Part 2: I am not anxiety

Anxiety is not an identity 
​Now I’ve bared my soul once more, (see part 1: me myself and anxiety) everyone who reads this blog now knows the ins and outs of my struggles with anxiety, so that’s cool. 
I am in no way, shape, or form an expert in handling anxiety, but there are things I do to stay more or less on top of mine.
Sometimes, it simply doesn’t work. Sometimes nothing works.  That being said, here are 7 ways to put anxiety in its corner like a bad ass bitch, and be one of millions of functioning human beings struggling with anxiety or depression. 

 Disclaimer: I am not actually a doctor, however.. 

Lift the weight - literally. I lift weights at the gym 4 or 5 times a week, primarily for the booty gains, sure, but also because I always leave feeling lighter. Exercise is a proven stress relief, this is because it both relieves stress hormones while releasing endorphins and lifting your mood. (having a booty that makes my boyfriend cry is good for self esteem, too ). 

Get outside. When I’m feeling anxious I often experience feelings of being trapped and suffocated and logically going outside helps to combat this. Go for a walk somewhere you know will make you feel better (it might be a field of daisies down the road, it might be k-mart, I don’t know, you do you). Personally, I like to find vast open places that put into perspective just how small my anxiety and I really are on the grand scale - it helps me to get over myself. 

Beyonce. Beyonce will make you feel fearless, flawless and all kinds of other fabulous things being with ‘F’. If anyone can give you the power to take on your anxious mind, it’s the queen herself - tell me I’m wrong.

Have a yarn - choose a good friend to talk to, they literally signed up for it. Times when I have felt anxious I’ve found that having a yarn to a good listener just brings me back to earth and out of my own head. Talking to someone forces you to be reasonable and simplify things. Many of my friends have no idea that during entire conversations we’ve had about something, I’ve been secretly freaking out and that by talking to them about it I’m actually reasoning with myself and fixing my perspective.  Friends make great therapists even when they don’t know they’re doing it.  

Have a coffee - my dad taught me this. If you’re not a coffee drinker, I really don’t get that but I’m sure a cup of tea works the same. Make a hot drink, sit for a minute and then carry on. 
The art of letting go, better known as ‘minimalism’. Often when I’ve felt really anxious i’ve found it helpful to really get into some minimalist spring cleaning. My room, my flat, my boyfriends room. Within reason, any spaces you spend time in that are cluttered with anything not serving a purpose or making you happy. Minimal promotes mindfulness and mindfulness promotes positive mental health. 
Get your war paint on - if you’re going to be facing demons you’ve got to have your war paint on. By this I mean your make up- I strongly believe in utilising confidence in any form it comes in. If having your highlighter on point gives you confidence then more power to you babe, layer that shit till its blinding. 
Lastly,
Write.  Write blogs, raps, letters of complaint… One of my personal favourites is to write lists of things I need or want to get done, and then leave  them around the flat and not never look at them again. I’m writing right now because in the past few days, I’ve been feeling particularly anxious and my usual tricks were falling short as they sometimes do. This might not help anyone but me and thats okay but if its at all helpful for you then I’m happy to have your back.

Anxiety isn’t cool, but it is cool to have anxiety and put it in its corner like a bad ass bitch. Anxiety is not an identity.