I work extremely hard to keep my anxiety levels at bay and usually I am very successful at it. Lately though, some things have been happening that are out of my control (nothing to do family, no worries) and there is nothing I can do about it and it leaves me feeling like I’m walking on eggshells all the time, which completely and totally sucks.
So yeah, there’s that. I’ve been so busy lately too, which has obviously contributed to my anxiety since I’ve been getting less sleep.
So, this weekend was all about taking it easy and relaxing. I am catching up on sleep, enjoying yummy food and hanging out with my H.
My H and I went to the Galleria on Saturday because he wanted to get some TOMS shoes (so for the person who leaves me inquisitive formspring questions about “why I never buy my husband anything”, believe me, he gets what he wants—yep, just like the honey badger!) I bring you, exhibit A:
Oh that pretty pink bag….
Aren’t they just so…beautiful? I don’t own anything even remotely close to these, so they were a great addition to my collection. You can buy them here, or in a Kate Spade store near you!
I have gotten a few requests to show what my new Tiffany & Co. bracelets look like ON, and I’m more than happy to oblige! I absolutely love them!
(because I obviously I need it) and I also bought “Naturally Thin
” by Bethenny Frankel because I have such a deep girl crush on her, that it hurts a little.
Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend and DON’T FORGET TO ENTER MY CONTEST!
Thanks so much for reading!
Veronika.
Oh, and as a last thought for this post, here are two of my favorite quotes that are extremely relevant to my life right now:
“When someone belittles you, they are being little” (Joel Osteen)
“PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL
” (Unknown)
Love those bracelets and the earrings, so pretty!
Sorry to hear about your anxiety, that's never fun 🙁 hope you feel better soon!
thanks Lindsay 🙂 I am already feeling a bit better, just gotta keep that going!
I struggle with anxiety too, so I totally understand. I actually had panic disorder for a few years of my life. I'm going to school now and in my second and last year to get my RN degree and it still rears it's "ugly head" sometimes! A book recommended to me that's short and simple for busy people is called "Coping with Anxiety" – 10 simple ways to relieve anxiety, fear and worry. By Edmund Bourne, PHD. I really love it. It's got short strategies to help destress and he also has a bigger "workbook" that's very smart.
Anyhow 🙂 Also love the purchases!!!! Kate Spade has been at the top of my list lately for most things! Love the Tiffany Stack as well! Hope you have a happy Sunday!
Loving the quotes…and your purchases, as always, are enviable!
Aesthetic Lounge
Hi Veronika – I love your blog and feel like we have a lot in common. You should definitely read 'Peace from Nervous Suffering' by Dr. Claire Weekes – it has really helped me
thank you everyone so much for the book recs! I will read those after I'm done with the one I just got 🙂
Oh Em Gee I'm dyyyyyyying over those earrings! I think those may officially be added to my growing "must have" list!
What's up with weird people saying your husband never gets anything? Umm last time I checked this blog was "Veronikas Blushing", not "Veronika and HER HUSBAND Are Blushing". Why in the hell would you mention everything he gets anyway? My husband gets tons of things, but I think it would be weird if I mentioned that all the time. Sorry, love my husband but my blog is not about him.
You've inspired me to get Bethenny's newest book. Next purchase on the Kindle!
@courtney—I think people just have nothing better to do! I too think it would be weird to talk about what my husband buys all the time. Once in awhile, maybe, but all the time? weird.
Last Christmas, our gift to each other (in addition to my DSLR camera) was our trip to Paris and London. I think spending money on and gifting experiences is just as great as a gift that comes in a box—and most of the time, an experience is 100 times better than a gift!
Love the earrings!
Oh, I also want to thank you for all of your fitness related posts. They have really been a great motivator for me. I'm currently on week 5 of couch to 5k and I can jog for 5 minutes at a time, which might not sound like much, but in the beginning I was only running for 1 minute at a time and that was really hard for me. So, thank you! 🙂
I think the second quote is Maya Angelou.
Those Kate Spade earrings are gorgeous !! And I love how your bracelets look on your wrist. So pretty ! 🙂
Lol @ Courtney@SDB
I have generalized anxiety and a good number of women before me that passed on the nervous nellie gene. Thanks! I have found the best cure for me is a preventive one. One of the biggest triggers is when I feel the symptoms in my body, so I do Qi Gong and or meditation (10 min avg) daily to prevent them. The mind-body connection is huge. Without the physical symptoms, I'm free to try to rein my mind in. Good luck w/it. Anxiety definitely bites the big one.
thanks so much Gigi, nice to know so many women can relate. I've had to realize that I can't control other people's actions—just my reaction…so if someone is causing me to have anxiety, I am slowly learning to disassociate.
good idea with the meditation…i've never been able to do it thus far—-but I do work out a lot and for me, that helps a lot 🙂
I hope things get better for you, hang in there!! I'm glad you had a nice relaxing weekend. I love that Joel Osteen quote, SO very true. XO
I love Naturally Thin! Actually just posted a review about it. I hope you get as much out of it as I have!
