Anxiety

Anxiety is a kind of vogue diagnosis.  A lot of people have anxiety, it seems.  There is a mental health movement right now, and anxiety has become quite vogue.

A lot of people have anxiety.

I like this graphic because it illustrates a lot of different people who suffer from anxiety, although, of course, even this is limited in its scope.  Everyone experiences periods of anxiety, regardless of their clinical or mental health history.  This does not mean that everyone has an anxiety disorder, of course, but stress is a normal part of life and anxiety is simply a heightened form of stress.

Some people have anxiety disorders.  Some people don't.  But everyone experiences stress and anxiety at some point, so it really shouldn't be hard for us to all understand each other.

I have an anxiety disorder.  I also have Sensory Processing Disorder, OCD, ASD, and I have experienced periods of clinical depression.  My fiance has none of these diagnoses, but he sometimes finds his schoolwork extremely stressful.  It is hard for him to understand when I get anxious about little things, like germs and plans and unlikely consequences of my choices, but he kind of understands, because he has experienced minor anxiety about his schoolwork.

Anxiety is bad for you.

I really like that graphic above, because it shows how anxiety can effect all body systems - which it absolutely can.  Stress is - to a point - good for you, but anxiety - but when that stress heightens to clinical anxiety, it is bad.  It is bad for you mentally, but it is also bad for you physically, which is important to understand.

I don't have a lot to say on the subject, because I feel like everyone is talking about anxiety nowadays and I don't feel like I have a lot to add to the conversation.  I only want to say that I am one of those people with anxiety (as well as other stuff going on).  Points to take away:

1. Everyone experiences stress, but anxiety is not normal, the number of people diagnosed with a true anxiety disorder is quite the minority.

2. Anxiety is real and those who suffer from anxiety disorders can be quite distressed by anxiety.

3. Anxiety can occur concurrently with other mental or physical illnesses

4. Anxiety is bad for your body.

PS - I jest-fully talked about anxiety a few weeks ago, here.

Circadian Rhythm

Today I am so thankful for the Circadian Rhythm.
The Circadian Rhythm is a body response that regulates a series of basal actions, including the sleep cycle.  Despite my three years of a science degree, I don't remember a whole lot about the Circadian Rhythm, but I know that part of it is the body's "internal clock."
And I am so thankful.
I've been working a lot of evenings recently, and I had a night shift Wednesday that I haven't fully recovered from.  I've also been working every day, many hours a day.  Plus I'm entering the last weekend of a course that I'm taking, which is really stressing me out because I haven't had the chance to do all my work yet.  I still have a few things to study and 15 pages of a paper to write!  I am really paranoid about the paper, but I'm also exhausted.
I'm trying to fight the Circadian Rhythm - I have been trying to do so since I got off work at midnight on Tuesday and then when I stayed up all night to work on Wednesday.  But I'm so tired.  I'm so tired, and I have to work tomorrow morning.
I crave sleep.
Thank you, Circadian Rhythm, for reminding me that sleep is good.