Celebrating Victories

Hello everyone! I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while. First of all, let me wish you a Happy New Year. I hope it is amazing!

For a while, I seemed to be struggling even more with my anxiety. It was hard to see myself go through something so difficult. However, I started exercising lately and have noticed that I feel more confident.

Yesterday, I accomplished something that made me very proud of myself. For a while, I was noticing that a store I usually did very well in, I was having a hard time shopping at without becoming anxious. Again, seeing myself have such a difficult time was very hard for me. I felt discouraged and honestly, a trip I usually loved making, I started to dread. However, yesterday was different. I went into the store with my relative and for a long time, I was doing great! I even noticed how well I was doing and kept on going! I didn’t allow the realization of my progress to get in the way of it continuing.

Something did happen, though. Out of nowhere, I noticed that I became very warm and shaky. As I type this I’m still not sure if this was my mind remembering how I usually would grow anxious and it subconsciously started to challenge me, or if something else was going on. All I know is that once I started overheating, things started to get worse from there. I became anxious and shaky and did have to sit down a few times.

The good news is that I didn’t allow my anxiety to make me step out of the store. I got through it.! This was a big step in the right direction for me! Yes, I wasn’t happy that I got really warm, shaky, and anxious. But you know what? I did so much better than I’ve been doing. My relative even noticed and made a comment on how I was doing so well.

This is what I want all of you to know. No matter how difficult it may seem, you have the ability to overcome your anxiety and to make progress. I know sometimes it may seem impossible. Maybe you’re stuck in a rut and you’re scared that you will never get out of it. However, with hard work on a consistent basis, you can overcome your anxiety and any obstacles that try to get in your way.

I hope you are all doing well.

-Bre

Using Good Times As Proof

Today I had a great day! I went to my relative’s house and only got anxious for a brief second. It was hardly even that. In addition to minimal anxiety, I walked around more than usual and did things with ease. In addition, while I usually return home exhausted, I felt relaxed.

I know what it’s like to experience difficult times and wonder if you’ll ever get better. I know what it’s like to feel helpless and hopeless. It’s important to remember just how strong and capable we are.

Our good experiences are proof. Our progress is proof. What are they proof of? Our ability to do well, to get better. The good moments are proof that we are stronger than our struggles. So pay attention to when you have a good moment, day, week, month, year, etc. These times matter! Be proud of your success!

The Importance of Positivity

With working on a book that will be filled with articles and poetry about positivity and getting through our struggles, I thought I would take the time to express why I feel writing about positivity is so important.

While sources of happiness, joy, and friendship surround us on a daily basis, I think we often pass them by without notice. It’s not necessarily our fault, it’s just hard sometimes when living our busy lives and hearing about such negativity in the world, to focus on all of the good. Though there are self-help books and other literary resources to help us find comfort and peace, I think that the best way to find strength and confidence within the literary world, is to find something that really connects with us; something we can all relate to. I think that reading helpful articles and poetry that build us up instead of making us feel small and belittled are the perfect thing to motivate us!

A few years ago, if you asked me what I thought about reading articles and poetry to help me through my anxiety and other struggles, I’m not sure I’d think it was such a great thing. Then again, a few years ago, I may have scoffed at the idea of blogging about my anxiety to make me feel better – man did I learn that I was wrong! It turns out that reading inspirational articles and poetry is a wonderful way to lift one’s spirits and raise one’s self-confidence. So is blogging! Expressing ourselves and our feelings, along with our emotions, through writing is a great way to connect with both ourselves and others – while helping ourselves and others as well.

Positivity – and the spreading thereof – is extremely important. We all need positivity in our lives and that is why it is important to me – and my loved one – to write this book that we are currently working on. It is a way of spreading positivity through writing. I hope you will join us in our journey of sharing and spreading hope.

 

A Really Good Day!

I hope you all enjoyed the holidays and had a wonderful weekend!

Yesterday, for Easter, I went out with a couple relatives to visit my aunt and uncle. Let me tell you that I had a great time. Usually when I go out to someone’s house, I tend to spend my time sitting on the couch. However, this time, I got up and walked around without any trouble and truly enjoyed myself. Though my anxiety did hold me back from a few things, I’m proud to say that I think I did the best I’ve done in a while at my aunt and uncle’s!

In addition, while usually when I get home I feel a little drained, I didn’t feel as weighed down by the burden of anxiety. I felt relatively calm and went on to get a few things done and then relax.

The reason I’m sharing this experience with you is because, whether you haven’t felt this way in a while or you rarely feel relaxed when going out, it is possible. With hard work and a lot of practice, you can overcome your anxiety and get back to feeling ‘normal’.

It felt truly amazing for me to spend time with my family and be able to walk around the house at times without feeling too overwhelmed. It felt great for me to walk in and out of the house without feeling the need to hold onto somebody. I made sure to really soak up the feeling of success.

What I experienced yesterday was proof that I have the strength to overcome my struggles – I don’t have to be enslaved by my anxiety. You don’t have to be either! I wish you all the best and please remember that you can get through this!

Trump Terror.

A fantastic post from the blog ‘you’re what you think all day long’!

you're what you think all day long

So today we were confronted with the news that Donald Trump is now President of the United States. To many this is a disaster, but to others a triumph.

We all have our own views and opinions and all should be respected. It seems today we’ve been caught up in the choas that is the election and we have forgotten what is in front of us.

Donald Trump being elected should not dimish how you feel when a stranger smiles at you, or when a child laughs. Yes, there are going to be dark times ahead, but since when has that been any different.

