Less hustle, more slow: why I created The Slow Down Collective
Hi! Welcome to The Slow Down Collective's 'Slow Stories'.
I'm creating this little corner to share my experiences of anxiety, overwhelm and burnout in the hope that it'll help others to see that they're not alone. I'll also be sharing stories of other people who have chosen a slower pace of life - I can't wait to learn from them and explore these stories alongside you.
'Less hustle, more slow'
This is very much my motto now. But I didn’t always think this way and it still takes daily reminders for me to move through life at a slower pace. Going slowly isn't in my DNA; I'm competitive, ambitious, driven, a people-pleaser and 'yes' (wo)man. And when you operate at 100 miles an hour for 38 years then it catches up with you sooner or later....
A series of panic attacks in May 2019 literally forced me to stop and reassess how I was living my life. A visit to my GP about a health issue very quickly turned into a diagnosis of severe anxiety and panic disorder, both of which diagnoses absolutely knocked me for six. Yes I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with work and life, but I couldn't comprehend that the very physical health concerns I was experiencing were all down to anxiety. It took me months to get my head around it (and I'm still processing it to be honest). So I was referred for talking therapy - the waiting list for which was 12 weeks but actually turned out to be 12 months - I started my CBT sessions in May 2020.
All I wanted was to feel better...but I didn't know how to.
I literally had no idea what my body and mind needed. After wallowing, worrying and not knowing what to do for a good few weeks, I slowly started to address my anxiety and started to feel more me. (Another blog with the detail of what I tried over my 12 month wellness journey is coming soon)
There is no quick fix
It's so important for me to stress that I'm not 'fixed' and never will be. This is a new approach to living my life at a slower pace, listening to my body and managing anxiety on a daily basis.
Over this period of time the idea for The Slow Down Collective was born too, which has now been in my head for months. I'm SO passionate about helping others find ways to slow down and build their own 'toolkit' of resources that will work for them. Everyone’s journey will be completely unique.
With The Slow Down Collective, my vision is to bring you practical tools, created in collaboration with experts, to help relieve anxiety, stress and overwhelm in everyday life. Lovingly curated moments of calm for busy, anxious minds.
I'm so glad you're here for this journey and, if you feel compelled to and would like to share, I’d love to hear your thoughts too.
And, if you'd like to receive a monthly email straight to your inbox with inspiration, ideas, Slow Stories, gratitude prompts and more...then join the Slow Down Edit community by popping your email below.