A mother learning to work with anxiety
Anna 34yo, Elementary school teacher
Parent · Two years
“I thought anxiety was something to get rid of. It turned out to be information.”
Read this first
A mother learning to work with anxiety
147 wordsLife before I started
Two kids under five, a job I liked, and a constant hum of dread I could not explain to anyone.
What I was experiencing
Racing thoughts at 3am, chest tightness, and guilt about both.
What I'd tried before
A meditation app I never opened, one therapist who was not a fit, and a lot of scrolling about magnesium.
What I explored
Therapy with a better-fitting clinician, ten minutes of daily meditation, walking, and eventually cutting alcohol to almost nothing.
What happened
The daily meditation was unremarkable for six weeks and then quietly changed how fast I reacted to things.
What surprised me most
How much alcohol was contributing to the 3am waking.
What didn't help
Supplements. I spent a lot of money finding that out.
What I'm still working through
Deadline weeks still spike it. I catch it earlier now.
What I learned about myself
That consistency beats intensity every single time.
Where I am now
Steadier. Not calm exactly, but no longer frightened of my own head.
What I'd tell someone starting out
Give a boring practice eight weeks before you decide it does not work.
Explore what Anna tried
These are the tools and practices Anna named in their story. Tap any one to read what it is, why people use it, and what the evidence says.
See the whole toolkit →Around the fire
React, reply, ask questions. No sourcing, sales, dosing prescriptions or medical advice.
No responses yet — be the first to say something kind.
Make an account to comment on this story.
Your account name can be anything you like — your first name, an alias, or simply “Anonymous”.
Have a journey of your own?
You can write it in stages, save drafts, and publish anonymously. Every submission is reviewed before it goes live.
Share Your Journey