control anxiety

did you know, my anxiety gets so bad i have to wear a night guard because i grind and clench my teeth every night.

so this has been a goal of mine for awhile.. i had other things going on my list, including to “quit smoking” (which i’ve done! a year smoke free :) but i find that with completing my goal for quitting smoking, i’ve actually triggered myself to have more anxiety, so i’ve had to completely change the way i deal with my anxiety… (you know because before i’d always tell myself, just go have a cig and it’ll all be okay)... not so much anymore, just trying one day at a time i suppose : /

i’ve found that it’s harder to control my anxiety, that it seems more intense, but that when it does effect me it’s for shorter amounts of time (say for 5-10 min instead of an hour) but the intensity is enough to make me have a panic attack… seriously, but quitting smoking helped a bit, i just have to learn different methods of controlling my anxieties in public places, as i get less anxiety spells when i’m at home…

i’ve found that it’s harder to control my anxiety, that it seems more intense, but that when it does effect me it’s for shorter amounts of time (say for 5-10 min instead of an hour) but the intensity is enough to make me have a panic attack… seriously, but quitting smoking helped a bit, i just have to learn different methods of controlling my anxieties in public places, as i get less anxiety spells when i’m at home…

it’s really hard to unlearn being anxious. especially if you grew up being worried all the time. somehow i feel like my parents missed the boat on reassurance. i never knew if i was doing the right thing or not.

as an adult i’m slowing learning how to stress less about things that in the long run don’t really matter. it’s hard to assure yourself when that essential part of your being wasn’t being nurtured as it should have been when you were developing as a child.

i’m not blaming that on anyone but myself however. humans are adaptable enough to overcome stresses about things that don’t matter. it takes a lot of self faith to know that everything will turn out okay one way or another.