Dealing with Anxieties

Illustration from Kdrama "It's Okay Not To Be Okay"

Last Monday, I opened up about my anxieties.

I often think it's a topic that I won't ever talk about again, because before I felt that doing so will only cause negativity to others and I don't want to be that person. You see, years back, I usually just write whatever I felt on my past blogs. I had a phase where I wrote sad things everyday because this blog was my sole outlet. And then one day somebody commented that she doesn't want to read my blog anymore because it's always sad. I was on a quarter life crisis, and it was a time when mental health wasn't as talked about as now.

Anyway, I think I have reached a point of self-control where I am not as all-over the place even when I am not okay, but I can still share personal things online from time to time. And thank God, people are raising mental health issues more now that I won't be accused of just being negative. 

So last Monday, I shared that I woke up with physical pains on my chest, as if I can't breathe. In my heart I know that it's another anxiety attack, it happened the day after the MECQ was announced.

This time, I received messages of comfort. I have around 43% frontliner friends on my Instagram, so I also received professional pieces of advice. 

Sharing some of them here:

1) Fear Paralysis Reflex Exercise

2) Pranayama 

3) Grounding

4) Headspace App

5) Slow Deep Breaths + Meditation

6) Do fun stuff - Origami, painting, etc.

What I did:

1. Immediate action: breathe in, breathe out (try this guide)

2. Did fun things throughout the day: Did my usual Korean language class, didn't pressure myself

3. Easy workouts in the afternoon - low intensity, just to moderate my breathing

4. Talked about it to my fam, even for a  day I stopped exposing myself to things that will affect me or give me intense emotions

5. At night: Comforting music, back to watching KDrama (It's Okay Not To Be Okay), and list 5 things I am grateful for the day.