(original blog post December 2020)

 I started down the YouTube “rabbit hole” today and came across this amazing speech about living with high functioning anxiety (link below). This has to be one of the best explanations of anxiety I have ever heard, with terms like “Life Fright” and “Shy/Loud” to describe how a person may behave and be perceived because of having anxious tendencies. I quite appreciate when the speaker talks about being overwhelmed so much from simple daily tasks, like answering the telephone or emails, that she is likely to procrastinate. I found this really spoke to me as I know I can have difficulties with this myself, as do some of my wonderful friends. There is also this strange phenomenon where in one situation you can be a strong extrovert and in another an introvert, thus the idea of “Shy/Loud”. I also connected with the speaker because, like her, I can be thinking of a task (like writing this post) and be creating it in my head for hours before actually siting down to type it on the computer. I may be open to sharing my stories and the obstacles I’ve gone through with having anxiety but at the same time wanting to shy away from invites to parties where I may not know anyone. I hope that you can take a moment and watch it (it’s the first link below). She does a terrific job of explaining anxiety and the troubles with the 2-sided coin of the behaviours that come with it.  

 I also wanted to include a couple of other video links that I thought would be relevant. The second clip is of a woman explaining what it means to be an HSP, or Highly Sensitive Person, and the importance of encouraging these traits as opposed to trying to diminish and hide them. I do feel very strongly that I am one of these people who has been gifted with being an HSP and an empath. (I am using the word “gifted” here for a reason. I have met many people who struggle with being sensitive souls as well and I’d rather see it as a super power like my one friend suggested. I’d rather look at it like this as opposed to some sort of “crippling” trait). I think this is why sometimes my anxiety spikes so badly. If I am in a situation where another person is sad, hurt, frightened or even mad, I can feel their emotions very strongly and then have a hard time separating my own emotions from theirs. It can also complicate things when I get anxious about the situation as a whole. Sometimes it can be difficult to separate my empathic feelings from just being anxious. I think just like some people will tell HSPs to “toughen up” or “get a thicker skin”, many will inadvertently add more pressure and stress to an anxious individual by telling them to “calm down” or “it’s not that big of a deal”. Therefore, I have also included the third YouTube clip because it discusses some things not to say to someone who is experiencing anxiety. I can appreciate some readers may be wondering why I am sharing YouTube clips in this post. Basically I found these to be interesting and provided me with a sense of “a-ha” and more understanding about myself. So I am hoping others may watch these and realize once again they are not alone with their feelings and anxious thoughts. Of course some of the information shared in these videos may not be new. However, I think it is still fair to share them. My wish, as always with this blog, is to shed some light on anxiety so it is not seen as such a nasty or dirty word. It would be nice for those who suffer from it to stop feeling like they need to hide in secrecy. People should not feel ashamed or embarrassed that they are not “tough enough” or need to learn how to exist in the “real world”. Sometimes just talking about it and knowing you are not experiencing these physical, mental, and emotional ups and downs alone can really help. I hope anyone reading this post finds something valuable in these YouTube clips. Please share if you know anyone who may benefit from watching these as well.

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August 2023 update:

I used the below YouTube videos when I was working as a teacher at a private college. I still think these videos are relevant, so when you have a moment I do encourage you to press on the little button and watch them. :0) I do at times miss the teaching job a little… especially the day I showed these YouTube clips, simply because we were discussing mental health and I wanted to find a way to get people interested in the topic… so yay for having YouTube!! I also am aware that not all individuals, not all cultures even understand or refer to anxiety as “anxiety”. This is the term I was brought up with and of course had used throughout my career as a social worker. Another way one can look at it though is having or experiencing negative or unpleasant energies. So if you don’t want to call it Anxiety… then don’t! It’s just a word I find useful to describe the uncomfortable feelings and thoughts that creep in when I am highly stressed, agitated, and/or fearful. I find this happens more when I have a sense that I am losing control in some way. I think this is quite common when working with universal energies and doing readings… not only for myself, but for the person I am reading for that day. If you have these spinning, heightened energies around you, then there are some small things you can try and do. One that I really like is to listen to music… and loud music! But if it’s fun and uplifting sounding then awesome! You can also sing “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart… down in my heart… I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart TODAY!!” (And really scream out the last part. If anyone is a Simpsons fan like I am, you will remember Rod and Todd singing that, ha ha). I believe the singing actually irritates any negative or spiteful energies around you… they will absolutely hate that song and want to leave your energetic field pretty quickly. (You of course can choose another song… oddly what comes to mind is “hey Mickey, you’re so fine you blow my mind”. Maybe try singing that more to yourself in the mirror … and in this situation you are Mickey and telling yourself you are fine… as in “fine” because you can and will calm yourself, and “fine” as in old school speech, you’re “hot”!) Furthermore clapping can shake up energies around you… but not just a single clap. It’s like clapping along with the beat of the music/song, or just clapping a few times throughout your house (or work space too). More or less those energies, those little nuisance-type energies that might be floating around you or trying to attach themselves will want to leave because the happiness and silliness of the song (and clapping) will annoy them!

Anyway, those are just some little tips and tricks when anxiety, or unwanted energies, are feeling too close for your comfort. I do hope you have found this post helpful today and send more hugs!!

Take care, 

xx
Brandy Marie

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YouTube Links:

– Living with High Functioning Anxiety

– The Gentle Power of Highly Sensitive People

– 7 Things Not to Say to Someone with Anxiety