I went through severe anxiety during the great recession. Got laid off, knew that I would either have to sell my house, or it would go into foreclosure. My house was my "retirement" plan, and I was in my 50s. I ended up selling it at the bottom of the market.
Some days, I didn't think my body would make it through the physical pain of the anxiety. Eventually, things all worked out. I was living in Texas at the time, and recognized that the lack of a safety net would be a problem for me as I got older. So I made a move to Oregon, which is kinder to low income folks. Not perfect, but better than Texas. That was five years ago.
Things that helped me get through the anxiety.
- Surprisingly, lightening my load. When I sold the house, I got rid of most of my belongings so that I could be more mobile. Knowing that in a pinch, I could more easily move someplace with much cheaper rents helped. (Oregon was NOT that place, but it had other advantages).
- Making a serious plan. I turned my anxiety into an exercise in planning for retirement as a poor person. Decided to get as creative and resourceful as possible. If you have your health, everything else is negotiable. I knew that I could turn any place I lived into something beautiful and peaceful. And I have.
- I learned how to daytrade to supplement my low income. It took a long time to learn, and I made a lot of mistakes. But it has been a godsend. Now, it is working for me.
- I learned to meditate, and watched a lot of videos by Pema Chodron, a woman Buddhist monk, on how to deal with life's difficulties. I highly recommend any and all of her works. On the worst days, I would just alternate meditating, exercise, and watching her videos over and over. She has so many helpful insights. On bad days, it seems like she is nailing exactly what you are going through with great insight and helpful ways to reframe it.
It's good that you reached out. Keep doing so as you need to. At some point, this too shall pass. Just keep reminding yourself that it won't always be this way. Namaste.
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