@mmm7

I don’t think it’s healthy to deny emotions or to pretend that things are okay when they are not. It’s okay to not be okay.

I had a really bad spell of anxiety a few years ago when I was a student – I desperately wanted things to be better and for the negative to disappear instantly. I was clinging to this idea that I had to think and feel nothing but positivity all the time – I tried this but I still felt rubbish all the time, and I think this made it worse. I didn’t want to acknowledge whatever it was that I was scared of, for fear that I would be sent down my own rabbit hole, so to speak. It wasn’t until I acknowledged the issue fully that the anxiety attacks stopped. I’m not saying I’m fully free of anxiety, I still have my moments – it was during that time in my life I had the most intense anxiety attacks – like I had never felt fear in my life until then.

Please don’t live in denial of your feelings, or pretend everything is fine when it isn’t. I agree with Anita – you will heal in your own time.

Take care

Joe