Although I’ve always had a lot of empathy for people who suffered from anxiety disorders and always tried to understand it, I never knew just how constantly debilitating it could be. I had an image in my head that it was something which reared its head from time to time.
Now that I am struggling with anxiety, I have a whole new level of empathy for people who have previously struggled or are still struggling. Rather than anxiety being something that has will appear on occasion and make me feel terrible for a brief period, it has actually been something which I deal with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The thing which makes an occasional appearance is the feeling of calm but that is very rare. More often than not, if I have a brief period of not feeling anxious, all I feel is indifference because I am working on a menial task and am focused but not invested in it. It really has opened my eyes up to how some of my dear friends are feeling on a daily basis.
One of the things which has made me realise that anxiety is a constant state of being for me has been an annoying and painful side effect: clenching or grinding my teeth. My face is always very sore because the muscles in it, which are normally hardly used, are now being used at almost every moment of every day. The ironic thing about this is that it becomes painful to laugh or smile too much. It’s really rather sad, in a way.
I guess this realisation has made me more determined to find ways of reducing the anxiety that I am feeling in any way that I can, no matter how small it may be. Thinking about it logically, this would tie in with self-care, which I realise I realise I have not been great at practising recently. I think I need to make self-care my main focus right now.
Oh, and as I finish off this post, I’ve realised that my face also hurts because my anxiety makes me bite my lips more often. Isn’t it a strange feeling when you catch yourself absent-mindedly doing something?
Love and Peace
Tales of a Bearded Man 
You’ve nailed it: it’s not anxiety that rears its head from time to time, it’s peace. General Anxiety Disorder is a beast at times. I’ve noticed that acceptance plays a huge part in toning it down. The more you try to fight it, the more power you give it.
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I will try to keep that in mind. It really makes sense to just accept it because then I’m more at peace with the condition I seem to have. Although, I don’t want to let it consume me.
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The fight will consume you.
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I also clench my teeth without realising I’m doing it. I usually wake up in the morning with my jaw locked. I now have to wear a mouth guard on a night time which has helped ease the problem. Like Kate said it’s best to accept it and get along with it.
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I just realised I accidentally deleted your comment! I’m so sorry! Restored it for you! I wouldn’t like to wear a mouth guard. I think the clenching is easing up a bit. I’ve been getting better at accepting it.
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I didn’t even realise 🤣 I’m glad yours is easing up. Hopefully it’s only temporary. I’ve had to keep wearing mine. It is helping quite alot but think I’m going to have to get a proper one fitted from my dentist. As the one I’ve got is just a cheap one from boots 😀
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So sorry you’re having to go through this. I suffer with anxiety myself and I’ve just started CBT therapy which I think is really going to work. It’s worth talking to your doctor to see if you can be referred for it
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It’s definitely something that I would consider. I am on medication for depression, which is finally kicking in. I hope I’ll be able to manage my anxiety a little better now that it’s helping.
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Best of luck to you
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