Hey y’all,
After my last post, I wanted to come back and go a little deeper because I feel led. Led because I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. And for once maybe I can use this very vulnerable and not very nice situation for good instead of just a rain cloud that was over me for a period.
If you’ve ever had anxiety like this… you know it’s not just “in your head.”
It’s in your body.
It’s in your chest.
It’s in your thoughts.
It’s everywhere all at once.
🤍 What Anxiety Actually Feels Like For Me
For me, it’s very health-based.
It shows up like:
- Feeling like I’m not okay, like something is wrong
- Feeling sometimes faint, weak, or even suddenly exhausted out of nowhere
- Even times when my body feels like it might just be about to shut down completely
- Others everything mentioned here is hitting all at once
And the scariest part?
👉 Not knowing why.
That unknown feeling will take your mind places you never wanted to go.
😔 One of My Hardest Moments
I’ll never forget going to the DMV.
It was packed easily over 100 people.
Security, noise, lines… all of it.
And I cried literally the entire time.
- 45-minute car ride there → crying
- Sitting in the parking lot → crying
- Walking in → crying
- Talking to the lady → crying
But you know what?
👉 I still did it.
And I made it through.
And afterwards… I got a snow cone.🤣 No really. That ice saved me.
🧊 The #1 Thing That Helps Me (My Go-To Tool)
If I could tell you ONE thing…
👉 ICE.
I carry portable instant ice packs everywhere.
When I feel it coming:
- I slow everything down
- I sit wherever I can
- I put the ice on my skin but most commonly my back
And I just let my body start to cool down and come back to itself. But like am engine revved up it does take a little time to come back down.
It sounds so simple… but it’s everything to me.
Because in that moment, when your body feels like it’s failing you…
👉 you need to focus on something real.
👉 something grounding.
👉 something that feels safe.
🧠 My Biggest Mind Shift
This is the part that changed everything:
Once you hit that 6 or 7 out of 10….
👉 The panic attack is coming.
And instead of trying to stop it, I started telling myself:
“Okay the motor is already started so now it’s just to wait for it to pass.”
Because it ALWAYS does.
🐢 My Go-To Trick (Anywhere, Anytime)
No matter where I am: I try to slow everything down. Slow means calms, slow means safe and secure to the brain.
- I will walk slower
- I will talk slower
- I will move slower
And if it gets really bad?
I just sit down.
Anywhere.
Because in that moment, pride doesn’t matter.
Looking normal doesn’t matter.
👉 Feeling safe does.
💭 Something I Had to Learn the Hard Way
This one… is big.
I used to think: “If someone is with me, I’ll be okay.”
But the truth is…
👉 You will still feel it.
And leaning on someone else can actually make it worse long-term. I know this because I did that for far to long. And the reality is it can change other people and how they look at you.
Not to mention really the only person who can truly get you through through this is…
👉 you.
💔 My Breakthrough Moment
There was a night I was home alone and panicking.
I called Preston to come home.
He did but it caused frustration in the house, stress, and more tension for myself.
The next morning though I realized something profound:
👉 Even when someone comes…it doesn’t take the feeling away!!!
That was the moment I knew:
I have to learn how to do this for myself. By myself and without any support.
🌎 What Anxiety Taught Me About People
This has changed me in the best way.
Because now I see people differently.
If I see someone acting off, emotional, overwhelmed…
I don’t judge anymore.
I think:
👉 “Dang they might be fighting something I can’t see.”
And I wish more people could have understanding like that. Just feeling like I was understood by anyone at any point would have helped me feel relief.
⚠️ What I Wish People Knew About Anxiety
Let me explain it like this:
If you were running from something dangerous…
Would you:
- Sit still?
- Have time to answer 1000 questions?
- Let someone grab you or try to hold on to you?
Not me! Because I’m literally trying to survive. Granted it’s surviving yourself in the moment.
👉 That’s truly what a panic attack feels like.
Even if nothing is actually chasing you.
💛 If You’re Dealing With This Too
I want you to know:
- You’re not broken
- You’re not crazy
- You’re not weak
And most importantly…
👉 You can get through it.
💬 Let’s Talk
If you’re going through this too, I’d love to hear from you:
- What does anxiety feel like for you?
- What helps you get through it?
- What are you still struggling with?
Because the more we talk about it…
👉 the less power it has. And that is POWERFUL!!!
Love always,
Karissa
—Just Me, Him & The Dogs
Just Me Him & The Dogs 
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