Name: Katherine C
Occupation: University Professor
Instagram: @drcayenne15
Tell us your story:
Growing up I was felt this immense pressure to not be a failure and back then I was able to channel that pressure in different positive ways. However, fast forward 10 years and I’m now married, with a lucrative career in higher education and the distinguished title of “Dr.” in front of my name. I have to say my anxiety really kicked in when I got married in 2016 and various health issues started to pop up in my elderly parents and sibling. Stroke, Parkinsons, MS all the while trying to navigate our first year of marriage. My husband is an engineer and is type “A” as well as I. About 6 months into our marriage, I began to realize how my life was changing, not good, not bad, but definitely changing. I began to ask myself whether I could handle everything that was coming my way? What is my life going to be like when my parents pass away? Will I be able to raise my nephews if my sissy wasn’t able too? What kind of mother I would be? Could I live up to the expectations i had placed on myself? Could I be a wife with everything going on in my life? There were so many questions that I times I would become paralyzed with fear. That fear turned into anxiety. Some days I could catch it early and reach out to my husband who would listen and tell me that “everything would be alright.” But other times when he was away on a work trip and he could not pick up the phone. I would work myself up so bad that I would just cry. Anxiety is funny in a way, because it makes me feel like I am living someone else’s life. I have tried to talk about it with some people that I am close to but for some reason I feel like they are judging me. I deal with Anxiety everyday some days are better than others but I have to remember to give myself grace and that no one and I mean no one is perfect.
What advice would you give to another woman who is going through a similar experience?
Be patient, breathe and know that it will pass.