This is my second attempt at blogging. My first blog was dedicated to beauty and random lifestyle topics about two years ago before my husband and I were married. I decided to delete that blog because I didn't think I had many helpful topics to contribute to the world. However, due to recent life changes, I want to share my experiences with others in hopes of helping someone, even if it's only a little bit.
Let's get personal and talk about something many people don't quite understand: anxiety. It all started a long time ago, AKA like jr. high school (I'm 25, by the way), but that's too much to cover here at this time. My husband and I just purchased our first home in March 2015 and it has been a whirlwind. The house is AMAZING and we are so obsessed, but the whole process triggered something in me that I didn't know existed, honestly: CRIPPLING ANXIETY.
My family, friends, and husband can attest to the fact that I have always been sort of a perfectionist and high-strung. Ew, that hurts to admit a little bit. But so true. However, recently, I started having severe panic attacks. Panic attacks that were mentally and physically crippling.
I first went to my primary care physician thinking I had some sort of virus or something that was causing this tension and stomach illness that I thought I had, but nope. Completely physically healthy here. Counting my blessings on that one....
It turns out, I have been developing social anxiety and a little bit of agoraphobia that happened all at once. Maybe it was just building up over the years, waiting to make its grand debut, but it is not welcome here. SOOO not welcome. Please leave now, thanks.
The biggest challenge with this mental bump-in-the-road is the feeling of complete embarrassment and misunderstanding from others. If you have not dealt with severe anxiety first hand, then I can see how it would be very hard to understand. But, people suffering from anxiety should be treated with the same sympathy and support as someone going through a physical ailment. Because it is an ailment. We don't have control over our minds or our bodies, and it's hard to explain. Sometimes I have lied to friends and family, saying that I have the stomach flu and can't come out because I am too embarrassed to explain that I am anxious. Other times I've tried to explain it to people who have looked at me with blank faces of annoyance or confusion.
So, I decided to start this blog. I have been talking to a therapist, reading books, and have been working on my health and happiness with the help of good friends and a loving, supportive, amazing husband. It's going to be a hard road, but I want to help others out there that are dealing with the same problems.
I won't only be rambling about anxiety, but I'll also talk about some fun topics like home decor, DIY projects, fitness, and more. Bear with me and thank you for reading. :)
xo,
Liz
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