These 10 Mental Models Have Made Me Less Anxious Than Ever

Anxiety sucks, but life doesn’t have to.

Photo by KAL VISUALS on Unsplash

Anxiety sucks.

I’ve dealt with anxiety constantly and consistently since I was probably 5 or 6. Right now I’m 25.

I’ve battled crippling stage fright, severe dissociation, and social anxiety for my entire life. Honestly, I don’t know what it’s like to go a day without being at least a little bit anxious.

When I get anxious, my palms start to sweat, my vision tunnels, and the world around me starts to fade away as I become obsessed with the nature of my own thoughts in the worst possible way.

At this point, however, I don’t “come off” as anxious to people around me. I always remain in control.

I’m able to remain stoic and strong through anxiety because I’ve created a set of mental models and philosophies that help me overcome my anxiety every single time I feel it. Anxiety is part of my experience, but it does not define my experience.

These 10 mental models have been huge in helping me deal with my anxiety over the last few years.

In life, the long-term prognosis is always equally grim and uplifting.