Coping with Generalised Anxiety Disorder

As I said about a year ago, I created this video:

Living with generalised anxiety disorder:    • Living with generalised anxiety disorder  

I still think it has a lot of merit and is worth a watch, but that was one year ago, and this is now. I had some level of anxiety for as long as I remember, but usually, nothing that impacted my day-to-day life and, in that sense, at the same level as most of us have. However, my anxiety got worse after making this video a year ago. I could not work, film YouTube videos, or even action my coping mechanisms. I am much better than I was then; I was very briefly on medication and, importantly, have found some professional talking therapy very helpful.

However, most notably for me is keeping on top of my coping mechanisms to stop my anxiety from getting to a point where I can't do them. Easy to say, but I promise I know not easy to do, day in and day out. But do it I must, or else I know my anxiety (as much as I wish it just wouldn't) will start to chip away at my ability to do things. One of my issues with coping mechanisms is they take time, and they sometimes feel like I am wasting that time at that moment (I have so many other things to do). But that is why I used this woodcutter analogy; it is easy for the woodcutter to look at any moment and say sharpening their axe is a waste of time. But when we step back, we know that if the woodcutter does not take that time to sharpen the axe, trying to cut down the trees with a blunt axe is not a good use of their time and energy.

I think it's essential now and again to put an unscripted video out there showing my true self in the hope that it connects with at least one person who is going through it and lets them know that they are not alone. If it can spur them/you to do something you know will help, that's amazing, but I know that's a lot to ask. All I want you to know is that you are not alone and how you feel is ok; you are not alone.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. Thank you for watching and reading. If you have liked this video, please do give it a thumbs up so it might be able to help more people.

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