Anxiety might not feel like you expect

Anxiety is a weird beast. And it might now feel how you expect….

When we think “anxiety”, we typically think about just constant thoughts and worry. And yes that is the main part of anxiety. But it can also look like not being able to focus on even one of those racing thoughts long enough to do anything about it. It can be sitting frozen on the couch because you simply don’t have the energy to do anything but let the thought fly by. Or there is just one thought, but you can’t let it go. (Isn’t fun being in your 30s and suddenly remembering the embarrassing thing you did in 7th grade?)

It can also impact your mood, concentration, and sleep. Ever felt cranky but you can’t explain it? All you know is you can’t focus, you feel frozen, and your brain just won’t shut up…..but explaining that this is why you’re cranky to someone else feels impossible. Or when you're trying to go to sleep and you keep thinking about all the things you have to do this week, terrified you might forget one?

Anxiety is not only worry. It impacts all parts of you on a daily basis. Just because you might not outwardly be constantly voicing your worry about things, does not mean anxiety is not showing up in your body. Never let anyone invalidate your experience just because how your symptoms show up don’t match what others think they should look like.