I HATE ANXIETY 2020 - Summary

Summary

Here is a concise summary of the text:

**Title:** Reflecting on 2020, Anxiety, and Personal Growth

**Summary:**

* The author reflects on the chaotic year of 2020, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused widespread anxiety and disrupted daily life.
* They share their personal experience of likely contracting COVID-19 in April, leading to lingering "brain fog" symptoms, which have exacerbated their anxiety.
* The author discusses their journey to cope with anxiety, highlighting key lessons and strategies, including:
1. Understanding and accepting anxiety
2. Diet and exercise (e.g., daily walks with their dogs)
3. Mindfulness (breathing exercises, meditation, and guided meditations)
4. Setting small, achievable goals
5. Limiting social media (e.g., avoiding Twitter)
* They emphasize the importance of seeking professional help and share their personal growth, from struggling with anxiety as a teenager to finding ways to manage it.
* The video concludes with a personal update, apologizing for infrequent uploads in 2020, and teasing future content plans for their YouTube channel.

Facts

Here are the key facts extracted from the text, excluding opinions, with each fact numbered and in brief sentence form:

1. **Timeframe Mentioned**: The speaker last discussed a certain topic in June 2016.
2. **Year Highlighted**: The year 2020 is emphasized as being particularly chaotic.
3. **Global Situation**: The world was experiencing a pandemic in 2020.
4. **Symptom Timeline**: The speaker suspects they caught COVID-19 in April (presumably 2020).
5. **Testing Availability**: At the time (April 2020), getting a COVID-19 test was not an option for the speaker.
6. **Symptoms Described**: The speaker mentions experiencing respiratory issues.
7. **Recovery Phase**: It took the speaker a few months to start feeling like their normal self again.
8. **Neurological Symptom**: The speaker experienced "brain fog," a recognized symptom affecting about a third of people recovering from COVID-19.
9. **Medical Advice**: The importance of visiting a doctor if really suffering is emphasized.
10. **Pre-existing Conditions**: Checking for underlying health issues is advised before addressing anxiety.
11. **Anxiety Affect**: Society's stresses (e.g., money, work, school) can keep individuals in a constant state of fight or flight.
12. **Health Practices**:
* Diet and exercise play a huge role in mental well-being.
* Endorphins from exercise help alleviate negative thoughts.
13. **Mental Wellness Strategies**:
* Setting small, achievable goals can lead to significant change.
* Mindfulness, breathing exercises, and meditation are helpful for many.
14. **Resource Mentioned**:
* An album by Marconi Union, designed with the British Academy of Sound Therapy to reduce stress, is recommended.
15. **Personal Journey**:
* The speaker's anxiety used to be worse, especially during their teenage years.
* They have improved over time through understanding and dealing with their anxiety.
16. **Content Creator's Plans**:
* Intent to upload more in the upcoming year (2023 at the time of recording).
* Goal to complete the IMDB Bottom 100 before their 10-year YouTube anniversary in 2023.
* Mention of working on a "Destiny Beyond Light" video, with uncertainty about its completion.