I don’t know exactly when it started. Maybe it has always been there in the background – like a low hum.
A feeling of never being quite enough, of always needing to achieve more, be happier, stronger, better.
Sensing how others feel before even checking in with how I feel myself.

I’m a mom. I’m tired. And sometimes, I have anxiety.

The anxiety didn’t always come as panic or tears.
Often, it was more subtle – a restlessness in my body, a tightness in my chest, a thousand thoughts spinning at once.
A nagging feeling that something was wrong, without knowing what.

For a long time, I tried to hide it.
I wanted to hold everything together. Be that perfect mom who bakes, plays, cleans, works, plans, and says yes to everything.
I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
I wanted control – over the house, over everyday life, over emotions.

But eventually, my body said stop. And I had to listen.

That’s when the change began. I started reading about anxiety. I wanted to understand – not just what it is, but why it shows up and how I could help myself feel better.
And slowly, step by step, something started to shift.

I now understand that anxiety isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s the body’s way of asking for attention. For recovery. It can come from stress, old wounds, unrealistic expectations, lack of sleep, or a brain that’s been running on overdrive for too long.

I don’t have all the answers, and life isn’t perfect – but I am much kinder to myself now. I listen more. I practice setting boundaries. I practice letting go of control. And it makes a difference.

So what helps me? Here are a few things I try to do when anxiety shows up:

Breathe deeply.
Long, slow breaths. In through the nose, out through the mouth.
It helps tell the body that it’s safe – even when the mind thinks otherwise.
(Here you can find different breathing exercises.)

Write it out.
I try to journal when everything feels overwhelming. Nothing fancy – I just grab a notebook or my phone and write down whatever comes up. Thoughts, feelings, even just a few words. It doesn’t have to be pretty or perfect. The important thing is getting it out of my head, creating a little breathing room.

Lower the expectations.
Everything doesn’t have to be perfect. Not even close. “Good enough” is actually really good.

Say no.
Hard, but necessary. No one will thank me for running myself into the ground.

Be kind to myself.
Would I say to a friend what I sometimes say to myself? No. So why talk to myself that way?

Letting anxiety control my life was no longer an option.
I longed to feel joy and peace in my everyday life.

There’s no quick fix. But every time I pause and choose something that helps me feel just a little bit better, it’s a step in the right direction. Sometimes it’s taking a break. Sometimes it’s writing in a journal. Sometimes it’s just taking a few deep breaths.

If you recognize yourself in this – know that you’re not alone.
You are not broken.
You are simply human.

And you deserve peace, love, and healing. 💛

Read more about anxiety here!