Anxiety Recovery: How To Get From A to Z?
The A I speak of is a state of panic or high anxiety. The Z I speak of is a state of calm or perpetual bliss — freedom. I am neither A nor Z. And to answer the question: In short, I don't fucking know. The long answer is a little more interesting.
I think it's fair to say most struggling with anxiety are looking for a foolproof bulletproof roadmap outlining each and every step required to reach your destination both safely and promptly — with a big fuck off guarantee stamped on it.
Unfortunately, while yes, it is true that many experience what you experience — the reality is that while many of the principles for recovery are the same, the journey is far from linear and individual circumstances differ greatly. For some, it's straightforward. For others, it's incredibly messy. So, while many audaciously claim they have cracked the code for anxiety — and it's easier than learning your ABC's — the reality is they're talking out their ass.
The mind — and body — is a tad more complicated than a 3-piece lego set you get with your Happy Meal. When things go pear-shaped, you don't get the privilege of stacking three bricks on top of each other, and hey, presto, you're cured. Recovery is complicated and layered with many facets relating to the individual's history, personality, circumstance, and environment, to name but a few — all of which should be considered.
Suppose one route or discipline worked definitively for everybody?
If that were the case, some lucky bugger would have packaged and sold it already. They would be mentioned alongside the likes of Bezos for their wealth — not for being a prick — and held in the same regard as the dude who invented penicillin, for saving millions of lives and hundreds of millions from a life of despair. And yet easy cures are being promised and sold everywhere.
So firstly, if you want to get to C, let alone Z, if it sounds too good to be true, it's likely because it is. And I type this as someone who's been seduced by more bullshit than I care to admit.
An example of bullshit at its finest:
Last month, some dude messaged me asking if I wanted to promote his product and make a "tonne of money?" For only $29.99, his 7-simple step formula promised to end all anxiety for good. Kaaaa-ching!
He also assured me not to worry as he was a "renowned psychologist and psychiatrist whose expertise are in anxiety." And good news, America's mental health is fucked due to Covid, so there's no limit to how much money I can make.
His product was endorsed by USA Today, CNN, and every other credible media source he could think of to put on the website, with the exception — I noticed — of Dr. Phil. He forgot Dr. Phil. The idiot.
Dr. Phil: The ultimate endorsement.
It was all bullshit, of course. I scoured the sites and found nothing. Asked for credentials if I were to promote his product. Again — nothing. When pressed, he told me it was a new product and hadn't been tested yet. A few days later, he had a video full of Hollywood wannabes worldwide singing its praises. I could have taken the case to Judge Judy, and she would have ruined him, yet it sounded so good I was tempted to buy myself.
Twenty years ago, I was so desperate, coming across that would have made me salivate and drool all over my shirt. Take my money, Juan. All of it. Anything to put an end to this nightmare.
Did it work? Do lions care about their prey? No. They fucking do not.
Unfortunately, this is often the A to Z you are dealing with. Some dude who — not so long ago — was pissing in a potty, now privy to the power of bullshit, while pretending to have numerous qualifications to leverage as many as humanly possible to push a product that is more likely to induce helplessness than it is happiness.
Yes! Ain’t no stopping me now, Mommy!
The major problem stemming from this:
In a recent survey, many of you told me trust is one of the primary reasons you don't seek support. While it's no wonder, I struggle to respond except to say some skepticism is healthy, but not to the point where you aren't willing to take a risk or open to trusting anybody.
The very best of an A - Z I have come up with is the Free Your Mind from Anxiety program.
Obviously, I am biased. However, I also realise this program in itself is not sufficient for everybody. At least when going through it on their own. While I do believe if you follow it diligently, your reality can improve drastically, I also believe good support and accountability are what’s truly required for amazing results. It is the reason I try to double down with the support I offer through WhatsApp and — at the very least — a free coaching call to anyone who signs up, which you can learn about on a free discovery call.
The journey, for most, is far from linear.
Everybody is different — different backgrounds, different temperaments, different values, beliefs, and goals. Some come with a heavy guard. Others are ready to spill their guts.
My job is to assert all the above quickly — and more — to help guide them from A to Z ASAP. Over the years, I have acquired an arsenal of tools, techniques, and strategies to deploy based on my own maps from past experiences that have worked best with others. The learning never ends. I am way better than I was three years ago, and I'll be way better than I am today three years from now.
Different personalities respond differently to different strategies. Some have a stance so strong starting out that I wouldn't dare mention X, so I go with Y. Some fly at the speed of light. Others need time to find the strength required. And sometimes we bounce around like the fucking gummy bears till we figure this shit out. There's no rhyme or reason to it all except for the fact that life is messy. And anxiety can be very messy. But it absolutely can be cleaned up.
So how do you get from A to Z?
The one thing I have learned for sure is that it has to be a priority. One month's dedicated work could put an end — and prevent — years of despair if you make it your priority. I cannot emphasize the importance of prioritization enough.
After that, patience, and try not to allow your expectations to become too outlandish based on much of the trash on the internet.
Remember, this is your journey — nobody else's. If you want to get to Z — start by focussing on B. And then C. So on and so forth. You’ll only stress yourself out if you start focussing on all the steps in the process without acting on the one in front of you. You can always speed things up or slow things down. It's good to exercise caution but not so much that you stall or go backward. There is beauty to be found in pursuit.
Setbacks are inevitable because life comes with setbacks. The brilliance of it all is that every day is an opportunity to move forwards. Good support is available, and you'll know when you have it because your reality will improve.
A rocket from A to Z doesn't exist. Focus on putting one foot in front of the other one day at a time. And get support — good support whether you pay for it or not. It will help put you on a better path and provide you with the momentum shift you need. And when that momentum shift hits — and your anxiety melts away — every single aspect of life will be better.
The end.