Just learn to be a butterfly in the wind.

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I’m Sorry, But It’s True

I know I’ve said this before, but anxiety is exhausting. I’m so tired of going through this and I’m tired of everything seeming so difficult. The simplest things sometimes seem impossible and I can literally feel stress draining my energy. My eyes become tired and I feel hopeless.

I try to stay positive and some days it’s easier than others. Other days I struggle and I just wonder if I’ll ever get through this. I admit, sometimes I don’t try hard enough and I don’t practice consistently enough. Sometimes I get lazy and sometimes I just wish my anxiety would vanish.

I know it doesn’t work like that. I know in order to get through my anxiety, I have to work hard on a consistent basis. Still, I’ve been going through this for such a long time and I just want it to stop. I just want to go back to not struggling so much, especially when it comes to things that are supposed to be easy.

In addition to being really sad at the moment, I also feel bad. My dad is one of the only people who understand what I go through (other than you guys and a few other friends/relatives) and I was kind of mean. Sometimes it’s just hard to hear things like, “sometimes you just have to do it” or “just don’t think about it”. It’s hard because I wish it was that easy and sometimes I feel that people forget that it’s not.

I know that this isn’t the most positive post and I’m sorry. I know I’ve voiced several times before how tiring this is. I just feel so down right now, so upset. However, I know I have to stay hopeful and I know that if I work hard on a consistent basis, I will get through this. We all will. I just want you guys to know that I understand that it’s not always easy.

How To Deal With Setbacks [Guest Post]

This great piece on dealing with setbacks was written by B.G. @  Getting Through Anxiety.  If you don’t who she is, you definitely go check her out. Enjoy!  On my blog, Getting Through Anxiet…

Source: How To Deal With Setbacks [Guest Post]

Faith

Faith is important. However, having faith in ourselves isn’t always easy. Especially for those of us who struggle with anxiety and other issues, having faith in ourselves can seem extremely difficult at times.

Yesterday I was reminded by a family member never to lose faith in myself. He reminded me that I will get through my anxiety.

While I know that I’m strong, sometimes when I get really anxious and find myself struggling, I find it hard to believe that I’ll ever get through my anxiety. Sometimes I lie down and just think to myself: Will I ever get through this? What if my whole life I just keep trying to get through my anxiety but never actually manage to do so?

These are scary thoughts. I don’t want to live my whole life struggling so much. I don’t want simple things in life to keep seeming so difficult. I hate dealing with anxiety and I hate missing out on things because of it.

I’m not  going to give up though and I know that deep down I am stronger than my anxiety. I do. Still, though, sometimes having faith can be hard. I see myself go through the same things over and over again. I see the cycle of doing well and then struggling repeat itself. I hate that cycle. I want to break that cycle. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the doing well part of the cycle that bothers me, it’s the part where my anxiety creeps back and takes over. That part’s gotta go.

Next time things seem hopeless, remember that they’re not. You can and will get through your struggles. You just have to keep working hard on a consistent basis! Never give up hope and never lose faith!

*Image found on Google Images

April Photo A Day Challenge – April 16th

“Your view”:

I took these pictures while I was sitting outside enjoying the beautiful weather!

This picture took me way longer than it should have taken! I wanted to get the bracelet on the dandelion perfectly. The warm weather gave me hope that today would be a good day! Plus, this bracelet is a great reminder that I have the strength to get through my anxiety!

So I found this little weed really, really cute. It’s a little blurry because I zoomed in so much, but I really wanted to get a picture of it!

Wanna learn more about the challenge? Click here!

Don’t Get Discouraged!

Whether it be when dealing with anxiety or when dealing with wanting to achieve another goal that we have, it’s important to remember not to get discouraged. Getting through our struggles can take time, and so can, achieving our other dreams.

First, let’s focus on mental health. As you all know I struggle with severe anxiety. However, I’m taking steps to get better with dealing with my anxiety and trying my hardest to overcome it. In many ways, I know I’m getting better. Still, I know that I have a long way to go. Do I sometimes feel discouraged? Definitely. Am I going to give up? Absolutely not!

Another thing that can be discouraging is when we have a dream goal for ourselves in terms of a career, and we wonder if we’ll ever read it. As many of you know, I really want to be a professional author one day. I want this so much. However, I’m not going to lie, sometimes I doubt that it’ll ever happen.

I’ve sent poems to different magazines and I’ve also sent in some short stories. I had one poem published, but to be honest, I’m not sure that there was much competition. Don’t get me wrong, it was still an honor, but I had to pay for the magazine, so it felt a little less amazing. Maybe that sounds horrible, but it’s true. My point is, that my work has never truly been published to the degree that I would hope. Sometimes it’s hard not to just throw in the towel and believe that I’m not good enough.

The thing is though, that I do think that I’m a good writer. I may not be the best in the world, but I do think that I’m talented at it. So many of you read, like, and comment on my blog and a lot of people have read and enjoyed my posts on The Seeds 4 Life. Also I’ve had positive feedback from family, friends, and professors. So in a way, I have a lot of proof that I am talented. Also, even without all of the encouragement from my readers that I receive, I believe in myself and that is important.

My point in writing this post is to assure each and every one of you that you have positive talents. Even if things may not seem to happen for you right away, that doesn’t mean that you should give up hope! Keep trying your hardest on a consistent basis and you will reach your goals!

*I’d like to give a special thank you to everyone who reads, “likes”, and follows my blog. Also thank you to all the blogs that have reblogged my posts and those of you who have allowed me to guest post for your blog and submit my own work!