Today I Feel Anxious

Anxiety is a new “friend” that I met during the pandemic (which seems like both so recent and so ancient) Normally, I could set aside these fleeting, anxious thoughts and positive think my way out of them. But suddenly, I started to recognize that nauseous, overwhelming, panicky feeling that I only previously read about. I couldn’t sleep just thinking about all the things that could go wrong. I sometimes couldn’t breathe whenever I doom scroll through social media (and I couldn't stop scrolling). I would sometimes stare into space, paralyzed by thoughts and feelings of anxiety. It was an ugly, unfamiliar feeling and I didn't know how to really deal with it at that time. I'm pretty sure a lot of us went through different levels of anxiety during that time.

It's gotten better since then but there are still moments when this unwanted friend would show up unexpectedly. What has really helped is that I eventually learned to live with it instead of getting anxious about getting anxious. Grounding techniques have helped me get out of moments when it becomes overwhelming. Finding out my triggers also helps me prepare for when an episode may possibly happen. I also tried different coping mechanisms to see which work - journaling, taking a walk, turning off my WiFi, talking to someone, listening to music, etc.

But most importantly, it is in these moments that I slowly learned to breathe things out to God. It’s not the time for “formal” prayer but just this natural act of exhaling all of my anxiety to the One who says that we can cast all our burdens onto Him. There are moments when all you can cry out is “Lord” and I know that is enough. Praying and exhaling doesn’t always get rid of my anxiety but it does help me breathe a little easier. 

Living with anxiety can be difficult, especially if it's the crippling kind. But there is always hope, maybe not to totally overcome it, but to learn how to live with it.

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING:

Try the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique when you’re feeling anxious

Name or acknowledge:

5 things you can see

4 things you can touch

3 things you can hear

2 things you can smell, 

1 thing you can taste. 

JOURNALING PROMPT:

What are things that have been causing you to feel anxious lately? What are things that are helping you deal with it?

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

Today, I Will Write Out My Feelings

Ever since social media has taken over our lives, the default action whenever we experience a strong emotion is to post about it on our platforms. I am oftentimes guilty of this. But as we’ve all experienced at one point or another, it’s not always the smartest move. We do need an outlet to let out all these emotions but Facebook or Twitter or anything that’s a public or semi-public space is not always the best or safest choice. There are times when we overshare or we regret something we post (sure you can delete it, but the Internet never forgets) or some will weaponize this against us.

Journaling has been a life-saving tool for me ever since I learned to write out my thoughts in a noteboook. Having a private platform for all my deepest, darkest, and most joyous thoughts has helped me process a lot of emotions and happenings in my life over the years. If you’re nodding your head while reading with this, then you know and understand what I mean. But if you haven’t taken that first journaling step yet, then today is the day. Whatever it is that you’re feeling now, there’s a notebook (or an app on your phone) that’s waiting to hear what it is you have to say. 

"I will tell this to my journal" is sometimes the automatic thought I have now whenever something happens or when I feel some overwhelming emotion. And because I have also become really forgetful, my journals have become a repository of everything that has happened to me.

I will be making separate detailed posts on journaling soon but here are some that I wrote previously:

6 Ways to Journal If You Can’t Consistently Write

30 Journaling Prompts You Can Use

Journaling For Mental Health

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING:

If you haven’t started journaling yet, pick out any blank notebook in your house or open your phone’s Notes app. Then start out with a letter to yourself and pour out all your thoughts and feelings for today.

JOURNALING PROMPT:

Write a letter to yourself, to the you 1 year from now. Read it after a year to see how far you’ve come and how different you are in a year. Add a reminder on your planner, calendar, or reminder app to read it in a year.

Why Journal?

• Process emotions

• Spark creativity

• Improve writing

• Be grateful

• Memory keeper

• Have fun

What Is 100 Days of Self-Care?

100 Days of Self-Care was originally created as a unique devotional, not meant to be read chronologically but to choose what resonates with you. It was designed to help people navigate their emotions and take actionable steps to help them deal with it.

Things and plans changed so now it's going to be a series of blog posts, still with the same purpose - to share with you the different things that I've been feeling and thinking about, to help you put down some of your own thoughts on paper (or on pixels), and to have some concrete steps you may need to take.

The entries will be divided into five sections

✨ Today, I Will

✨ Today, I Feel

✨ Today, I Am

✨ Today, I Think

✨ Today, I Must

Each entry offers:

✨ A short reflection to encourage and uplift you

✨ A practical action step to help you move forward

✨ A journaling prompt for self-discovery

✨ A visual element, from calligraphy to infographics to my own journal spreads

Whether you need motivation, comfort, or clarity, I hope that this series can become your personal guide to finding strength, peace, and purpose—one day at a time.

I will start posting on September 23, which is exactly 100 days until 2026 ends (wait, what?). Join me on https://www.idaflutterby.com/100daysselfcare and on my Facebook, Instagram, and Threads (@idaflutterby)

I hope you can join me and maybe share my posts with friends who may need to read something as well.

I'm excited to start this journey (finally!) and I also know that as I go through these next 100 days, I will start rediscovering myself again. I hope you will too.

#100DaysofSelfCare #IdaWrites