12 Ways Anxiety Has Helped Me Live a Fuller Life

I am writing this blog post during a time when my anxiety is heightened. This is a beautiful time to focus on the reasons I benefit from feeling such pain.

I’m just a girl living with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and right now, anxiety has her fist wrapped around my throat, and I am not having a fun time. One infuriating thing about Anxiety is she can be manipulative and deceiving. She can disguise herself as something else, and for a short while, I don’t even recognize her beneath her mask. When Anxiety comes to visit me, she’s often dressed up in an illness, a disease, or a chronic condition. I am hyper-focused on my health and my well-being. One might call me a Hypochondriac or a sufferer of health anxiety. And so, when I start to experience unfamiliar symptoms, Anxiety comes knocking. But when I answer the door, all I see is her costume. 

It takes time and a shift in perspective to see through her disguise. When I step back and view the bigger picture, I realize that the specific illness I am so worried about likely isn’t the problem at all. Rather, Anxiety is what is consuming me. The thing I fear so deeply feels so genuine and so real to me. It feels like second nature to focus on my fears because, temporarily, I really, truly believe that thing is my biggest problem.

So very often, however, my biggest problem is Anxiety. And problem though she is, I must recognize the positive because focusing on the negative only brings me down. When I break it down, Anxiety isn’t all that terrible. In fact, I’ve even written a loving letter to anxiety to thank her. She has taught me a lot and helped me live a fuller life, believe it or not. Here are 12 beautiful ways Anxiety has improved my life. And I’ll bet (if Anxiety is also a frequent visitor on your doorstep) some of these examples are ways she has improved your life, too.

Anxiety is Normal! How Anxiety Benefits My Life

I am a more grateful human.

Practicing gratitude is one method I use to cope with anxiety. Over time, gratitude becomes a habit. The more you practice listing all that you are thankful for, the more you genuinely feel this beautiful feeling. Gratitude increases happiness, and I wouldn’t have had a reason to form this habit if I didn’t feel negative emotions, like anxiety.

I take less for granted.

As a result of my increased gratitude, I take less for granted. My anxiety has allowed me to peer into dark places and glance at my worst nightmares. When they don’t come true, I breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Then, the process repeats. Constant worrying has made me incredibly well aware of how precious our time is and how short our stay on Earth might be. And because I am so terrified of dying, I have a greater appreciation for how beautiful every moment is. I am sitting here right now, alive, breathing, and typing this message. I think that’s pretty incredible.

I have more compassion for others who suffer.

Friends, I GET IT. I feel what you feel! I’ve always had a natural predisposition to mental illness. It’s just how I was born, I guess. I have a lot of feelings, and some of them are BAD! Feeling negative emotions has allowed my compassion for others to grow. And though I am perfectly imperfect and I don’t always say or do the right things, I am so often able to take a step back out of my shoes and step into the shoes of others. And when I’m up close and personal with you and wearing your shoes, it’s not so hard to relate.

I have a greater ability to shift perspectives.

To be a compassionate human, you must be able to shift your perspective and peer through a different lens. My mind opens up to new ideas like a flower opens up to the sun. Sometimes, I can be judgmental and make snap assessments based on my emotions. But, if you sit me down and have a conversation with me about whatever I have been judgmental about, I bet I’ll be better able to understand your point of view by the end of our talk. Open-mindedness is a useful skill. Sometimes, I am not able to overcome anxious feelings until I have shifted my perspective. Anxiety has given me a lot of practice.

My appreciation for positive emotions is greater.

If you’re happy all the time, you might take that feeling for granted. If you don’t know what it’s like to feel mental pain, you’d think happiness is normal and inevitable. But happiness, for many, is something you must work for. It’s something you can only reach if you overcome obstacles along the journey. Only after the climb do we reach the top. And so, feeling negative emotions has given me a much greater appreciation for positive emotions.

I am more comfortable with feeling uncomfortable.

