I’m 22 I’ve lived with anxiety and depression since I was very young. Around 3-5 in age so I’d say I’m a weathered sailor on this unpredictable sea. 

The covid pandemic has done massive damage to societies mental health including mine.

Early 2021 I had a mental break and spiraled deep inside and shut everything out. I was able to continue living my life on auto pilot like an NPC in a video game. No emotion, vaguely responded and detached from everything. 

At some point, I was tired of being a victim to my anxiety. The constant self sabotage and control my anxiety had on me is something I often reflected on. 

After sitting in my room doing nothing on repeat for 6 months I felt I owed it to my future self to get help. I used a part of the U.S. stimulus to get a therapist for a couple months. It helped a lot but eventually she said I should take medication and it didn’t sit right with me. It was so abrupt and I felt it was pushed on me. Plus I’m against taking opioids as I’ve seen a lot of people become reliant on them growing up. Plus I’m unsure if I had the will power at the time due to my vulnerability.

In my free time when I felt like I wasn’t doing anything and began to spiral I’d pick myself up. I indulged studies about human behavior, childhood ptsd, and healthier options to reduce stress. 

I’ve tried many things over the past 6 months and I’d like to share what has helped me.

I began with writing down anything that came to mind in a journal. (Something I was familiar with over the years but haven’t kept up with until my recovery)

Planning out events if they triggered overthinking. Regardless how big or small I focused by writing out the outcomes.

Prioritizing my time. Writing down everything I needed to complete and cutting out things that served little benefit to my progress.

Minimize social media/media usage.
So much is going on the world  right now and it’s easy to add to my doomer ideas. Why melt down over things I can’t control when I have meltdowns of my own I need to go take care of first.

Mushrooms

Meditation

Hydroponic therapy/float therapy
-if you have a bath at home, a quiet environment and can obtain a meditation state I recommend doing this.

Changing my diet 

Exercising 

Taking supplements

Reading books
- I prefer non fiction for educational purposes but I’m slowly adding more genres

I know anxiety is a constant struggle and one day I might be in a dark place again but I’ve sailed this sea many times. 

I’ve never liked the idea of anxiety taking my identity. It’s something that I live with but not who I am.