Having anxiety, who is the biggest enemy?

[Canonp]

Just wondering, living with lots of anxiety, can you say that the biggest enemy of all is yourself? Because sometimes all the thinking and worries that cannot be gotten rid off leads to later regrettable choices?

Because I tend to feel that way mostly.

[Pizzaparty]

I know for sure that i am my biggest problem and solution i always make myself overthink to the point of shutting down and it’s such an unhealthy cycle it’s a hard battle when it’s yourself

[Backpackturtle]

I don't think I like thinking of myself as the biggest enemy. Part of my dealing with anxiety is learning to love myself - which means being compassionate and forgiving myself for the mistakes I make and for all the many ways that I don't want to feel but do feel anyway. I think, and I'm trying, to give more power to myself, to not demonize my failures. It's so tough to learn a new narrative surrounding my relationship with myself, but I think it's better this way. It is comforting at times to condemn myself, but in the long term that doesn't help me.

[Myre]

I get you, but it depends on the meaning you associate with the feeling. On my worst days, I repeat to myself that I am my greatest adversary. There's a great world out there filled with new exciting things and really the only barrier between myself and that experience is my frame of my mind. This manner of thinking helps me keep calm and reminds me that there really is no one out there to get me.

[Backpackturtle in reply to Myre]

Yeah, that's actually really beautiful. I quite like that as well. I'm going to put it in my toolkit