For anyone who has suffered from acute anxiety, I hope my experience helps you. The best lesson and takeaway: 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍

Social media as we know is a highlight reel, but the truth is the first time I was in San Diego, I experienced what felt like debilitating anxiety. As someone with a Type B personality, it takes quite a lot for me to get stressed or feel a certain way, but the events happened in the way that it did and I felt enclosed and triggered. For weeks, I couldn’t enjoy my experience or appreciate what was around me, and when I left, it felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders and I was so relieved to come back home 

But it’s funny the way life works, and how timing is divine. I was given a work opportunity to come back to San Diego, and initially I winced at the idea. I couldn’t imagine coming back to the place where I had felt so much anxiety, but I told myself there has to be a lesson from this, as challenges are put into our lives for a reason

𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐨, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 

I went on walks in the morning

I smelled flowers

I prayed after what felt like forever

I met new, lifelong friends

I saw old friends

And most importantly, I belly laughed 

I surrounded myself with people who took care of me as I took care of myself, and I left thinking San Diego is one of the most beautiful cities with so much culture and peace 

Point of this story is, never judge a book by its cover. We all go through something, whether we vocalize it or not, but one way I’ve learned trauma can be healed is by intentionally rewriting memories