Student Perspective: Anxiety is NOT a Choice

Note: The student co-wrote this entire post, but their direct quotes are in bold, including their indented original message.

We have shared some student perspectives about the stress of the holidays, especially the changes in routine and in settings with decorations. One of our adult students struggles with anxious OCD and is aware of the havoc it causes. She sees how others are treated and wanted to share as an advocate. - her words since I asked how she wanted her motivation described.

This is what the anxiety feels like in my body:

Fire races through my body like my nerves are cord that explodes bombs and blood pumps to keep up. Thoughts slow while senses heighten. Small noises now scream, movement startles, and light more extreme. Muscles tighten, tense, and spasm since they are unbalanced and difficult to control or coordinate. Breaths quicken, forcing air out like gasps of pain. And it all escalates until the threat retreats, but still it hovers at a plateau of uncertainty and discomfort. To settle, it needs slow, calm, and time. Breath work settles the brain and body.

Some think we are misbehaving, dramatic, or maybe just childish, but they are not experiencing the same as us.

Every flare makes the reaction faster and stronger, intensifying instead of practicing calming it down. My reaction is less choice than response beyond control. Why would anyone choose this?

Please consider how you respond to anxiety, especially when you don't understand it.

One of the goals in RPM is to work on tolerance which seems the opposite of this post, however, we work on building strategies to truly have tolerance versus just masking the intolerance. Learning about each individual's experience and giving them the autonomy to be part of the solution helps everyone.

Reduce stressors and respect our boundaries.

What do you think?

You can message us if you would like to share anonymously. We always prioritize protecting the identities of the people we support or those in our larger community.