Someone once asked me if it was possible to be too tired to be anxious. In other words, could you tire yourself out so much that you could reduce anxiety? In a nutshell, yes, but not necessarily for the reasons you might think. Some people tend to have more anxiety when they are used to being so busy as a way of numbing their natural emotions, including anxiety. When they finally have down time, they struggle with their uncomfortable feelings, and the panic of not having their normal means for numbing their feelings.
One of the reasons it’s always important to take time for ourselves where we are not purposely busy, time to just be, is because our mind needs time to wander, our heart needs time to ponder and to just feel whatever emotion comes our way. We need time to refresh and renew. A lot of anxiety can come from just being too busy and not taking time to let those thoughts and feelings, however uncomfortable, come to light and exist before they disappear.
If we constantly busy ourselves, those strange and alarming thoughts come to us at night when we finally have time to rest, keeping us from being able to sleep as they try to grab our attention. It’s much better to give time to think and feel during the day, even if it is just for a few minutes. I sometimes wonder if some of the symptoms of ADHD come from a life filled with constant stimulation and no time to pause and let our minds and hearts be moved by the world around us and inside of us.
Physical exercise, good time spent with loved ones, a pleasant time spent working on hobbies are all great ways to spend our energy. When we have a good day we can reduce our anxiety, which in turn makes it easier to sleep at night, knowing that we are loved, the world is safe enough, and life is good enough.
Anxiety left untreated and ignored can lead to us feeling very worn out. When we constantly worry and feel on edge, as our thoughts take us down some very bad paths, it is easy to feel discouraged, hopeless, and depleted. Anxiety is natural for everyone, but when it sticks around for a long time, it can wear out our body, cause physical damage, and take away our joy. That’s when it’s time to seek help and take back your life, so that you can enjoy life again and have energy for the things that matter.