Your phone starts buzzing uncontrollably.

Facebook notifications || Text messages || Instagram likes || Tweets being retweeted

Social media. Love it. [can] hate it.

Do not get me wrong, most of the time, I love social media. It has allowed me to connect with others, assisted with staying in touch, and has brought me multiple opportunities via blogging, running & local events.

But sometimes, those notifications, well they can go fly a kite.

But it is not just social media… texts messages and emails. You know what I am referring to. The multiple messages. The spam emails. The important emails. Those little chirps of being summoned.

#keepingITreal

For the last three to four months, I have been dealing with anxiety attacks. Everyone knows I am a busy bee (I still am one, I thrive off of it); but my phone will start blowing up and regardless of the type of notification, if its one too many…

|| i tense up || overwhelmed || my chest gets tight || can i throw my phone? || stress ||    || being pulled in 100 directions || am i your ‘on demand’? || WHAT NOW?! ||

I know I am not the only one that has experienced this. Different things trigger the attacks; Facebook Messenger, or Twitter, oodles of text messages or even my own personal deadlines. But all in the same, I feel as though I am immeidaltey being pulled in a million different directions and those unwanted feelings set in. Quick.

This past weekend was when I finally saw the big picture; I knew something had not been right, but I was not able to pinpoint it. {unbeknownst to them, two awesome people helped me figure this little quirk out with their enlightenment & just by being present in my life} Without even knowing the root cause, I had already put into play small & simple actions to help myself when a silly attack would hit.

[ i’m so smart, and a smart a$$ 😉 ]

Here are a few things I have implemented to help my well-being:

• put your phone away. yeah, seems simple. but really, just put it away for five minutes until your brain & body settle.
• if you are getting rapid fire text messages, simply turn the phone over. I tend to text this way sometimes; I will send an individual message per topic to keep the thoughts separate.  when you start receiving tons of texts in this fashion, turn your phone over; this allows allllll of them to come through. then you can look when you have time.
• turn off the sound, even turn the vibrate off. makes a difference.
• yoga. namaste your heart out.
• started yesterday, meditation. om.
• turn off notifications. facebook. tweets. instagram. email. snapchat. I have all of mine turned off; it is almost vital for me to have them all off. those updates and notificaitons will be there when I open up the app next.
• figure out what helps you veg. my music helps me escape quickly.
• one last thing that I am going to implement is… ask first. if you need to vent, ask first. if you want advice, ask if you can request it. simply say “hello” to start your message. yes, little steps, slightly silly, but those simple gestures make a difference.

closing thoughts… put your phone away.

Live in the moment. Yes, still snap a pic. I did not say to not document how big your smile might be. That person you are sitting across the table from, they put that smile there; tell them that, snap the pic, but then put the phone away. Enjoy the interaction; live in it. Those messages, notifications and rolling news feed will be there when your interactions are done.

*CC*

Caitlyn

Hey, I’m glad you’re here! I’m Caitlyn, a Tampa native with a love for all things social media, travel & tattoos. It’s no secret that I have a passion for social media - I’ve been at it for 11+ years! When I am not too busy supporting local companies as an SMM, I love to share foodie spots in Tampa and tips for your next Disney trip.