It was an ordinary night, sitting back in my chair, when suddenly my throat locked up. The air just wouldn’t go in. I was panicked.

Since then, this sensation has become strangely familiar as my common state.

I went through every check-up, every test, but nothing seemed wrong. And yet, something clearly wasn’t right.

Finally, a doctor told me: “This looks like an anxiety attack.”

Me? Anxiety?

What on earth was I anxious about?

Your chest tightens as if a weight is pressing down.

Your palms sweat for no reason.

Your heart sprints like you have just run a mile, even though you’re sitting still.

Your brain won’t stop replaying the same “what ifs,” and when you try to focus, it’s like trying to read with static buzzing in your ears.

You know it’s irrational, but your body doesn’t care. It has already reacted as if the danger is real.

And I want you to give me your next 3 minutes, just focus on finishing this article.

In today’s world, anxiety is everywhere.

We’re constantly “switched on”. All the notifications, deadlines, economic worries, and social comparisons.

Our brains are ancient, built for short bursts of danger. But now, they are trying to process stress 24/7.

When the brain stays in fight-or-flight mode nonstop, it’s like leaving the lights and engine running in a car all night. At first, nothing seems wrong: the car is still on, the lights are still bright. But little by little, the battery drains. The engine overheats. Sooner or later, things stop working the way they should.

Our nervous system works the same way. Stress hormones are meant to surge for a short sprint, then settle back down. But if they never switch off, the body and mind never get to rest. Sleep becomes shallow, focus scatters, and even small tasks start to feel heavier than they are.

This is why chronic anxiety is exhausting both mentally and physically.

Ever since COVID, there has been this quiet unease inside me. It feels as though the world has shifted in some invisible way, and nothing is quite the same as it was before.

I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was there.

A constant sense that the ground beneath me wasn’t as solid anymore.

Work, which once felt predictable, suddenly seemed fragile.

What if my job isn’t as secure as I thought? What if the world throws another curveball? That thought alone kept me awake at night, scrolling endlessly.

I searched for answers in the wrong places: “how to make money online,” “escape the 9-to-5,” “what’s the most profitable side hustle in 2025,” “is dropshipping still worth it?”

The more I searched, the more restless I became.

It felt like everyone else already had a plan. They knew exactly what they wanted, where they were heading. I was the only one still stuck, caught between anxiety about the future and confusion about what to do next.

You might be nodding your head and feeling the same.

But I want to tell you, it’s okay to feel this way.

We live in a time where the world moves faster than our minds can process.

Of course, it’s unsettling.

Of course, it feels like everyone else is ahead.

But that doesn’t mean you’re behind.

It simply means you’re human, trying to make sense of a complex and noisy world.

What I have learned is that clarity doesn’t come from endless searching.

It comes from slowing down and only focusing on the things that you can control.

Here are a few steps you can do now to relieve your anxiety immediately.

Instead of forcing yourself to “stop thinking,” start with something physical.

Take a hot shower, take a deep breath, drink a glass of warm water, or give your stiff body a stretch.

When you are doing any action above, pay closer attention to the details. E.g., when you are taking a shower, feel the water flow through your skin. Or, when you stretch your body, imagine the muscle being pulled inch by inch and becoming more relaxed. I want you to FEEL the action. This will immediately turning ourselves into “focus at the moment” mode.

You can choose to type it on your phone or anything, but I suggest physical pen and paper.

I want you to have a conversation with yourself.

“What am I exactly anxious about?”

“What is the worst case that could happen to me on this?”

“If the worst case happened, can I handle it?”

Most of the time, just seeing the words in front of you takes the fear out of the shadows.

What felt like a giant fog in your head becomes something you can face, or at least something you see clearly.

It isn’t unclear now.

Sit somewhere comfortable. Take three deep breaths with the 4-7-8 method (inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and breathe out for 8 seconds).

And, in your own words, remind yourself:

Don’t be afraid. Whatever happens, we will handle it together.

You are not alone. I‘ve got you.

It might feel unusual at first, but this simple act of kindness toward yourself is powerful. Like giving yourself the safety you may have never been taught to give.

Through the methods above, I was able to comb through my thoughts and knew exactly what I was anxious about.

With a calmer mind, we can think more clearly and rationally.

I hope this article is helpful to you, and if it is, consider subscribing to this newsletter for free. I will be posting at least a newsletter every week about the different steps I am taking to reboot my work and life.

See you in the next one. Cheers.