A lesson I learned the harder ways was its okay to say no. I use to let my anxiety get the best of me and cave to peer pressure. Work would call and I would drop everything I was doing to go in and cover that open shift. I would stress out when I saw my calendar was full with dinner and parties I didn’t want to go to but didn’t want to let anymore down.
One day after working 14 days in a row 12 hour shifts I finally reached my breaking point and said “no” when work called on the 15th day wanting a shift covered. I was exhausted, had a headache, mentally drained, and physically could not get put if the bed at that point. I noticed others weren’t working these hours they’d make excuses like “my freezer broke”, or “I have to make brownies”. Once I finally had enough I said no and at that time I felt a weight lift off my shoulders and it became easier and easier to say no.
However, it was harder for me to do this when it came to my personal life. I wanted to be active with my friends but I also wanted my alone time to recharge and enjoy a book to myself. I would spend most nights with someone or at a party just to feel like I was a part of their lives or something like that. I started declining calendar invites and staying home. Sit on the sofa, reading a book and just spending much needed time with myself and came to find this was exactly what was needed.
It’s hard to say the two-letter word “no” for people with anxiety. We think will those people ask to hang out again? What will they say about me when I am not there? Is work going to think I’m lazy and don’t want to be an active member of the team? If you struggle with letting your anxiety run your life you won’t get a chance to recharge and you won’t put yourself first. Everyone needs to think about themselves first because if not no one else will.
Remember ladies and gents you need to recharge if not your anxiety is going to be your worst enemy. Do what you need to recharge, watch a movie that makes you laugh, cook a great dinner and sit down and enjoy it, read a book, hell take a bubble bath! Remember to put you first!
The Anxious Gent 