I have battled anxiety for most of my life, even as a small child, and it got significantly worse after having my first daughter. I went through a season of postpartum depression so bad that I was actually having visual hallucinations.
My spiritual life has helped keep me grounded and allowed me to continually know in my heart that the fears I deal with are not realistic. My second pregnancy was much better than my first—I experienced no postpartum depression and just my “normal” level of anxiety.
I have decided over the last year to stop letting things cripple me the way that they were. I believe to an extent that we all are capable of mastering our own minds and controlling our thoughts but that does not come without the daily challenge of choosing to do just that. Some days are harder than others.
I want to encourage you to take back the leverage over your mind today and choose to be the boss. I believe some chemical imbalances make that hard and even impossible for some, but just the act of declaring ownership over your mind is pretty empowering. I’ve been on that journey, and it has allowed me to get to know myself on a deeper level than I ever have before!