We’ve all seen these cliché, over dramatized mantras floating around the web…
I’m not one to attribute all my happiness or day-to-day sanity to one specific thing, but I will admit I enjoy running and it does more for me than just being a ‘form of exercise’. Now I wouldn’t call it ‘better than therapy’ per say (lord knows I’m a fan and faithful user of therapy when in need), but it’s nice to know running can help me feel better mentally and physically when I’m not feeling so great in either area.
I bring this up because Saturday I woke up with anxiety. Doesn’t even sound possible right? A new day, a new beginning…nothing has even happened yet! But I felt miserable…shaky, panicky, and like everything around me was chaotic. I couldn’t think straight, had racing thoughts, and just generally overwhelmed. Unfortunately this wasn’t a first time occurrence and actually happens to me quite often (although not too much recently). My doctor says I was pretty much BORN with anxiety. Wonderful. But even though I am prone to anxious thoughts and feelings I don’t let it control me and I try not to let it affect my life in negative ways. That is much easier said than done but I do try and it’s a constant work in process.
With that said, it can be quite frustrating to start the day on such a crummy note. I don’t know if it was a “back from vacation” transition that caused it or just some sort of subconscious worry that was making me feel this way…but I decided to do something about it. After my usual coping skills failed to ease my anxiety and even a call to my mom didn’t help, I decided to embrace the sun and warmth that the day graced me with and literally run away from my anxiety. Perhaps running from your problems is not the best approach, but in this situation it worked brilliantly.
The mental clarity I craved set in and I felt a wave of calm rush over my body as I dedicated a little over an hour to just being with my thoughts, my body, and the outdoors.
And sometimes that’s all you need. Just a physical removal from the environment in which you’re feeling anxious and just some simple time to literally clear your head of all the distractions and worries that so easily penetrate it.
Let’s face it, when you’re running you can’t really be worrying or feeling anxiety. You’re forced to focus solely on your body, your movements, YOUR BREATH, and just getting to through the next stride.
I came back from that run feeling on top of the world. Literally like I had taken a serenity/happiness shot (don’t you wish those existed?!). Not only did I run further than I had planned AND outdoors for the first time in few weeks, but the anxious feelings I woke up with totally dissipated I felt much more in control and ready to tackle the day and the major to-do list I had for myself.
I may not ever be able to exactly pin point the root of my anxiety, but I do know ways I can deal with it. And the more learn about those ways of coping the better I’ll be able to grow as a person and live life enjoyably.
So, no…running isn’t therapy. But sometimes it feels DAMN GOOD.
I don’t know exactly where I was going with all that gibberish but I just felt the need to share! Now, how about some other happenings from the weekend?
Mother Nature was rather benevolent with my transition back to Buffalo by not totally shocking my system with cold temps! We were mostly in the 50’s this weekend which made it a bit more bearable coming back from the wonderful California sunshine.
Ella got a much-needed haircut too! She is such a little lover!
[giving me the stink eye]
And I actually got all my reading that needed to be done over break completed (we won’t mention that I waited till the last two days of break to do so…) and I rewarded myself with a little free time on Pinterest. Some of my favorites….
[couldn’t resist]
Oh and did anyone catch SNL? Melissa McCarthy hosted! I loved her as host…especially The Voice sketch:
Hope everyone’s week gets off to a great (non-stressful) start!
How do you cope with anxiety?
Do anything fun over break/on the weekend?
Kaila
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18 responses to “A Cliche Solution”
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Without exercise I would be the biggest BBBBBBBBBBBBB EVER! ah ah ha! It’s totally my therapist. Sometimes when I am working out, I talk out loud to myself and try to figure out my problems, HA! Hey, why not?!
Totally can relate on that one! It definitely is a mood booster!
I always say that “running keeps me sane”. 😉 LOL. but what I mean is it keeps the anxiety at bay. Totally.
I get that completely! It can be so good for clearing the mind!
Running is definitely a stress reliever for me too!
I absolutely need to exercise to keep from turning crazy. Running is great and so it the gym. Sometimes a walk outdoors does the trick too!
You know I can relate to this post. Having diagnosed anxiety is so different then just typical worried thoughts and its so hard to relate that to people. I’m sorry you woke up not feeling the greatest but I’m glad the run helped. Have a great week 🙂
Agreed. Having an actual diagnoses takes the severity of anxiety to a whole new level. That’s why its hard to talk about because everyone experiences some sort of anxiety but I fear that they really can’t understand what having an actual anxiety disorder feels like.
Thank you for being so candid about your anxiety. Running really does help me clear my mind whenever I’m feeling anxious.
Love the pins! lol I missed SNL but I DVR’d it. I watch it tonight! 🙂
I absolutely have anxiety. Working out is definitely a huge stress reliever for me! And omg, I love the pictures hahah
Thanks girl! Glad you’ve found a stress reliever that works for you!
Anxiety has been the bane of my existence for as long as I can remember, and as much as I’ve improved when it comes to dealing with it, there are still times where it sucker punches me and hits out of the blue. When that happens, I find that going for a walk or just getting out of the house seem to help the most. And if I can’t do that… then I call my mom lol.
Going for walks and changing my environment definitely helps me too! But of course calling my mom is the number one go-to LOL! Moms fix everything! 🙂
It might have been the running… but I think the vitamin D boost from the sunshine helped 🙂
And Melissa McCarthy RULES!
Wow, I love this post!! I used to have panic disorder so I can totally relate to the feelings of anxiety that can be totally overwhelming. I went for my first run of the year outside today and it was just so.. magical. So mind-clearing. I started the C25K program and I’m hoping to stick to it. No, I WILL stick to it because my goal isn’t weight loss (as it usually was), it’s stress relief and enjoyment. so this post is very helpful and reinforcing to my goals! Thank you! Hugs!
Glad that running has been able to help you too!
Oh girl, I love you. [I mean that in a platonic way of course.] I have suffered with anxiety my whole life, but never really knew how to describe it, or maybe just didn’t know it was something to ‘admit’ to? I find running catharctic as well, although lately it has been a bit of a struggle–but that’s my body, not necessarily my mind. When I get home, though, I just feel amazing. Perhaps the balance for me is determining how to ‘use’ running simply for its amazingly beneficial qualities and not let my obsessive personality–gee, I have problems–take over into mileage increases, etc. 🙂
Yeah it definitely is a fine line with running…or really anything that lessens anxiety. There is always a chance that you can become dependent on it and then need more and more…and obviously with running that isn’t ideal since it takes such a toll on our bodies!