LetsTalkAnxiety

If you live with anxiety, you’re probably all too familiar with words like heart palpitations, sweaty, hyperventilation, uncontrollable worry, and restlessness being used to describe how anxiety feels. While these terms may ring true for you, they're definitely not as colorful or personal as, say, describing your anxiety using the Mr. Krabs meme or referring to it as an elephant that won't stop whining and following you around.

As our editorial director Ben says, “The more memorable the description is, the more likely it’ll be internalized.” While he uses Taz from “Looney Tunes” to explain his anxiety to himself and others, my anxiety looks more like Piglet from “Winnie-the-Pooh.” I’m a worrier and, especially as a panic attack sets in, I tend to externalize my excessive worrying.

(Do I sometimes identify more with Rabbit these days when I feel like I don’t have control over a situation and my anxiety turns into anger? I sure do, but Piglet has always been one of my favorites, so he’s my go-to. 🐷)

In nontraditional and unscientific terms, what does your anxiety feel like to you? (Don’t worry, you don’t need to find a cartoon character to describe yours!)

#LetsTalkAnxiety #CheckInWithMe #Anxiety #Depression #MentalHealth #PanicAttacks

I love the title of this group. But a lesson I am learning since downloading this app is serving my anxious self a notice:
Let’s talk, Anxiety;
Anxiety, talk less! Period.

When this happens, I can handle the day and NOT flip in bed due to excessive thoughts.😁! Good Morning and Good Night to you, #TheMighty , from my neck of the woods.

#Anxiety #anxiousthoughts #nomore

I always have trouble rating my anxiety when my psychiatrist asks so I found this visual scale that explains more what falls into1-5 clearly. #LetsTalkAnxiety #MightyTogether #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #Anxiety #Depression #sad #Trauma #PTSD #CPTSD #ChildhoodEmotionalAbuse #Shame #MentalHealth #Religious Trauma #SexualTrauma #Daterape #MedicalTrauma #InflammatoryBowelDiseaseIBD #CrohnsDisease #UlcerativeColitis #jpouch #BodyImage #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Insomnia #GastroesophagealRefluxDisease #stomachulcer #RheumatoidArthritis #Jointpain #stricture #PelvicFloorDysfunction #MultipleDisabilities #Lonliness #Grief #Suicide #SuicideAwareness #checkinonme #lifeslittlejoys #DistractMe #CheerMeOn #MakeMeLaugh #TheMighty #MightyMinute #everythinggenx #52SmallThings #liftmeup #MightyPets

One thing the general public tends to not understand is that there are a lot of differences between anxiety attacks and panic attacks. Panic attacks tend to come on more suddenly and intensely. They may also present with more visceral physical symptoms. Anxiety attacks can be prolonged over a period of time and may be completely invisible to other people (but 100% debilitating in their own way).

We recently published a great photo round-up of what anxiety attacks look like for different Mighty writers. As you can see, anxiety attacks don’t have a “look” and they feel different for each person who experiences them.

Read the story here (and share your experiences in the comments!): themighty.com/2022/02/what-does-an-anxiety-attack-look-like

#Anxiety #AnxietyAttack #MentalHealth #PanicAttack #LetsTalkAnxiety #Depression #CheckInWithMe #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder

If you live with anxiety (especially the type that is near constant), it’s possible you’ve been told into to “suck it up” before. Those comments could look like:

“Just stop worrying.”
“You have nothing to be anxious about.”
“Take a deep breath and you’ll be fine.”
“You’re making this up.”

How do you respond when those types of quips come your way?

#MentalHealth #Anxiety #AnxietyAttack #PanicDisorder #Depression #CheckInWithMe #LetsTalkAnxiety

One of the biggest misconceptions about anxiety is that it’s “all in your head.” But for those of us who live with the condition, we know how far from the truth that black-and-white thinking really is.

I was revisiting a popular Mighty piece from 2017 this morning and was reminded of what anxiety REALLY feels like from head to toe from people who get it. You can read it here: themighty.com/2017/05/physical-symptoms-anxiety

For me, I definitely experience GI symptoms, burning in my chest, jaw pain, and insomnia. What about you?

#CheckInWithMe #MentalHealth #Anxiety #AnxietyAttack #Depression #BipolarDisorder #LetsTalkAnxiety

On the following scale, let the group know how you’re holding up:

🧘 I feel centered and calm
☕️ I’m a bit jittery and unsettled but functioning
😐 My anxiety is affecting my day in some way
🌀 My thoughts are spiraling and overwhelming
😨 I’m crawling out of my skin

P.S. Here’s a Mighty story you might like to read: themighty.com/2018/12/self-care-overwhelmed-depression-anxiety

#Anxiety #AnxietyAttack #CheckInWithMe #Depression #MentalHealth #LetsTalkAnxiety #PanicDisorder