As I have talked about many times in the past, I have struggled with anxiety since I was a child and it surfaces during exciting moments in my life.
As soon as I found out I was going to be on TV, I felt that anxiety creeping back. Because of my past with disordered eating, I used to always channel that anxiety on my outward appearance.
However, over the past few years I have worked very hard to change the negative mindset. I saw a counselor, I applied my psychology teachings, and I did a lot of inner work with myself. The change I have seen has been huge.
With this being said, there are still times in my life when I too am susceptible to negative thoughts and channeling my anxiety in a poor manner. This was evident yesterday. I was all over the place with my feelings and I definitely did not feel grounded in myself.
I always struggle with how much to reveal on this website. Do I hide my feelings because I am worried of sending the wrong message or do I share my struggles with the world in hopes that others can relate and we turn it into a learning experience?
I prefer to turn it into a learning experience, rather than hide who I am.
What I meant to include in my post last night was how I was channeling this anxiety.
When I feel anxious, instead of giving into negative thoughts…I now engage in productive activities to activate positive thoughts!
I thought I would share with you a few things I have been doing.
1) My mom sent me a poem she wrote for Operation Beautiful:
My mom is so good with words!
I love it! It never fails to make me smile. :)
2) Then I took control of my anxiety and wrote myself a positive quote:
This is one of my fav. quotes of all time:
It reminds me to think of the people I love and why I love them. It is often because they have an inner spirit that radiates from the inside!!
A couple other things I did:
3. Progressive Relaxation (try it out it’s awesome!)
4. Writing.
I also made another list of negative thoughts countered with a positive thought. This technique ALWAYS works for me and I do it often.
5. Exercise.
This morning I had a great workout, including some much needed yoga!!! Yoga never fails to relax every cell in my being.
~~~~
I don’t think it is realistic to expect perfection from ourselves and that includes times when we temporarily divert off our desired path. What is important is how we deal with those times and rise above it!!!!
I may always struggle with negative thoughts creeping back into my head, but I now have the tools to challenge them and kick their butt to the curb.
I feel back to my regular self today and I feel more excited than ever.
Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
~~~
Do you ever struggle with anxiety during exciting moments (or stressful ones)? How do you overcome it?
PS- Contest winners coming soon- I didn’t forget! Ok ok I did but it’s coming soon! ;)
You are going to do great in your TV Interview!! Your deserve all the “celeb status” you can get! You really are a beautiful person inside and out and have inspired myself and so many other people to follow our dreams.
Have a nice day!
i love the way you choose your thoughts and articulate them so well for all of us who go through the same things!
Angela, we are so similar. I have also struggled with depression/anxiety and disordered eating. Yoga is my saving grace–I swear by it. And also the other things you mentioned–exercise, writing, counteracting negative thoughts. I think it’s great that you’re so willing to share–don’t ever stop being you!
This is such a great post, Ange! I have always had massize anxiety, too. Really bad – I am sure a worry-wart. All of your tips will really help, I’m sure!
Thanks for this post! I too have been struggling a bit lately and I decided yesterday that I was going to write a post sharing it on my blog soon. So strange…I made myself an operation beautiful note last night and put it on my mirror to help me through.
fabulous post! it seems lately when i get stressed i reach for candy. hopefully these tips will help me NOT to.
your house looks beautiful by the way. and very clean!
Good for you!! I get anxiety,too.I have to give myself pep talks sometimes:-) cc
Good luck Angela! I hope they will air your segment on CTV in Montreal!!
I’ve been struggling with anxiety problems for years now and here’s a trick that might help: remember an event when you were excited/anxious about an event but in a good way (before your wedding, as a child before Christmas, for me it’s before my husband kneeled down and proposed). Now remember how this event made you feel inside? Butterflies in your stomach, increased heart rate… these are the SAME feelings you get when you get anxious in a negative way.
The body doesn’t make a difference between an event that you perceive as good or scary: it just reacts, it gets excited.
By repeatedly closing your eyes, picturing yourself being scared and anxious in an upcoming situation, remember the time your body felt the same way and associate this feeling to a POSITIVE event.
In time, this might help shift the way your mind perceives this bodily feeling (which cannot be controled anyways). This trick is helping me a lot and like you, my anxiousness comes from a past eating disorder, so believe me, you are not alone and there is hope!
Good luck!!
I love your mom’s poem! I get anxiety too, and I like your idea of a list of negative ideas countered by a positive one. I really need to try that out.
Thanks!
Anxiety sucks!!! I hate it! Whenever I feel anxious or stressed out, if possible I take a long hot bath. If that isn’t possible, I go to my car and cry really hard. I mean, really really hard. 9 times out of 10 when I’m done crying, I’m not stressed or anxious anymore. :)
Angela, random question–is there a tea you would recommend that is high in caffeine? The reason is that I’m going to start working the night shift and I may need a boost some time during the night, but I’m not a fan of coffee.
What a beautiful note by your mother. I suffered from terrible anxiety in my past – so bad I almost went to the ER a few times because I just didn’t know what to do. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing this. It’s all about finding your inner peace of mind.
I always think of one of my favorite quotes: PEACE. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
What a great post! I don’t know one person who doesn’t have negative thoughts creep in their heam. Everyone has them… it’s learning how to deal with them that’s important.
You’re going to do awesome w/your TV interview!
with green smoothies…it helps calm the nervous system!
Enjoy!
I am glad you decided to share this with the world. we need to hear it and see how you triumphed! WAY TO GO.
I have horrible anxieties that I have been tackleing HEAD ON for a while but DEFINITELY this year. It’s been exhausting and rewarding AND LIBERATING
I am proud of ya! and yes BRING IT ON!!!
Angela, I loved this post. I, too, am a psychologist, and I always get nervous before giving presentations or leading meetings. Sometimes it is so difficult to practice what we preach, and alleviate anxiety with research-based methods!
Usually when I get nervous, I try to remember all of the times that I was super duper anxious but yet was successful in completing whatever task it was that I was nervous about. More often then not, my anxiety wasn’t even necessary because I rocked it in the end!
You are going to rock it today! I hope that you are able to somehow post your interview for us on the blog!
I am excited for all these tips, I have horrible anxiety and really struggle with keeping it under control.
Thank you for the tips-they are so helpful! I am such an anxious person by nature. I try to breathe through the stress.
I’m glad you decided to be honest and talk about your struggle with this. Many people who seem really put together and who are strong and in control are actually the people that aren’t! I know I am that person, and anxiety does take me over sometimes. I have found exercise to help IMMENSELY with these feelings. It gives me an outlet, clears my head, and gives those emotions somewhere to go. And sometimes I just need to have a quick breakdown, sometimes it is all I can do! Many people I know “in real life” would be surprised to hear that about me…you just never know what is going on with someone behind the facade.
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
Thanks for sharing your tips. They are all definitely something we shouls take into consideration during stressful times.
You will do awesome with your interview :)
Those are great tips and love the quotes. Your mom has a way with words. :) Just know that you have a positive message and be confident in what you’re saying. If you have inner confidence, that will radiate out.