Anxiety and depression can be tricky, both mentally and physically. It’s hard to feel like yourself when your mind is racing with worrisome thoughts, feeling hopeless about the future, or if nothing seems to bring you joy anymore. It’s even harder to make it through these feelings when you start to avoid social circles when you feel anxious and alone in your struggles.
But as hard as this can be, it’s important to remember that you can find help in the people around you, including close friends and family members who will support you through this difficult time.
Why We Naturally Try To Avoid Our Feelings?
Unfortunately, our intuition when we’re feeling anxious isn’t usually great.
We don’t want to feel anxiety, so we try to avoid social circles when we feel anxious and shelter ourselves from outside influences.
This creates a vicious cycle of avoidance that makes you feel more isolated and prolongs your negative feelings. The more time you spend avoiding it, the harder it is to escape.
Whenever I was anxious or had a panic attack, I wasn’t a big fan of myself. I hated myself for not functioning correctly and thought no one could understand my feelings, and everyone would think that I was just a weird person.
So, I canceled all my plans, the issue was that I did not want to be alone either, so I requested that my boyfriend also stays home. It took me a while to realize that my anxiety was why I isolated both of us, which made me feel even worse because now I was a problem.
Tips For Challenging Yourself
If you feel anxious and want to avoid isolating yourself, talk to a loved one about your feelings.
Research has shown that talking about our feelings can help reduce anxiety, particularly when we ask for help from others, even if they can’t provide it.
It’s also important to step out of your comfort zone, especially if you’re becoming increasingly isolated.
Try participating in activities that make you uncomfortable or get away from your usual routine and surroundings.
Practical Ways Your Loved Ones Can Help
We often assume that those closest to us are aware of what’s going on in our lives, but that’s not always true.
It’s important to let them know how they can help. A simple gesture like a quick phone call or text message can be an important reminder that you need support or simply want to see your friends and loved ones.
They don’t have to know everything. Just share something small so they know when you need some love and attention.
Key Takeaways
It’s easy to avoid social circles when you feel anxious, but that can make you feel even more stressed and lonely. Instead of isolating yourself, reach out to loved ones and ask for help.
Here are some practical tips for reaching out in your time of need:
1) Plan ahead of time by selecting one or two people who will be ready to talk if you need support. Plan what you want to say so that there is no hesitation if or when you reach out.
2) Don’t hesitate because it feels awkward or uncomfortable; it will only worsen over time. It’s often easier said than done, but do it!
3) If you don’t have anyone to reach out to, consider joining a support group where you can connect with others who are facing similar challenges.
