Trying new things

Personally, I hate trying new things.

But, I am going to take you on a journey through ways of making new things a bit easier to cope with.

As someone with anxiety, I predominantly struggle doing new things specially if it is on my own such as going to a job interview or even calling my bank on the phone. But there are ways in which I find those experiences a lot easier to cope with.

1). Having a friend with you. Wow does this help me. A few weeks ago, I had to call my GP and at the big age of 19, I still have my mum do it for me. However I came to realise that I can actually do it as long as there is someone with me who knows what to do. For example, when I called my GP, I had my mum next to me because she knows what to say if I said the wrong thing, or when I used to run in lockdown, my dad came with me because he regularly goes in runs. Driving for the time, I had my friends with me because they knew how to calm me down. It helps a lot to know that if something goes wrong during this new thing, that someone is there to help you. And it’s very reassuring to have them there.

2). Plan the day. Having anxiety causes me to worry about every single aspect of the event. Lets take driving as the example, I still get anxious driving routes or in places that I am unfamiliar with so, not only do I try and have someone in the car with me, but I plan the route I am going to go so that I don’t encounter anything unfamiliar (I might even look at the whole route on Google Earth lol). Say you have a job interview, plan everything the night before, what you’re going to wear, what you’re going to say, how you’re going to get there and once its over, you’d be so relived that you planned in case something came up.

3). RELAX!! It sounds cliche but relaxation techniques have been proven to reduce anxiety. I have done this in the past the night prior to an exam and it helps me sleep as well.

It’s not much but little things like this really do help reduce my anxiety approaching a new thing. Also try and look at the happier side of it, trust me I know it’s hard when you’re anxious and people are telling you to calm down and you can’t but for a second, just think about the positives of the new experience. Whether it be a new opportunity to make friends, or have a better career. We all have to try new things to get to our goal.

(Cannot believe I am about to use a football methapor but) Think if you don’t shoot, you’re never going to score, and if you do shoot there’s a high chance you will and that intimidating goalkeeper that’s standing in your way, is your anxiety, no one else. It’s not a real goalkeeper, it’s literally you, telling you that you’re going to miss. But you’re not going to miss, I promise!

Trying a new thing is an achievement in itself.