Do you ever feel anxious? I do. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of anxiety — that all-too-familiar, all-consuming and often paralysing state of being.
Like many people, I have struggled with work–life balance throughout my career. It is a complex matter, especially for those of us who live to work, rather than work to live. Emotional attachment can make work a major part of your identity. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but the danger is allowing it to become all of who you are.
I thought I had these feelings in check until a couple of years ago, when I felt that I was losing control. A stressful work situation exacerbated my anxiety, leaving me crippled by a constant state of worry. The coping strategies I had used up to that point just weren’t cutting it this time. I was incredibly destabilised, devoid of all my confidence and drive. Things went from bad to worse as my personal and professional life became intertwined in a web I couldn’t untangle. I would take everything personally, often an innocuous moment would send me into a spiral.
So began the sleepless nights. The constant negativity and discomfort followed. Try as I might to talk myself out of it, anxiety is a peculiar thing. You can reassure yourself over and over, but still be in a full body shudder at 11pm. I tried to keep this ever-present anxiety hidden in the background, but inside it felt like a bee that buzzed around and around in my head.
