“Aki woiye,” Been battling anxiety your whole life. “Si mchezo.” Spent endless hours just worrying, the mind racing faster than a “nduthi” on Waiyaki Way. Anxiety can be truly debilitating, “inakuchokesha mwili na akili.” It shows up in different ways for different people, sometimes emotionally, sometimes physically. Maybe you recognize some of these:
- That feeling of panic, fear, “roho kuchemka.”
- “Tumbo ku-churn” or just feeling generally upset inside.
- “Kukosa usingizi” night after night.
- Hands and feet getting cold or sweaty “kama uko ndani ya fridge.”
- Feeling short of breath, “hata kama haujakimbia.”
- “Moyo ku-race kama Subaru” trying to beat traffic.
- Just not being able to be still and calm, “kutulia ni ngumu.”
- Dry mouth “ka umemeza mchanga.”
Sound familiar? “Yeah, hiyo ni anxiety inakusumbua.”
“Kwani Tunaworry Nini Hivi?” – Understanding the Fear
So, why do our brains do this to us? Mostly, anxiety is about being afraid of what might happen. Notice that word: might. Not what is definitely going to happen, but what could maybe possibly perhaps happen if things go “south kabisa.” It’s the fear of the unknown.
We basically have two choices when “wasiwasi inatushika”: We can give in, let it be the boss, and allow it to “kutukalia chapati.” Or, we can find ways to fight back, “kupambana nayo,” and quiet those fearful voices whispering “mambo mbaya” in our heads.
Giving in to anxiety often leads down a slippery slope – negative and self-destructive behaviours like substance abuse, “kupoteza motivation kabisa,” or finding it impossible to build and keep deep, meaningful relationships. Allowing anxiety and fear to rule us means we refuse to face what scares us. And if we don’t deal with our anxiety, trust me, “inakudeal nayo.”
“So, Nifanye Nini Sasa?” – Taming the Wasiwasi Monster
Okay, enough about the problem. “Tufanye nini” to combat this anxiety monster? Here are some strategies that have helped me and might help you too. These aren’t magic cures, “lakini ni tools unaweza jaribu.”
1. Social Proof – “Cheki Your Track Record!”
The past is often the best predictor of the future. Look back over your life. “Hizo stress zote ulikuwa nazo” back then, did the absolute worst-case scenario actually happen? “Mara mob, hapana!” Most of the time, somehow, things worked out. The fears you had were often “bure kabisa.” So, you can do a better job trusting that inner voice, or just plain evidence, that says, “Eh, history shows ‘itakuwa sawa’.” Social proof says you got through stuff before, “na utatoboa hii pia.”
2. Therapy – “Kuongea na Expert”
Now, I know therapy isn’t for everyone. “Maybe huna pesa, maybe huamini,” maybe finding a good one feels like searching for an honest politician. “Lakini,” if you need someone to talk to in a professional, private, non-judgmental setting, therapy can be “poa sana.” They can give you practical tools and coping mechanisms specifically for anxiety and fear. “Ni kama kwenda gym ya akili.”
3. Deep Friendships – “Mabeste Wako Real”
Finding those friends you can trust deeply, “wale wako na best interests zako at heart,” sometimes feels “ngumu kama kupata parking town saa saba.” “Lakini ukipata hao watu,” hold onto them! They are an excellent resource for expressing yourself and relieving some of the pain anxiety causes. Leaning on close friends, being transparent and vulnerable “bila kuogopa judgment,” can be a valuable remedy. “Usiogope kuwa vulnerable.”
4. Hobby/Obsession – “Pata Kitu Inakubamba”
Find something you’re truly passionate about, something that fully captures your attention. This hobby allows your thoughts to move away from the “wasiwasi” and onto something you love. “Inakutoa kwa hiyo box ya stress.” For the author of the original text, it was driving a race car mentally. For you? Maybe it’s following Gor Mahia stats, “kutengeneza garden yako,” perfecting your “mandazi” recipe, learning code, “ama hata kucheza Playstation mpaka chee!” When anxiety tries to overwhelm you, especially at night, dive deep into your hobby in your mind. Replay the game, plan the garden, code the function. It takes your mind off the negative loop and can even help you sleep. “Focus kwa positive.”
5. Exercise – “Toa Jasho!”
Moving your body is powerful. The author workouts out daily for 90 minutes. That might be too much for some of us, “lakini hata ka-walk kidogo helps.” Exercise serves many purposes:
- It’s “me time,” away from everyone’s demands. Time to think, reflect, plan.
- It keeps your body healthy, “uwe fiti.”
- It burns off that restless energy, “ndio usikuwe hyper kama dem wa TikTok anaskia beat ya Amapiano.” Find what works – walking, running, dancing “kwa nyumba,” skipping rope. “Toa jasho!”
6. Journaling – “Andika Chini”
Writing things down can be surprisingly helpful. Keep a journal. You can look back later and see specific things you worried about intensely, and then read about how things actually turned out “poa.” It serves as more proof that most worries are just “stories tunajiambia kwa kichwa.” Some ideas for journaling:
- What you are grateful for “leo.”
- Things you have achieved, “hata kama ni small.”
- Goals you want to achieve.
- Times you worried intensely and how things really resolved.
- Positive relationships in your life.
7. Faith – “Kuamini Itakuwa Sawa”
When the author says faith, they don’t just mean religion, though that helps many people. It means having faith, a deep belief, that everything will work out in the end. “Hata kama huoni njia saa hii.” Our minds are incredibly powerful. If we consistently believe that something will work out, that we can handle it, it often helps make it so. Faith is like telling yourself a better story, a story where things resolve for the best, even if the path isn’t clear yet. “Ni kuambia akili yako story poa.”
“Wewe Ni Soldier! You Can Do It”
Listen, “hakuna magic ya ku-stop worry completely.” For many of us, anxiety and “wasiwasi” feel like they are woven into the fabric of who we are, “ni kama kitenge.” What we can do is learn to manage it. We can utilize tools like these to “kupunguza uchungu,” both the physical feelings and the mental turmoil.
Think of that famous quote: “Courage is not the absence of fear, but taking action in spite of the fear.” Having anxiety doesn’t make you weak. Learning to manage it, to live your life despite it, makes you a “soldier.” “So hata kama roho inatetemeka,” try taking that next small step. “Songa mbele!” You’ve got this.
