Living in shadow of death

Anxiety and overthinking have a crippling psychological weight. They steal moments of joy and stop you from living your best life.

- Thando Nondywana

Just this past weekend, I had to cancel plans with friends. A sudden wave of unease came over me and anxiety took control. Instead of enjoying their company, I stayed indoors the entire weekend, unable to shake the angst.

My body is constantly in fight-or-flight mode. My mind is loud and chaotic, filled with intrusive thoughts that trigger endless fear. I live in constant anguish that something bad will happen – and sometimes it feels like I’m going to die.

The dreams I have, certain paths that I had banned in my head and even the smallest changes in my body make me think: why did that happen? Am I going to die?

These thoughts replay often in my mind and it gets worse until, somehow, my mind regulates itself. Then it’s calm – until the next trigger.

I know I’m not alone in this experience. Many of us deal with the overwhelming grip of anxiety and fear.