This is a question I’ve gotten numerous times over DM so I figured I’d write about it more in-depth on the blog.

I’ve shared a good amount about my anxiety and if you’re newer here or need a recap (haha), I have several blogs on it and I also have an IG highlight titled “anxiety.” All that to say though – before we moved (from Raleigh to Denver), I finally felt like I was getting into a much better place with my anxiety. I had tried different medications and once I started Prozac, I finally felt like my anxiety was managed, practically non-existent, 90% of the time.

But, I know that a lot of times big life changes can be triggering for someone’s anxiety, so I’m sure that’s why there were questions about how my anxiety has been since moving (which I appreciate)! I have to say though, my anxiety has never been more nonexistent (knock on wood haha). There was one time when we first got here (I think maybe the 2nd or 3rd day) when I was driving alone and I started to feel anxious but other than that I really have not felt anxious.

I contribute the majority of that to Prozac; I feel very lucky to have found a medication that seems to work very well for me with no major side effects. I will say though, I think there are a couple of other reasons that the move hasn’t triggered my anxiety. For one, I am someone who tends to thrive with bigger life changes. A lot of time change is what fuels me and makes me more excited about the future. Now when everything was so up in the air with the move and we kept going back and forth (that was definitely spiking my anxiety because I don’t like being in between decisions). But, once we officially knew we were moving, I was more so really excited for this next adventure and chapter vs. feeling anxious.

I think the other thing is that I just feel “at home” being here. I honestly feel like I am living my life 100% in alignment with where I am supposed to be. I know that may sound cliche but being here I never realized how much I felt “out of place” in Raleigh. That isn’t to say that I was unhappy there or anything like that, but I feel like Denver is so much more my vibe and I feel much more “at peace” here for lack of a better word. It’s kind of hard to describe because it’s pretty nuanced and it wasn’t something I even realized I’d feel until actually living here and being able to compare the two. I mean, obviously, there were plenty of reasons why we wanted to move to Denver and why we thought we would really like it here, but you never really know how you’re going to feel until you’re actually living somewhere. All that to say, I think that has definitely played a big part in keeping my anxiety at bay.

Also as a reminder – I know how frustrating it can be to have anxiety and have it interfere with your daily life. It took me about 4 months to find a medication (Prozac) that worked for me, so all that to say, don’t give up! Once you find something that works it really is life-changing so just try to be patient. You will get there and you are not alone; so many more people struggle with anxiety than you think xx Claire