I don’t often have a choice; I’m just shoved right into the pit of un-freaking-comfortable. Negative emotions aren’t comfy, are they? But they are inevitable, and since I am prone to mental illness, I get to feel them extra. But stepping out of your comfort zone is how you grow. As long as you’re sitting happy and comfortable in your armchair, why would you move? If you want to stay the same, there is no need to move. But if you want to grow, change, and explore, you must leave your comfort zone behind and venture out into the unknown. Anxiety has made me used to such discomfort, and so I have to give my anxiety disorder some credit. I take risks, follow my dreams, and step far out of my comfort zone. I’m telling you, I would not be able to do these things if I wasn’t a super anxious human. It makes sense, I swear. :)

I have a higher acceptance of negative emotions.

Negative emotions are normal human emotions. I repeat: anxiety, sadness, anger, jealousy, and greed are all normal things to feel. In excess, they can be quite harmful. So, we try to minimize them. It’s important to find a balance between minimizing negative emotions and accepting them. Since they are inevitable, it would be unwise to panic the moment we feel something bad. Before we can solve anything, acceptance of the problem or phenomenon or whatever it is - is key. Being exposed to the feeling of anxiety so frequently has given me the chance to be accepting of negative emotions. I let them sit with me like they are my friends. If I accept them, I can extend kindness to them. And when you're kind to others, they tend to be kind right back.

I live more mindfully in the present moment.

I combat intense anxiety with mindful meditation. I ground myself in the present moment by focusing on my senses. Focusing on what I can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel allows me to step away from the pain I am feeling in my head. Mindfulness gives me tangible evidence that I am safe and in control of my actions and reactions. Living mindfully is healthy for humans, who so often get trapped in monotonous cycles or busy days filled with screens. Don’t forget to LIVE!

Anxiety has given me a reason to go to therapy.

I’m not sure if I would have gone to therapy if I wasn’t forced to when I was little. Being diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder meant I had to go to therapy to receive treatment. I learned many helpful tools to combat negative emotions in my many years of therapy throughout childhood. Then, I chose to continue going to therapy as an adult. Many of the tools I have learned would be helpful for anybody! Anybody who appreciates personal growth and forming healthy habits could benefit from therapy. Anybody who wants assistance sorting out experiences or emotions could benefit from therapy. Anybody who is a human being could benefit from therapy. I certainly did, in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Thank you, anxiety, for taking me there. 

Anxiety and stress propel me to take action.

Anxiety and stress act as motivation and fuel. Sure, sometimes they do the opposite and make me freeze into an ice cube so that I am utterly immobile. But more often, these feelings give me the urgency to solve problems or complete important tasks. Though uncomfortable, anxiety pushes me to perform my research and my duties. Stress propels me to meet deadlines and stay on task.

Anxiety has made me passionate about mental health. 

What a beautiful thing to care so deeply about! Suffering from mental illnesses has made me so very passionate about the topic. We all need passions in life to keep us engaged and moving forward. It feels wonderful to be fiercely passionate about something! I hope to do so much good for myself and others through my fascination with the well-being of our brains.

My suffering allows me to help others.

Who would have thought that a mental illness could be a superpower? Writing about my mental health journey via this mental health blog is one way I give to others. It lifts me up to lift others up! We’re all suffering together as humans here on Earth. Pain is something through which we can all connect and relate. I am fulfilled by the connections I’ve made writing this blog, and it feels so good to speak my truth. Sharing my truth could only have been made possible by none other than ~ anxiety.

Look at me, shifting my perspective. I’ve been quite an anxious girl this past week, but writing this blog post has allowed me to see from a new angle. Recognizing the benefits gained from negative emotions can change the rest of your week! Thanks again, anxiety, for helping me live a full and happy life. I really mean that.

Mental Health Blog Disclaimer

I am not a medical professional, therapist, or mental healthcare professional. The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only, comes from my own personal experiences, and may be read, interpreted, and practiced at your own risk. Do not rely on this information as a substitute to medical advice or treatment from a healthcare professional.