Free Floating Anxiety

I have always been someone who felt things deeply and have a strong mind/body connection. If I feel a harsh reaction in my emotions, it lands hard in my body as well. Everyone who experiences this does so in their own unique way. For me, the physical impact focuses in on stomach upset - nausea and a loss of appetite.  For others it might be tension in their shoulders or a headache.  

Once I was old enough to understand what was happening, I was able to start developing the skills needed to help this physical reaction pass as quickly as possible. How heavily anxiety hits is unpredictable as it depends on the severity of the trigger, and if I can walk away. If the cause of your trigger is unavoidable, the battle for calm will be more difficult.  If you can remove yourself from the situation, you can focus in without distraction and make progress faster.  For me the feelings usually pass in a few hours, but can last up to 36 hours in rare cases. It it extends beyond 36 hours, I now look for outside help clearing the negativity.

This year I had something new arise.  Two short spells of anxiety that rose unexpectedly about a month a part with no clear trigger. When it happened I suddenly felt uneasy and anxious without any obvious reason. In doing research I found the most common term for this is Free Floating Anxiety,but it is not considered distinct from the more common Generalized Anxiety Disorder.  I am fortunate this has never been a part of my life in the past, and the two times it happened were very minor and cleared quickly. All it took was refocusing - a good book, a walk, a funny show, etc. - and it was gone.  

However, experiencing Free Floating Anxiety put me in a thoughtful state.  I have known many who struggled with depression, anxiety or a combination of both.  What they faced didn't disappear easily and took professional intervention, usually a combination of drugs and counselling.  What those two short episodes did was give me a very tiny look into what a few of my friends were dealing with on a daily basis - day after day. I gained a greater compassion for their suffering and more respect for their courage. 

The most devastating for me would be worry that has no focus  I usually know when I have times of difficult moments what has caused them.  Knowing the cause gives me a real leg up on finding ways to release the negativity and wash it out of my system.  It helps me feel in control, and that alone helps move me into a better space.  Without understanding what is driving it, or the ability to feel in control, it would be so much harder. 

I share all this not as an expert, but simply to create more awareness for something I didn't even know existed until I had two brief episodes of my own.  Knowledge allows us to better understand others, to look beneath the surface, to have sympathy for what they face, and to stop us from offering any judgement or empty advice.  Instead try to offer offer compassion, encouragement and connection.

As always, if you are struggling with depression and/or anxiety, there is help available. All you need to do is reach out.