Am I the only one who struggles with anxiety? Am I the only one who feels completely out of control at times? Maybe we struggle in different ways - you might struggle with clutter being out of control where I struggle with "life" feeling crazy and out control.
I have to say that this time in my life has been one of the most overwhelming times I can ever remember.
This is the time in my life when I can feel like I'm completely, utterly overwhelmed. I have a 15 year old and a 10 1/2 year old. We have limited their activities, and yet, within those limited ones there is a LOT to deal with. Throw in a full time work-from-home job, pressure to "make it big", an autistic son, taxiing kids from place to place -- well, we've all got our own situations, and we all have our struggle to get through this time in our lives. You can't compare whether you are suffering with more craziness than others because everyone handles it differently.
I don't always handle it the right way - lashing out in anger, heart palpitations, worry and thinking about it constantly are just a few of the ways I have "dealt" with it that were {obviously} wrong. But, here are a few things I've done, lately, to help me deal with the anxiety I feel when these "out of control" feelings come along that I'm doing right.
I have to say that this time in my life has been one of the most overwhelming times I can ever remember.
This is the time in my life when I can feel like I'm completely, utterly overwhelmed. I have a 15 year old and a 10 1/2 year old. We have limited their activities, and yet, within those limited ones there is a LOT to deal with. Throw in a full time work-from-home job, pressure to "make it big", an autistic son, taxiing kids from place to place -- well, we've all got our own situations, and we all have our struggle to get through this time in our lives. You can't compare whether you are suffering with more craziness than others because everyone handles it differently.
I don't always handle it the right way - lashing out in anger, heart palpitations, worry and thinking about it constantly are just a few of the ways I have "dealt" with it that were {obviously} wrong. But, here are a few things I've done, lately, to help me deal with the anxiety I feel when these "out of control" feelings come along that I'm doing right.
- Prayer - This is by far the most important thing that I've done. The moment I get an anxious thought or feeling, I start to pray. I confess my anxious thoughts, I ask God to help me.
- Scripture - I go to the Bible and am reminded of His goodness. I see how others in the Bible struggled with this same feeling.
- Take it a day at a time - I can't look at my calendar as a whole. I have to take one day at a time. I will write things down on my calendar in advanced, but I try not to look more than a week ahead or I start getting anxious and worried about getting it all done. I go over things the night before and that usually helps keep me from getting crazy. If it's something where I have to have kids picked up or help, I will look only about a week ahead and make plans only that far in advanced. I've found if I make plans way too far in advance, things fall through more easily. Not sure why that is!
- Cutting Back - I have to cut back. I can't do everything for everyone. For me, that means I can't help as many people or be in every PTA meeting possible. I'm just too busy. My kids can't do any more. If we decide you get to join the Marching Band, that means you have to no longer participate in this other thing you wanted to. It's just too much for all of us.
- Saying No - I hate saying "no" to people when they really need me. I usually use my Hubby as an excuse, honestly, because I know he would ask "do you really have time to do that for so and so?" And I would say "No" and he would say, "Well, then NO you can't do it."
- Essential Oils - This may seem crazy, but they work. I diffuse and put them all over myself. My favorites for when I'm feeling anxious are Grounding Blend and Calming Blend. I will sometimes use Joyful Blend when I'm out - it's a joyful blend.
- Talking it out - Sometimes the best thing for me is just to talk with my husband. He's my best friend and he offers a lot of advice and he's rational about things.
- Slow Down - Can I say this any more ways? We tend to take on so much. Try to slow down as many chances you have to actually enjoy this season. I feel like every time I blink, my kids grow another inch. They are doing things I wasn't ready for them to do yet. Good grief, we start driver's ed in a few months with my son. Gasp! So, I try to spend time in the morning - getting up early enough - to sit down, read my Bible, pray, and just breathe.
- Laugh - Oh my goodness. This is something I need to do more. I need to laugh with my family, with my girlfriends, and with my husband more. It feels so good to laugh - really good. It lifts my spirit and makes me feel so happy.
It's interesting, because I was talking with my mom a few months ago and she remembers this "age" well. She remembered this busy season of life. The feelings of just being so busy with kids - from middle school and high school, especially. I know it's a season and it will pass, just like the season of having a couple of toddlers passed quickly. I will long for this season again, someday, I'm sure. Or maybe I will look back and tell myself how insane I was for letting the kids do too much or too little! I don't know. But, for now, I have to take it one day at a time. How about you? How are you doing? Are you anxious, overwhelmed by life or stuff? What do you do to help get through?
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