I want to start this blog by stating that I am already aware that I am a very anxious person. I worry a lot and get stressed extremely easily, which leads me to suffer from regular panic attacks.
My reading on the ‘Holmes Rhae Scale’ backed up what I was already aware of. After adding up my score, I received a terrifying 325. What shocked me most about this was that my friends and the people around me were all in the low 100’s whereas I was nearly triple that. This score implies that I have a high chance (about 80%) of having a major health breakdown in the next two years. This is information is not new to me, I know that if my mind frame does not become more positive then I could be at serious risk later on in life.
I am forever in a constant battle with stress, be that good or bad. Though some flourish under pressure, I crumble. There is always a voice in my head telling me something is wrong, or I didn’t do that right or that I am not good enough. Though to some this would seem bad, to me that is just my life. However, I’d like to think that upon starting University this year things have gotten better because of the new mind frame that I am in.
My social support has increased greatly. I am now surrounded with individuals who bring out the best qualities in me, people who I am confident around and who are always there for me if I need them. In some sense they are my figurative security blanket, always there to reel me back from a stressful situation.
I would say that although there is still stress in my life, that is inevitable, I am finding better ways to cope with things. As a form of escape, I like to read, Anything from Stephen King to Veronica Roth. It is my favourite way to focus my mind into thinking about the positives and not the negatives. Walking is another thing that relaxes me, a nice walk with my dog early in the morning is what regulates my breathing and allows me to analysis and evaluate my situation.
A factor that any realist needs to take into consideration when relating to stress is what you feel/look like physically. I know that I am not physically fit and no matter how hard I try I cant shake the habit of comfort eating. Exercising is something that I enjoy to do (believe it or not) however, I have no one to do it with and that in turn makes me to self-conscious to start. A method to deal with this for me personally is to just put my earphones in and do what I came to do, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
I want to finish by highlighting that although I am naturally stressful, I try not to let that impact my life daily. I know there is always someone there to talk to, be that family or friend, to help me fight that little battle. There is also several coping mechanisms that I have developed such as bit my lip or play with my fingers, which in the right situation, helps me through my day
