It’s been 3 years since I experienced my first anxiety attack and although I still have the occasional bad day, there are many more good days. Although I still do struggle on some days, most days, I feel fine. I do tend to worry about things way too much, but that’s just me, I did that before I had my first anxiety attack.
My First Anxiety Attack – It Gets Better
Looking back, going through this experience has shown me that I was stronger than I gave myself credit for. Taekwondo really helped me through that time, and now it’s given me the confidence that I needed to take matters into my own hands.
We moved after I got laid off from work last year, and just recently, I did something that I’ve wanted to do for years, but never had the confidence to try. My wife and I started our own business. We are working together to create multiple websites, as well as starting our own Taekwondo club in the village that we just moved to. Taekwondo has helped me get my life back on track, and I’m sure it can help others as well. I’m also looking to volunteer to help youth who need help with mental health.
Now that I know what it feels like to have gone through anxiety attacks and depression, and how hard it was to get out of the feelings of hopelessness as an adult, I can only imagine what goes through the minds of children and youths who are in this situation. I don’t have a psychology degree, but I feel that the experiences that I’ve gone through can help me in understanding what others are going through, and in this way, I want to make a difference.
I’m working with the village to be able to sit in on any mental health discussions and meetings that are available, and this way, I hope to help.
If you’re suffering from anxiety and/or depression, don’t lose hope because it does get better. Even on the worst days, just remind yourself that it’s never as bad as it seems; and don’t forget to ask for help when you need it. There’s no shame in asking for help. I needed, and still need medication to help balance out my nervous system. I was afraid to take it at first since I had never been on prescribed medication other than cold medicine, but it does really help. Sunlight is something that helps, as well as cardio exercise. I didn’t realize how much it actually did help until I started listening to my wife. We went on walks, then started running. Right after our daily walk and after our Taekwondo training is when I usually feel best.
Read the rest of Jean-Marc’s story here:
PART I | PART II | PART III | PART IV
