In January this year, I took the bold step of starting both therapy and anti-depressants (sertraline), which is something I wish I had done earlier in my life.
I don't particularly like the term "Anti-Depressants", as many people are prescribed them for anxiety and other mental health problems, which I feel I have to explain to people unaware of the medication. I suffer with some social anxiety, and anxiety around travelling, which caused me problems with travelling to University. After 6 therapy sessions with an incredible therapist, I've come to learn that a lot of my travel anxiety has come from lockdown, as I spent so long feeling safe and sheltered from the outside world living at home, I conjured up a fear of leaving. As I've commuted throughout my second year of uni, which involves a 35 minute drive from Chester to Liverpool three days a week, I let the anxiety take over. After Christmas break, and feeling comfy and safe at home, I had a huge fear of travelling alone to uni. This fear was mostly brought on when the Liverpool Women's Hospital terror attack happened, and caused me major anxiety to travel there. However, two months into my therapy/anti-depressant journey, i'm back on track and loving uni once again.
So, onto my top tips for living with anxiety. The most important one, is to talk. Talk to friends, family, partners, strangers, no matter how scary it may feel to be honest about your feelings, I can assure you the loved ones around you are there to help. After I told my parents how anxious I felt travelling to uni, and when I lay in bed at night thinking "Shit, somebody's trying to break in", it became clear I needed some help. Now, getting help for your mental health is NOT anything to be ashamed of, if you had a broken ankle you'd get help, if you sliced open your knee you'd go for help, no matter how big or small your problem is, don't be embarrassed to ask for help. It was a simple phone call with my doctor that lead to me being prescribed sertraline, and believe me I was terrified to start them, sure they don't work for everybody, but there is no harm in trying. Within a week, sertraline released so much of my anxiety that I was able to fall asleep within minutes, no anxious thoughts, and I felt like a different me. I am now on week 6 of counselling and almost 2 months of sertraline, and I've travelled to London, Liverpool and Manchester, which felt like a huge achievement for me and I am so proud that I talked, and asked for help.
If you struggle with anxiety, and need a friend, I'm here for anybody.
Until next time, Mol <3
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