This month, we’re sharing an anxiety story from Rebecca, a dedicated member of Industrial Athletics since October 2018 and our September 2020 Athlete of the Month. Rebecca is a familiar face at our morning classes, showing up consistently during the week and on weekends. In this feature, she opens up about her ongoing battle with anxiety and how her commitment to the gym plays a vital role in helping her manage it and find strength through movement and community.
Everyone is Fighting a Battle
On the outside it looks like I am an adult with my life together. I have an exciting job working as an associate pastor at a large Presbyterian church. I’m a part time MBA student. I’m the type of friend my friends can count on. But I am also a person who struggles with anxiety. To manage my anxiety I need a team of people supporting me behind the scenes.
Answering the Hard Questions
When my anxiety gets really bad, I lose the ability to make decisions on my behalf. Simple tasks like deciding what to eat for lunch become overwhelming. This is why I need a coach. Once a month I meet with Coach Jen for a check-in. At these check ins she goes over a list of incredibly boring, but incredibly helpful questions- how often are you coming to the gym? Are you drinking three water bottles a day? Did you go grocery shopping this week? Are you eating four servings of fruits/vegetables a day? What’s going on this month that’s making sleep difficult?
Changing Focus from Others to Me
This hour I spend on the phone with Coach Jen forces me to focus on myself which allows me to better focus on others in the other areas of my life. For those of us in helping professions where we’re constantly dealing with problems that don’t have clear solutions, it’s easy to forget about our own needs. I’ve learned that my anxiety is usually my body’s way of telling me I’ve neglected to pay attention to my own needs and I need to do the work to figure out what’s wrong and take steps towards a solution.
It Takes a Village
I’m incredibly grateful for the community at Industrial Athletics, our coaches, and for the opportunity to focus on my health and wellness at the gym. They say it takes a village to raise a child, I think it takes a community to tackle mental health challenges in our rapidly changing world.
