Starting a Conversation About Anxiety: A Personal Journey of Growth and Connection
Welcome to In Reverie, a visual journal where I share my journey through creativity, exploration, and personal growth. Today, I'm opening up about a deeply personal topic: my experience with anxiety. It’s something that affects many, yet often feels isolating. This blog is my way of confronting it head-on and connecting with others who might feel the same.
from oblivion to awareness: my anxiety’s evolution
As a child, I lived in a world free from anxiety, depression, or stress. My mind was a playground of possibilities. But as I grew older, I began struggling with feelings of inadequacy and an overwhelming fear of failure. My anxiety manifests as a relentless pursuit of perfection, where even the idea of not completing something flawlessly paralyzes me. I know that learning involves mistakes, yet my anxiety often stands in the way, making it hard to accept this truth.
overcoming the fear of failure and criticism
Fear of failure and criticism has held me back from pursuing many of my passions. I want to get better at drawing but rarely pick up a pencil anymore. I dream of baking an amazing cake, yet hesitate because I can't match the incredible cakes I see on Instagram. I aspire to be an incredible designer but worry I'll never measure up to those with years of experience.
This blog is me taking the leap, choosing action over hesitation. It’s my commitment to work with my anxiety and gradually let go of my fears. I need to remind myself that everyone has to start somewhere, and without taking action, I won't reach my goals or improve.
a faceless blog: embracing anonymity
For now, this blog will remain faceless. To be honest, I have a huge fear of people in my personal life discovering it, even though they probably will. They might recognise my writing style or my film photography. I know for a fact that not many of the people I know have all of the same interests as me, so it might become very obvious. I want this space to be free of judgment, where I can be my complete, authentic self without feeling embarrassed or worried about oversharing.
the quest for connection
At 26, I often feel like something is missing in my life. I crave the kind of friendship that comes with a ride-or-die best friend—a person I can talk to about anything, who shares my sense of humor, and understands me more than I understand myself. I know I'm not alone in this feeling, and I want to stop telling myself that something is wrong with me. Disclaimer here, I have many absolutely incredible women in my life that I cherish and adore; sisters, friends, family (To my Mum & Siblings, I love you more than anyone in this world) and coworkers. I have an incredible group of friends that I adore, but for a long time I have lived hours and hours away from them. I miss having a best friend who I can call no matter the time or the place. The best friend that is there for me in an instant.
Through this blog, I hope to create a space for conversation—a place where we can talk about whatever comes to mind, where you can read, listen, relate, or even write in. This is the space where I want to connect with others and hopefully find that sense of friendship and understanding.
living with anxiety: finding balance
Anxiety is a beast that has taken hold of many lives, including my own. There was a time when I let it control me, and it ruined moments that could have been memorable. While I can't claim to have completely tamed the beast, I am learning to work alongside it. Some habits I’ve developed help me navigate life more smoothly, and though I might not have all the answers, I hope to offer some comfort.
Having someone to relate to doesn’t necessarily validate those feelings, but it can make us feel less alone. We’re all only human, dealing with this every day. I hope that through sharing my story, I can help you feel like it’s going to be okay.
Stay tuned for some of my coping mechanisms and habits that I have built to ease my anxiety.
Sincerely yours,
H
hi, i’m h!
Sharing my stories, tips & tricks so you can spend your time enjoying other things in life rather than scouring the internet for hours.
