'Treating Anxiety' Author Sarah Hackley Bids Farewell

Stress amplifies anxiety. Part of self-care is managing that stress and doing what we can to keep ourselves from feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes this means reducing our activities and obligations, even ones we like and would prefer to keep. It is for this reason that my time writing the Treating Anxiety blog must come to an end.

When we have too many obligations in our lives, those of us with anxiety can find our minds circling those responsibilities night and day. Instead of relaxing with our families or friends, we begin ruminating on tasks we’ve left undone or unfinished. Instead of sleeping, we lie awake at night worrying, or if we sleep, we dream about work. This inability to rest triggers more stress and the cycle continues — more stress leading to more anxiety, leading to greater levels of stress, leading to even greater levels of anxiety.

The only way I’ve found to escape the escalation is to let things go. And, when I dream about work for more than three nights in a row, I know it’s time to start unloading. Sadly, that time is now.

I’ve enjoyed writing this blog, and I hope I’ve managed to help at least a few of you in a small way. I am leaving you in the capable hands of my co-author, Melissa Renzi. I’ve found her recent posts on ways to ease seasonal anxiety, family holiday anxiety, and social media triggers relevant and insightful, and I know she’ll continue providing excellent pieces you can use to help manage and treat anxiety.

Part of managing anxiety is making the individual decisions on what we each need to do on a day-to-day basis to live our best life. Often, this requires setting boundaries, saying “no,” and protecting — and prioritizing — moments of peace and relaxation. As we head into the holiday season and then into a new year, that’s what I’ll be doing. I hope you each manage to do the same. I wish you all a fond farewell.