Captain – Anxiety Ahead! How to Navigate It and Grow

Anxiety can be a gift

Anxiety? It’s brutal…

Here’s the thing about anxiety: It’s tough.

It really is.

When you’re sitting alone on a couch in your apartment around 11 p.m. on a random Wednesday having a panic attack in your mid-20s for no apparent reason, things look bleak.

And when it happens over and over, again and again, things look even bleaker.

I can tell you from first-hand experience – it leads to some wild places that can be a little…um…shocking.

And dark.

Some of you can probably relate to this, and I know you have your own experiences to share.

In fact, I’ve met some of you personally and chatted with you about them.

Severe anxiety hits us all in unique ways, but that core feeling, well…if you’ve felt it, you know.

“Captain! Iceberg ahead!”

Photo by Filip Mroz on Unsplash

Sometimes I felt like a ship captain navigating my life seas, and anxiety was like a massive iceberg on the horizon. I could see it coming, but I really couldn’t figure out how to steer away from it.

Instead, I would brace myself for the impact, get all good and upset about the impending sinking, fall into the icy depths, and tread water – hanging on for dear life.

Then somehow, I would drag myself onto a lifeboat.

I took this same cruise often.

It was exhausting.

But then? Something shifted.

I realized if I didn’t change my approach to things or try to find a way out of the cycle, it would never end.

And I really wanted it to end. I wanted that more than I wanted oxygen in my lungs each moment.

So, I relearned how to live…I retrained myself on how to navigate a day.

I started small – learning a new coping skill or journaling a new insight about life. And the next time I saw the iceberg ahead, I would have a bit more confidence to steer away from it.

Just a little bit. An inch, maybe? A foot?

I would still hit it head on sometimes, but other times I would simply scrape the hell out of the side of the ship or knock some of the paint off.

There was some damage to be sure, but I kept going.

At other times, I wouldn’t even leave port! I’d just say, “Y’know? Today feels a little off. Maybe I’ll just stay on my couch today.” (I couldn’t do that all the time, of course, but sometimes.)

The gifts of anxiety

Over time, I’ve learned to manage obstacles on the seas of life with greater ease.

Now, the icebergs don’t go away. They’re part of my journey, just like anxiety is part of everyone’s journey.

But through working with anxiety and working to control it – with its help, in fact – something has happened in my life.

I’ve become stronger. More focused. More…authentic.

Anxiety forced (and still forces) me to:

• Learn to accept things about life I cannot change, but to take action when I can

• Take the difficult journey within to explore my purpose and place in this world

• Journal ideas about life that became books to help myself and others

• Dive deep into ancient wisdom for answers

• Find the best in modern research for help

• Sit my butt on meditation cushions

• Pay more attention to the moment

• Reach out for help

• Rest and heal

• Just…be

In other words, anxiety forced me to grow.

See, I believe something about life: I believe that it’s a very purposeful path, and what we see and experience is meant for us.

You may agree with that. You may disagree. It’s fine.

But here’s the thing: Whatever you believe about the journey of life, use that belief as a navigation tool for your healing journey.

How you view the world is how you start to navigate around barriers – whether it’s anxiety or something else.

Here are some examples from clients I’ve worked with:

• I’ve had religious clients start with a prayer

• I’ve had athletic clients start with exercise

• I’ve had social clients start with talking to a good friend

• I’ve had creative clients start by outlining a book

It’s your path, so it’s up to you.

Different lives, one direction

Here’s the MtE tip: Work with anxiety…don’t steer against it.

Our lives are different. Our experiences of anxiety, panic, and other flavors of the anxious experience are different. The severity and duration of episodes are different.

But one thing remains common to all of us: The ship sails forward.

The journey presses onward.

It’s up to you to decide how best to navigate to the destinations you so dearly want for yourself.

Iceberg ahead, my friends.

But there’s hope.

Steer.

(If you know someone struggling with anxiety, consider sharing this post if you think it may bring them a little more hope or comfort on their journey.)

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To dive deeper into strategies for navigating anxiety (including mindfulness and meditation), check out my book, An Audible Silence; or schedule a free 15-minute call to see if coaching might be right for you. For even more, follow me on Instagram or TikTok.

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(NOTE: Mastering the Everyday is not medical or mental health advice or diagnosis, and is solely for informational/entertainment purposes. If you need physical or psychiatric care, please reach out to a trained and licensed medical professional.)