. Thanks for sharing. By the way, I love your polka dots and color scheme up above!
Angie Nelson says
I have horrible anxiety issues. And it can make it worse when you know your “worry mind” is working overtime and you can’t stop. Then you have that to stress about too!
I have found if I can catch that it is my “worry mind” causing the problem I can calm down a little faster. Just depends on how fast I realize it! Thanks for coming by
That 99 problem poster is hilarious!
I am glad you have figured out way to maintain happiness despite a crazy work schedule.
50 hours a week. YIKES!
Me too! Surprisingly, you get used to the 50 hours and it is worst during the winter when you are at work during all the daylight hours! Only a few more weeks until I start seeing daylight when I get home! Thanks for stopping by the blog.
Elle says
I suffer from Anxiety on many levels so I understand your pain. This is such a well written post. Thanks for taking time to post i. Have a great weekend!!
Coming from #SITsBlogging & The Comment Love Tribe
-Elle
Thanks. I am glad you liked the post and stopped by. Have a great weekend. I hope it isn’t filled with a bit of anxiety.
Adriana- Hogar-Mujer says
The first quote is in my case true! I don´t really have 99 real problems, I think most people don´t, but we think we do.
Stopping by from #sitsblogging
All Talk Entertainment says
Music and meditation relaxes me. Even reading. Anything to get away from the stresses of the day because to say we aren’t stressed is a lie. Meant to tell you in my last comment I’m stopping by fro SITs. Nice to meet you.
Adrienne says
This post really spoke to me. At 33, I think my anxiety level is at an all time high. I overthink everything and have really been challenged by my nearest and dearest to stop all that nonsense. I thrive on stress even though it wears me out. I’m working on this obviously. Thank you for this, it’s what I needed to read today. So glad I found you.
Glad it helped you. Mine started getting off the charts around 33 and I swear it is hormonal and since it is improving I am hopefully it gets better from here. Keep making positive changes.
Amee @ didsomeonesaychocolate.com says
Awww this was beautifully written. Thank you for sharing. I really love what you said about having a positive attitude and unnecessary complaining. Since I’m prone to stress and anxiety myself, I try and keep away from those that are always down in the mouth. They get sick of me pretty quick when I always flip their situation to a positive. Haha! PS I’m finishing up week 7 of the Couch to 5k You will love it, I hope! AND…starting the Whole30 challenge again, because of a comment you left on my blog. Thank you for the inspiration!
I find my life much easier when I am not around negative people. Good luck with the last bit of your couch to 5k, Amee.
Amy Ruiz says
I also have been feeling quite a bit of anxiety lately. My life has gone through some big, big changes in the last year, all good, but it’s probably related to those stresses. I used to get depressed as a reaction to stress, now I just seem to have panic attacks once in a while. It never ceases to amaze me how stress and what we think effects our bodies. Great post, by the way. Good luck with everything!