When Anxious: Remember Those Good Anchors That Keep You Secure

We often think of anchors as things that weigh us down in a bad way. Sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed, that awful feeling of slipping away without a tether just adds to the anxiety. That’s when I think of my good anchors, those people, places and things that provide a healthy attachment to who I am and to my life. When I remember my anchors I can breathe calm again.

The book I mention in the video, It’s Kind of a Funny Story is by Ned Vizzini, who spent time in a psychiatric hospital. The publisher describes the book: “At his new school, Craig sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping—until, one night, he nearly kills himself. Craig’s suicidal episode gets him checked into [the psychiatric unit of Brooklyn] hospital where Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety. For a novel about depression, it’s definitely a funny story.”