Anxiety Keeps on Tryin’ Me

Anxiety is one of those feelings that’s just… part of being human. It can show up as excitement, fear, longing, or even deep thoughtfulness. Being anxious about situations—or even specific moments—is completely normal. Honestly, you could walk up to a random person on the street and ask, “Have you ever been nervous about something or experienced prolonged worry?” and I’m confident you’d get a resounding “yes!”

But if anxiety is so normal, why is it also considered a disorder?

Because too much of anything—even something natural—can have dangerous consequences. Let’s get into it.

When Anxiety Crosses the Line

If your excitement, fear, or preoccupation with anything starts to get in the way of meeting your needs, managing daily life, or functioning at your best—that’s when anxiety stops being normal and starts being sketchy.

“Sketchy” might not be the most clinical term (LOL), but as a therapist, that’s when I grab my proverbial shovel and dig. Prolonged feelings of worry, fear, or unease point me toward the possibility of disordered anxiety—a kind of mental blockade that keeps you from fully showing up in your life.

When a belief, worry, or fear gets behind the wheel and you’re no longer driving, that’s when a little worry becomes a big problem.

What Happens When Fear Takes the Wheel

When anxiety is in charge, it often drives us toward poor decisions or avoidance. Here’s an example:

Imagine you were bullied throughout high school. Because of that, you now avoid social settings—you fear someone will make fun of you, your mind races searching for judgmental eyes, snippy comments, and a quick exit, just in case. Over time, avoiding people has turned into being what you call a “loner.”

Except now, that once-safe solitude feels more like a prison than a refuge. You feel lonely, you crave friendship, community, maybe even love. But every time you try to put yourself out there, those memories of being taunted creep in.

That’s anxiety taking over—trying to protect you, but actually stunting you. What once felt like safety is now keeping you from connection and fulfillment. That’s when anxiety can shift from a protective instinct to a disorder.

So What Now?

Okay, so anxiety’s behind the wheel—what can you do?

Well, you could come see me (kidding… but not really 😄).

The truth is, anxiety can exist on a wide spectrum—from momentary stress to a serious, persistent mental health condition. If you’re unsure whether your anxiety has crossed that line, please reach out to a professional for assessment and support.

But in the meantime, here are a few things to consider:

Understanding the Roots

Anxiety often develops around unexamined beliefs or rules we’ve created to protect ourselves from pain or rejection.

For example:

• Anxiety-led beliefs might sound like:

  • “I’m only safe from being bullied when I’m alone.”

  • “People always end up making fun of me.”

• Anxiety-led rules might look like:

  • “I’ll never hang out with more than one person at a time.”

  • “I don’t tell people personal things—they’ll just use it against me.”

Challenging Those Beliefs

Here’s the good news: you can challenge and rewrite those beliefs and rules.

• Alternative beliefs could sound like:

  • “I can handle anyone who tries to bully me.”

  • “Anyone who engages in bullying isn’t someone I need in my life.”

  • “I trust myself to build relationships with kind, well-intentioned people.”

• Alternative rules could sound like:

  • “I will speak up for myself, even when I’m afraid.”

  • “I won’t run from people who try to intimidate me.”

  • “I’ll be vocal about not tolerating bullying behavior.”

Challenging your anxiety doesn’t mean it disappears overnight—but slowly testing those beliefs and rules is a powerful first step toward freedom.

Resources for Support

Below are a few helpful resources to explore anxiety and coping skills further:

• https://www.carepatron.com/files/challenging-anxious-thoughts-worksheet.pdf

• anxiety-coping-skills-handout

Remember, anxiety might try you, but you don’t have to let it drive you. 💛

“Whew… anxiety really be tryin’ us, huh? 😅 Have you or someone you know ever struggled with anxiety? How did you cope, and what actually helped you? 💭 Drop your thoughts below — let’s keep the conversation going and remind each other we’re not alone. 💬💛”