Also, my friend showed me the honey badger video last night!
your jewelry is gorgeous veronika! You have the best taste I love reading your blog and getting ideas 😉 those two tiffany bracelets especially I may purchase. I also like the black beads on the tiffany site. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I have suffered from anxiety in the past too and i know how rough it can be, one book that helped me was the Feeling Good Handbook which can be got in any bookstore on here https://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Handbook-David-Burns/dp/0452281326/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1307911152&sr=8-2 it has exercises and worksheets inside and I thought it had lots of good advice. I also keep a little notebook in my purse where I write down helpful phrases and read them when I feel anxious.
I didn't know you have anxiety! I've been struggling with it my whole life, and even see a therapist who has recommended I go on meds for it. I've never taken medication for anxiety, but its something I often think about. Good luck relaxing, I hope you feel better =)
I've had panic/anxiety issues too, and found that meditating, white noise machines with soothing sounds, and working out really help me calm down. Similar to Beautygirl24, I've worked with a therapist but I requested non-meds so I could learn how to manage and identify triggers. Quite helpful for me, hope things get better for you this week.
I also suffer from anxiety doubled with OCD. I can definitely relate! I will say that although not for everyone (and maybe not if you are closing to conceiving time) medication has really helped. I took it for a year at my doctor's rec and honestly it has helped tremendously (I'm off of it now). I can't say I'll never go back on it but it did do wonders for me. If you can find ways of coping outside of medication, please share!
Love those earrings! They are gorgeous.
Hope you get to feeling better 🙂
thanks everyone for your support and comments 🙂 I also see a therapist to work on this issue because my symptoms aren't consistent enough for me to want to be on drugs for it.
Hey Veronika!! Just wanted to tell you how much I adore your blog; I've been reading it for awhile now and I just think you have the sweetest personality! I, too, struggle with anxiety and see a therapist and am also on medication for it, so don't feel alone in that issue! Looks like a lot of people who commented are in the same boat. I'm so sorry if anyone actually belittled you (I got that vibe from the quote), but defintiely don't listen to them at all. You seem so nice and genuine, I can't imagine people not liking you and if they do, that's totally their problem, not yours!!
Looove the earrings, btw, so cute!
@jessica—thanks so much for your comment, it really made me feel better 🙂 I think that at the end of the day, I just have to put my faith in God and trust that good things are coming my way.
Have a great night!
Who doesn't have an ultimate girl crush on Bethanny? I love that girl!
Hi Veronika, I'm sorry to hear you've been struggling with your anxiety lately. I have generalised anxiety and like another commenter, I recommend books by Dr. Claire Weekes – they're quite old now, but the principles are so simple and useful.
Also, if the anxiety is triggered by what others have said/done, I really encourage you to read The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Even though it's a new-agey self-help book, I think reading it has helped my anxiety more than anything – especially the anxiety I felt about what other people thought of me.
Both books are also really short, I'm sure you could get through them over a weekend.
xoxo
You are smart to address your problem with anxiety. And I am so impressed by your openness about your problem. I have been dealing with anxiety issues for a long time. I don't have any great advice. It helps to have a supportive family (which it seems like you have). Also, I know you exercise a lot, but I always find exercise helps me to release a lot of stress. Good luck! If you have time, please keep us posted on which books you found to be helpful.
@anon—thanks for your support 🙂 I always try to be as open as possible about things like this, because I find it helps connect all of us women dealing with the same issue. It's nice to know you're not alone.
Veronika, I just wanted to echo the pervious commenters sentiments. I have anxiety issues as well, and it can make things very difficult at times. I hope the time you spent with your husband this weekend was healing, and I will send positive energy your way for the coming week! You seem like a great person and I really enjoy your blog, it is always a fun read and you provide tons of helpful reviews/tips! Thanks for taking the time to do so, your readers appreciate your efforts. 🙂
I think that by being so open about your anxiety, you are going to really help your readers. Maybe someone who is dealing with anxiety will read this and really benefit from it! Again, please know how awesome it is that you are sharing this publicly. You should be very proud of yourself!
