I came to Steemit without a clear vision of what I wanted to contribute to this space. I was curious about the bevy of fascinating content and the discussions spurred as a result. After about a month of leaving nothing (but footprints), I have the beginning of an idea.
I want to share my experiences with anxiety, and the variety of things it has taken from and brought into my life. Today is National Mental Health Awareness Day, which has given me the swift kick in the rear I needed to start to write. I believe that speaking frankly about mental health helps to destigmatize and demystify its presence. I believe that these processes are important and necessary to help the staggering number of individuals who contend with them.
My anxiety is genetic and shared by all members of my immediate family of four. It manifests physically and psychologically and exhausts all my resources. Six years ago, it dressed up as an eating disorder and snuck into my life in other ways. It takes and takes and takes; it is a relentless only- child who doesn’t share its toys. And by toys I mean my mind, my body, my spirit. Anything it can get its grubby hands on.
It has also given back to me in unexpected ways. Or rather, my path through it has led to places I am grateful to be. For example, I am passionate about nutrition, holistic health, and fitness. What began as a fixation with becoming smaller is now a love for taking care of my body. I have also met some incredible humans and grown in vulnerability and intimacy.
So, I hope you will join me on this exploration. I intend to talk about anxiety itself, as well as eating disorders, fitness, recipes, and the ever- shifting balance of existence.
A quote I love- “Your time is short. A cosmic neuron synapse. Make that synapse as electric a you possibly can.” (Emily Duncan)
