This submit comes on a heels of an analogous submit I wrote lately referred to as “I Am Not My Despair” (you’ll be able to test it out right here!). An enormous a part of my psychological well being journey is the way in which I’ve seen that language has constructed up the stigma surrounding psychological well being, which implies I’m consistently looking for methods to interrupt down that stigma. And similar to in my current submit, I need to share why as a substitute of claiming that I’m greater than my anxiousness, I explicitly attempt to reinforce the notion that I’m not my anxiousness – and right here’s why.
Because the pandemic hit in the US in March 2020, my anxiousness has skyrocketed. I’d all the time had challenges due to my anxiousness dysfunction, however nearly 4 years into my post-college life, I used to be beginning to get the cling of issues. I may maintain my very own at occasions, I may make plans with my mates. However that each one was disrupted in a manner that I don’t suppose I’ve ever been in a position to actually perceive.
The methods I’d beforehand managed my anxiousness had been gone. In that house got here extra worry, extra anxiousness and extra stress than I’d ever handled earlier than, and it turned unmanageable. Now, nearly two-and-a-half years into this factor, I’ve discovered methods to handle my anxiousness (the vaccines did an unlimited job of serving to with that), however it’s nonetheless troublesome.
I’m presently digging myself out of the anxiousness pit I’ve created and I’ll be sincere, it’s not simple. Toss in all the things else happening in the US, particularly this summer time, and it’s no surprise I’m a ball of tension. That’s why it’s so essential for me to separate myself from my anxiousness, to provide myself as a lot constructive reinforcement as I can to fight the anxious ideas.
I’m not my anxiousness. Sure, it is part of me – some days way more part of me than others. However that isn’t who I’m; there are such a lot of different aspects to who I’m as an individual, a lot persona and emotion and feeling, that to distill all of it down to 1 facet can be disingenuous.
Now, I’m not saying this argument works on a regular basis. The truth is, it’s failed fairly a bit after I’ve used it on myself, and even when others attempt to assist me get there. However that is reinforcement I do know I want, and it helps shrink the self-stigma I’ve hooked up to anxiousness and anxiousness problems over time. Nonetheless you discover it, in the event you can shrink that self-stigma to your personal psychological well being challenges, you will discover a more healthy, higher strategy to reside with it. I’m not my anxiousness, and I hope over time I’ve extra confidence to say it.