Anxiety is something I have had for as long as I can remember, when I was a freshman in high school I finally had a name for the feeling. It wasn’t commonly talked about before that. Everyone who has anxiety has a different kind of anxiety, and it can manifest itself in different ways.

I have general anxiety and also social anxiety. When I go out I get easily overwhelmed. I get really bad sensory overload especially in places that are loud with a lot of people and a lot going on. By the end of the night I’m always exhausted. I have also been told I look unhappy, because I’m so in my head in the moment. I always worry about coming off as rude because I get quiet while trying to work through it.

The anxiety can manifest itself as bad physical symptoms as well which is always hard. I know a lot of people can relate to this.

I have a few ways that I cope with it. First, I take supplements for anxiety. There are a ton of good herbal options that you can get from Sprouts or Whole Foods. Second, I use breathing and meditation to try to calm down the feeling. There are so many great exercises such as tapping, yoga breathing, and other similar methods for relaxation. Last, I honestly like watching TV or reading a good book. Anything that is super distracting to the brain.

You aren’t alone if you struggle with this. Sometimes life also throws a lot at us and it may feel completely overwhelming at times. This last month has been the hardest in my life. Some days I have a hard time just leaving the house, but everyday I work on it. It just takes time.

Xoxo, Chloe