If you’re someone who experiences anxiety, you’re more than likely familiar with just how frustrating and further debilitating it can be. I can’t speak on behalf of everyone who has this type of mental illness, but personally, I find some days to be worse than others, and the same goes for triggering situations – some are manageable, some are not.
I’ve tried several forms of therapy to assist me in controlling my anxiety, and I’ve also been taking medication for my Generalized Anxiety Disorder for about seven or eight years now. Some methods of treatment have been more effective than others, but overall, I’ve somewhat come to the conclusion that my anxiety could very well be something I’ll have to deal with for the rest of my life.
Upon giving this realization some thought, I can’t exactly say I’m surprised. Anxiety is a nasty thing, constantly attempting to diminish your self-confidence and reassurance, and knowing that it may never go away is a little depressing, I’ll admit. But, despite its formidable permanence, I can’t entirely rule out the possibility that I could, potentially, overcome it entirely one day.
I’ve read a little about promising treatments that aim to eradicate anxiety from a person’s brain, but it is important to keep in mind that there are different types of this mental illness, and each person experiences their own type differently. What causes anxiety for me may not be a trigger for someone else, therefore it is difficult to address the condition from a fool-proof approach, if that makes sense.
I’m not trying to suggest that anxiety is incurable, because that isn’t true. But, I think it is worth mentioning that it may not ever entirely go away for some of us, meaning we may have to work harder than ever to try and get our symptoms under control.
Anxiety is a form of mental illness, not a life sentence. It would likely benefit all of us to consider it from this perspective.
ontheedgeofeverything 