Fear is one of our most basic emotions, and it is a necessary element of our existence. However, we often wonder if fear and anxiety are becoming more of a hindrance to thriving than a help to survive in modern times. We can say that we are living in generations of anxiety. Our generation was supposed to grow up empowered by technology and a changing, globalizing world, but the picture is starting to blur; we're destroying ourselves with our thoughts.
According to Astha R.L Rana who is currently dealing with anxiety, “It took a while to notice how anxious I have been ever since I was a teenager. Overthinking never left me. I can't specify how much I have been through but here I am going to share a brief story about my anxiety.”
“It all started during the second lockdown as I woke up feeling dizzy. A week had gone but the symptoms got even worse. I dealt with extremely uncomfortable sensations with my body, had trouble sleeping, my hands were numb and I barely ate anything. It went on for a few months and I was terrified”, she adds.
Rana started to feel lonely and felt like she was losing her mind. She used to feel hopeless and would end up crying a lot. Her thoughts were racing constantly in her mind and she couldn’t stop worrying. Finally she went for a check-up and the doctor listened to her for about fifteen minutes and then prescribed her serotonin to relieve the symptoms. She was diagnosed with general anxiety.
“Medicines weren't my first choice and somehow I wanted to find a better way to cope up with my anxiety. My father follows Buddhism and he often shares his experiences with his guru”, she says.
“I used to enjoy hearing his stories but I never applied it to my life. While all this was happening, I started researching Buddhism and how mindfulness worked. In Buddhism, desire, attachment and ignorance are the root causes of human suffering. I went through books and videos that motivated me to learn more”, she further adds.
Then she learned meditation from one of the greatest Tibetan meditation masters, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, who has authored two best selling books and oversees the Tergar Meditation community.
‘The Joy of Living-Unlocking the secrets of science and happiness’ debuted on the New York Times best seller list. “He taught me breathing, sound and mantra meditation and it’s been six months since I've been following his teachings now”, she says.
Explaining more, “He said ‘the fear of the panic is worse than the panic’ and how our mind is capable of producing thoughts which aren’t true. Healing takes time and we just have to trust the process.”
“Practicing meditation everyday can give you a sense of calm, clarity and helps us manage our emotions. The essence of meditation is awareness. I have overcome my physical symptoms but I still have those days where I feel a bit anxious but it's okay”, she adds.
Rana stresses the point that we are not alone in this, we all go through it and trying to be positive is the best way to deal with our suffering. It’s important to share awareness about mental health. Having tough conversations and accepting there’s a problem can help us bring out a solution.
We should talk about it with our family and friends. Please don’t hesitate to seek help. We all deserve to be happy and live a peaceful life. “I will always be grateful to my guru for his teachings and blessings. I thank you for being my spiritual guide and helping me get through the tough time. Words can't describe how grateful I’m to be your student”, she concludes.
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