Anxiety: The True Silent Killer

Anxiety is a sneaky Bitch. She sneaks up on you when you least expect it. For quite sometime now, I have been dealing with anxiety.

This is the very first time I've acknowledged this! Whew!

Anxiety affects everyone, regardless of age, height, weight, or gender. It manifests in various forms and can be triggered by different things. For me, stress is a significant factor. I tend to place a lot of pressure on myself to excel. Being my toughest critic, I hold myself to high standards, which sometimes spikes my anxiety levels. Symptoms like sweaty palms and an elevated heart rate often accompany these moments.

In the past, I used to avoid or confront my anxiety by distancing myself from people and situations. However, this year, 2024, I have made a decision to take back control of my time. Instead of avoiding or escaping when feeling anxious, I will confront my challenges directly. I am now practicing stepping back to reassess situations before deciding on the best course of action. Simply put, if something doesn't bring me any benefits, I won't let it affect me.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed to the extent that it almost paralyzes you?

Anxiety is characterized as a sense of concern, nervousness, or unease, usually regarding an upcoming event or something with an uncertain result.

Common symptoms may include:

• trouble concentrating or making decisions.

• feeling irritable, tense or restless.

• experiencing nausea or abdominal distress.

• having heart palpitations.

• sweating, trembling or shaking.

• trouble sleeping.

• having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom.

I am in the process of understanding my diagnosis, and I can honestly say that I have experienced all of those symptoms simultaneously.

In my view, the African American community doesn't address these issues openly enough. I think many of us endure these struggles silently. I aim to speak out to reassure others that they are not alone and to explore potential coping strategies. Personally, I find that clearing my mind and taking deep breaths are helpful. When feasible, stepping back to collect myself allows me to calm my thoughts and reduce my racing heartbeat.

Do you suffer with anxiety? How do you cope?