Feeling Stressed, Feeling Stuck

By Michael Obregon LMFT

Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious. You are not alone. About 1 in 13 people globally suffer from anxiety, which the Worldwide Health Organization reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide. However, anxiety can present and manifest itself in many different ways. Being anxious is often described as a persistent state of worry or displaying excessive amounts of fear. Everyone worries about things now and again, but suffering from anxiety can become debilitating and impact several areas of your daily life.

Feeling anxious is normal, but it is better to cope and try to hide it and hope that it goes away on its own. The anxious mind will often look for something wrong and lead to a cycle of negative thoughts and self-doubt. It is best to redirect your focus when feeling anxious and practice grounding skills, coping skills, or relaxation techniques. Instead of focusing on what has gone wrong in the past and what we are worried about in the future, one of the best ways to ground ourselves is to focus on the present and be mindful of how we can take care of ourselves now. A few ways to help calm oneself down are practicing deep breathing, meditation, yoga, exercise, journaling, practicing some self-care, or reaching out to someone. You may feel alone, but you are not, and you do not need to deal with it on your own.