It’s probably safe to say that most people have had a panic attack at one point in their life. But, the isolated attack or being nervous about life’s everyday mishaps is far different from living with anxiety day in and day out. I’ve experienced it. It’s dreadful. Living on edge.
I also beat it; it wasn’t the pills that did it, and it was incredibly hard. But not as burdensome as being smothered by thoughts from the moment I wake up until I somehow convince myself to fall asleep. Now, before I continue, I am not saying I am an expert on anxiety because I have had it, I’m not saying everyone’s anxiety is caused by what I am going to be talking about. I’m attempting to explain, in at least one sense, that anxiety could be a product of our own actions and your actions can cure it.
Carl Jung had a very simple explanation for why we are burdened with anxiety and other forms of neuroticism; it is so we can live life. The mind inflicting neurosis upon itself is the same as the stomach rejecting bad food or too much alcohol, there is something wrong and your body is trying to fix it. In Jung’s theory of life, we are all subjected to fate, except in a very loose meaning. We are destined to become independent, be social, find fulfillment, and ultimately be ready for death when we get there. There is no precursor as to what each of those tasks should be interpreted as, but we must do them.
"We have a mighty dislike of all intentional effort and are addicted to absolute laziness until circumstance prod into action."
The flight from life is a common cause for anxiety in a lot of people, it is in our nature to grow and experience and our minds do not like it when we starve it from that. The arduous struggles of life and their conquering are what truly bring meaning to life. In the existentialist sense, it does not even matter what that is, so long as you are doing something worth doing. It makes sense that idleness can lead us to madness as the brain has nothing to experience but its own rambling over and over.
Today’s physicians seem keenly inclined to immediately turn to pills as a solution for any form of neurosis, and sometimes it is the proper solution, but when it is not it has the potential to be a catastrophic mistake. When I was prescribed pills, I went from being anxious about nothing to unconcerned by everything. It fixed the symptoms but essentially catalyzed its origin. And when I somehow came to the realization that my troubles were from my own lifestyle it was a burdensome job to fix. First, dealing with the guilt of knowing that the main finger to point is at yourself, then figuring how to deal with the pills that have repressed any inclination to do anything and dealing with their manic withdrawal symptoms; and finally dragging yourself at your lowest to do what is needed (whatever that may be to you.)
I could go into the stigma surrounding mental health and remind you that there is nothing wrong with you when you aren’t at your best, but hopefully, you already know that. Sometimes the victim isn’t even aware of their ailments, I was prescribed pills without even knowing I had anxiety at a regular doctor’s appointment. Overcoming your own mental health can be one of the most daunting duties that is imposed on you, but knowing that you are capable and that people around you will either be supportive or unbothered is the first step.
This all comes back to Jung’s theory as it was the case for me and for many others. There is a lesson in your neuroticism that requires a stroke of luck in regards to being self-aware enough as to what that lesson may be. Let alone being aware enough to know that your brain is telling you that you need to change. When that realization comes, the required remedies could be an array of things, it does not matter the significance of whatever you do but the attitude and meaning found within the task. It could be learning an instrument, a language, being more social, changing jobs, reading meditating; whatever self-betterment means to you.
The opening monologue to the movie Trainspotting has my favorite explanation for deciphering just what that means:
Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family,
Choose a fucking big television Choose washing machines, cars, Compact disc players, and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol
And dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends.
Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three piece suite on hire purchase In a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who you
Are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing Spirit-crushing game shows Stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth.
Choose rotting away at the end of it all, Pishing you last in a miserable home Nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, Fucked-up brats
You have spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life.
For some people that 1950s, green lawn, 2 kids, 9-5 job, suburban dream is what works best. Others may require more, be crazy, be creative, be consequential it doesn't matter what you do but for fuck's sake do something.
Also, I want to write more album reviews but we are in a lack of new music as its the end of the year. if there are any albums, from any era or genre, leave a comment and I'll do it.
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