I will say a prayer for you that you experience peace from your anxiety.
?Veronika, thanks for sharing your anxiety issues. I have had anxiety issues for years and Have been trying to work through them by exercise/self help books for years.
Love your new earrings! Do you think you can post a pic wearing them? I am trying to figure out how long they are. I saw them on the KS website and I also saw a longer pair….would love to purchase. The color would be great with a dress I am planning on wearing to a wedding soon.
Love the Kate Spade earrings and Tiffany bracelets!
I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble with your anxiety. I have generalized anxiety disorder and am recently struggling with it as well. Thanks for posting the book you bought for it. I'm thinking of getting it now as I really don't want to go on medication either.
Feel Better!
–Melissa M
V the earrings are very cute! I also love the packaging, how pretty! I have loved ones who experince anxiety and I have learned how it can really be difficult to manage. I hope you find helpful tips in your reading and remember your followers support you!
Love those earrings! So adorable! I am sorry about your anxiety… I have a lot of that too… and the fact that I have anxiety GIVES me anxiety! It's like a bad cycle that I have to actively work at to end all the time.
Very pretty bracelet too 🙂
Love the earrings – isn't KSNY's packaging the best?! So so cute. I also want to thank you for being so candid about the anxiety. I myself struggle with it and know so many girls that are in the same age group who are struggling with the same issues. You seem to be a very strong person with a wonderful husband/support system in place to help you work through this which is hopefully providing some comfort to you. xo
Earrings are gorgeous, so pretty in fact that I ordered a pair for myself and one as my special gift to my maid of honor 🙂
Hope you are feeling better. I don't know a whole lot about anxiety, but I think I get bouts of this too. It can be debilitating, and some people don't help. Just from reading the above comments you aren't alone, and we are all here for you (and each other!) Be well xoxo
Absolutely LOVE the Tiffany bracelets!!! Beyond Gorgeous. I have wanted the beaded bracelet for so long!!! Looks beautiful on you 🙂 xoxo
anxiety is tough, you are not alone. Please keep sharing your coping tools, i tried the drugs and after one shot I knew it was not for me. Thanks for all you share!
I thought I would share a quote that always makes me feel better when I am anxious. It is a Swedish proverb.
"Worry often gives a small a problem a large shadow."
Hi Veronika,
I have read your blog for a while now, but this is my first time commenting. I just wanted to first applaud you for taking the strong stance of admitting that you suffer from anxiety. I do too and it is not something I like to tell a lot of people. I think the assumption that people make when a person says they have anxiety is just to think that the person is a "worrier." They don't realize that it can be emotionally crippling, physically draining, and if not checked, can in some cases lead to depression. So many people suffer from anxiety, but so few talk about it. Thank you for taking the very brave step of sharing that. Please know that you are not alone in this.
If it helps any…whenever I am really stressed I write down all of my favorite things: memories, places to visit, commericals that make me laugh, all that I have to be thankful for, etc.
Lastly, I just wanted to leave you with one of my favorite quotes that I think women everywhere need to tell one another:
You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
Hang in there.
-J
thanks so much J, your comment really means a lot 🙂 I love the idea of making a list of things that I love to bring my mind back to a good place. I used to think I was just a worrier too, but over time I knew it was something more. Love that quote you shared too. Thank you!!! *hugs*
thank you for your quotes. i think they say so much with so little story-telling. i think it's good to realize when something is causing you anxiety to figure out what "you're" going to do and not worry too much about what the other "person" will do, otherwise you're at a loss. just remember to do what you said because your reaction to idiotic behavior will determine your personal well-being and growth. don't let negativity dictate your life in any way, especially if you're not doing anything to bring it forth. i hope you find the strength to fight it out. everyone has it inside of them.
LOVE the Honey badger reference! When my family was all together working on the crazy days for my wedding watching that video was the only thing that kept us sane!
Hey Veronika… I also get anxiety. I am a little ball of stress, according to my husband! Obviously you are not alone and many women deal with this problem. I find lavender really helps me relax…. exercise… eat healthy… all of this helps. Also when you are in the throes, deep breathing and just telling yourself everything is okay helps me, too… and the lavender… I find it very relaxing. I take xanax when I fly, though. I've only taken xanax once outside of flying, and that was when my husband was in Iraq, and it was only one time. I don't think there is anything wrong with taking meds, but for me personally, I like to do it as sparingly as possible and only if I really, truly need it.
I hope the book helps!! Definitely try the deep breathing… in through the nose, out through the mouth, counts of 10.
Steph