Lately, it feels as if anxiousness and stress has been trying to get in the way of life, and at school every feeling of anxiety and stress somehow escalates from 0 to 100 in what seems like a second. We all feel anxious and stressed at times, and these two barriers can be detrimental to a person’s lifestyle.
When I think about anxiety and the role it has played in my life, especially in school situations, I seem to always feel even more stressed than I already am at the time. Anxiety has been a struggle for not only myself, but also many of my loved ones for our whole lives. Instead of constantly focusing on all of the negatives, I wondered if I could focus on the positives of anxiety.
I decided to do a little self-reflection. When you read this, feel free to replace my “I” with your “I.” Replace any of my experiences that are different from yours with your experiences. Or, read my experiences in your voice to better understand a different perspective if your anxiousness comes in different forms.
I am aware
Even if life seems like a blur, I feel aware of so much around me. I want to experience everything that I can, so I try to pay attention to the details. This helps me in school with retaining and understanding information, even if it takes a little bit longer than others in my classes.
I am always thinking of new ideas
Though my mind is racing and can make it hard for me to focus, out comes ideas and projects that help shape me into the person that I am today.
When I ask lots of questions, I am showing that I care
I can sit and think of 100 questions after being taught something new. I can think of 100+ possible scenarios in a situation. I worry. I’m human. And questions are a part of learning. And sometimes my anxiety makes me want to understand everything completely, and from that, out comes a variety of questions. Though people around me may look or sound annoyed by the questions, I am showing that I care about learning more and care about doing my best.
I learn coping mechanisms that I then use when I feel anxious or stressed
I have been tested so many times by my anxiety. I have been too scared to leave my room because of a stomachache or scared that I said something to another the wrong way. I think over and over again about a situation and have let it define how I made choices for the future. Though these situations have been tough on me over the years both emotionally and physically, I have learned so many different and effective coping mechanisms that work for me along the way. Yoga, meditation, essential oils, gum and mints, talking it out, writing, singing, filming, photography… all of these things have helped me in certain situations and I am able to spread the word and help others in result.
I can offer advice and support from my experience
From my experiences, I am confident that I can offer support to others. Whether it is just listening, or if I am asked for advice, my experiences have shown me that I have the capability to bring joy and hope into others lives even when I am feeling anxious.
*I hope that these positives of anxiety can be applied to your life and help spark ideas on how to look to the bright side of a situation. Many times, anxiety tries to stop us in our paths, but we have to focus on the positives and try our best to accept them.