AndraLovesFashion

My Anxiety Story

16:49

Finally, after a week of getting the courage to film this, I have uploaded my first youtube video explaining my anxiety story. At the end, I have answered a few question that I've received from people.

I hope you find it useful..

As always

Yours truly,

AndraV

anxiety

Breakfast Al Fresco

01:17

After my previous post discussing the struggles of living with anxiety, I wanted something lighter and brighter for today's post.

While some days can be very tough sometimes, I have discovered that just going out and enjoying a cup of tea and some food outside - can improve my mood considerably.

I always tend to focus on my issues if I am by myself, and getting out and seeing my friends or just having a lovely chat you the staff in the coffee shop can significantly improve my mood. I think it puts things in perspective and it's a remainder that whatever my feelings, I will be able to move on.

This cute Italian coffee shop has given me much inspiration the past few weeks during a time of struggles and increased anxiety.

I would wake up in the morning, grab my laptop and I was off there to enjoy their amazing vegan menu and the fresh air. Their small, yet pittoresque outside space is inspiring yet cosy ;)

If you are from Liverpool, I highly recommend The Italian Club for a nice coffee or if you are looking for amazing Italian food (tip: the pizza is delicious!)

On days when I am feeling down, I like to put a bit of make-up to help me change my perception about myself, a bright lip and foundation is all I normally go for - if I am feeling adventurous or patient enough I might even add a bit of bronzer

For my outfit, I like to pick comfortable loose pieces that hide my body and allow me to move freely. This particular dress is a T-shirt style with delicate pearl-like applique and lace at the bottom that add a bit of femininity to it. I chose to wore it with a pair of wide-leg trousers and white trainers, but it would also look stunning without trousers and just the trainers, maybe a jacket - and voila - you are sorted !

If you have been following me for a while, you also know my obsession with pink, pink details and accents. Therefore, I added BABY PINK BAGPACK that is following the current mini-trend, yet I was able to fit in the following: phone, lipstick, keys, purse, sunglasses with case and a lot of useless stuff such as nail scissors - I have no clue why I was carrying them around -

You can find the dress and bag bi clicking the photos below:

I usually carry my laptop in my hands and I am good to go !

I was there three times in less than a week because fresh air helps!

How do you tackle those awful, anxious days?

Yours truly,

AndraV

anxiety

Battling anxiety

15:43

As I sit writing this blog post, there are many things going through my mind
- from simple things such as needing to take the clothes out of the washing machine to feeling like I have no air and my heart is going to explode

This is my daily battle with anxiety

For the past few weeks, things have been amazing, fun and stress free which meant that my anxiety was at a minimum low with no major incident...

but

As nothing last forever, this morning has been rough. It started with the fire alarm going off at 7am and not stopping until 9:30
I think this has triggered an anxiety flare up that is just taking over my body and mind. Many "sufferers" will tell you that simple things like these can cause an attack - I think that being woken up suddenly triggers our fight or flight response and we are unable to calm down after things have settled down.

It's one of those days where anxiety and depression make me want to hide under my duvet and never come out again.

It's a feeling of hopelessness and deep remorse for not feeling what society dictates as being "normal"; feeling of despair and anguish, of not being understood by people that expect you to JUST MOVE ON!

I wish things would be this easy, I wish I could wake up and feel grateful and happy for what I have because I truly believe that I am blessed as there is food on my table and I don't lack anything.

But on days like these

~~I feel empty, scared and worried~~

I write everything because it helps me put structure into my thoughts and clear my mind, while at the same time is relaxing and something that I truly enjoy, that doesn't give me attacks nor does it feel like a chore.

During my more than 15years of dealing with anxiety in a drug free manner, I have learnt that getting things done helps me, doing just one thing that I enjoy gets me out of the bed and slowly eases me into my day.

It's small things such as writing a blog post, doing the dishes or cleaning that help me not feel so anxious about missing an entire day.

How do you deal with it? I would like to know how others deal with anxious day and panic attacks

I think talking about this issue is going to help many people because:

it's not ~~TABU~~
it's happening
we can't judge others for being different
we are all different

Today, I have also decided to leave my photos unedited
- NO Photoshop
- NO colour adjustments
- NOthing artificial
- Just RAW

I am not perfect and nobody is either !

I am wearing a blossomed tree jacket to inspire you to wish for more and better, to do your best, but to accept that things might not go as planned and never give up
- just as trees blossom every spring so can you and I

Find the jacket here