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“His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy…”
Very few lyrics from the past 20 years are as well-known as Eminem’s description of his feelings about transitioning into a superstar who routinely participated in the most epic rap battles of history. If even he feels what we have all commonly felt and known to be anxiety, then why do our minds tell us that we are unique or out of place when we recognize that sinking feeling starting to set in and why are we so unsure what to do about it?
A quick Google search will turn up any number of tips and tricks about anxiety and what to do about it in the moment. Practicing any of those techniques that are listed on our previous blogs about anxiety on a daily basis can help to manage those feelings in the moment and are a great addition to any person’s day to day life. Building those mindfulness and grounding techniques can be like hitting the gym ahead of life’s challenges that come day to day. But why do we continue to believe that this feeling is one unique to ourselves?
Anxiety is Deceptively Common
Despite what we might think in the back of our minds, anxiety is a universal experience. In reviewing numbers, the numbers for the prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) are within 2% for the USA and the United Kingdom, but are rated as similarly prevalent throughout Europe. But in the moment when you’re contemplating that sickness that settles in, knowing that about 30% of Americans report that anxiety affects their mental wellbeing on any given year does very little to help ease your nerves. So knowing that 1) there are tips and tricks to help ease the symptoms of anxiety and 2) anxiety is a fairly common and universal experience, what do we do if we still feel drug down by those feelings more often than we would like?
That ‘what now’ mentality is one I am very familiar with. I too read several blogs and collect tips and tricks and have seen more than my fair share of Instagram quotes that suggest to “just let it go”, but what do I do when all of that isn’t enough to get me out of those sinking feelings?
I talk with someone about those thoughts and feelings.
I too have participated in counseling for my own benefit. I too get stuck at times in my own personal feelings. I too know what it is like to reach the end of that thought process and feel like today's feelings and my inability to relax in the moment are going to last forever. When this happened for long enough, the last thing I wanted to do was to talk with someone, but that was the best advice anyone had ever given me. An old counselor friend of mine challenged me to “let it go” (back in the pre-Frozen era) and I had to learn to do that. For some people, beliefs about how the world will work or how people view us or even how we view ourselves can need some adjustment. That is where our counselors at Mind Works Counseling Services in Lubbock, TX can come in to help you find that opportunity to learn more about your anxiety and how to effectively cope with it and get back to whatever challenges life will throw your way. If you can see yourself in what I’ve described and want to do something about it, then reach out to us today. As Eminem closes out his song ‘Lose Yourself’ he leaves you with some great advice:
“You can do anything you set your mind to, man”
Learn more about the Anxiety Counseling services we offer.
Contact us to make an appointment or to let us answer any questions you may have.