Anxiety is a feeling of anxiousness, a strong sense of unease. According to Wikipedia: "Anxiety is an emotion characterised by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil and includes feelings of dread over anticipated events. 1 Anxiety is different from fear in that fear is defined as the emotional response to a present threat, whereas anxiety is the anticipation of a future one. 2 It is often accompanied by nervous behavior such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints, and rumination" link
I vividly recall the first time I experienced this feeling. It was during my second year of college when I left school to visit my girlfriend in a different state, far from my campus. The only friends aware of my journey were my closest companions; one is now a lawyer, and the other a Gospel artist. The lawyer strongly disagreed with my decision to travel, even saying I might have an accident and that it wasn't safe. while, the now Gospel artist encouraged me and even offered some money for transportation.
It was my first time traveling to that state, and I did so without any family members knowing my destination or how long I would be gone for, leaving them to believe I was at school as at that period of time. I arrived at my first destination very late that day, and by then, the park was already closed. I had to take another route, which is a story for another time. My mobile phone had no battery, and I had to find a place to charge it for a few minutes before I could contact my girlfriend for directions to her location.
The first day was peaceful and without any issues, but after that, I began to feel uneasy, experiencing serious fears and worries about the unknown. Thoughts like, "What if this happens?" or "What if that happens?" filled my mind. Initially, I decided to call my elder brother, who was also in school but at a different institution. I told him what I had done and how long I would be staying. He was fine with it, and I thought I would feel relieved because a family member was aware of my whereabouts.
Unfortunately, that night, the feelings intensified, preventing me from sleeping. I became so restless that my breathing became abnormal, my body temperature rose, and I felt nauseous. I was sweating profusely, and my heart rate was very fast; it felt as if my heart was going to stop. It was the first time I had experienced such a thing, and I couldn't explain it. My then-girlfriend was so confused by the situation and it kept her up all night.
This was my first encounter with anxiety, and it has recurred several times ever since.
Recently, I went to the bathroom to relieve myself, and a serious fear gripped me. I immediately lost consciousness, unaware of my surroundings. Thankfully, a friend who was nearby noticed what had happened and tapped me, which brought me back to consciousness. This was a result of the thought I was having about my life, where I am now, and what next step to take. I was so worried about my life that I had another episode of anxiety.
Anxiety is a very serious health challenge and should not be treated as a minor issue. Those who have experienced anxiety, like myself, will understand this well. I have not found a cure for it, and I am open to advice from anyone with more experience in managing it.
Thank you for your time I remain @rishagamo, and the above is my response to the Hive Learners Weekly Featured Content Week 163 Episode 01 – “ANXIETY”.
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