Just the thought of it makes me anxious
By EG Manilag, Staff Writer
Boxes… boxes… And even more boxes to tape—and move around! Boxes are only one of the few stressors in moving out. The main stressor, however, is not tangible like the boxes I’ve mentioned. The main stressor comes from the mind: overthinking.
Overthinking is especially inevitable when planning to move out. Although it helps you in staying focused, it often leads to anxiety, sickness, or anxiety-induced sickness. I experienced a lot of overthinking when my family and I moved to a new home.
Weeks before moving out, I had a flashback to something in my psychology book that haunted me: the theory that moving is always a stressful event, especially when paired with other big life events that offer a lot of pressure. It’s hard to really argue with that. Three weeks before moving, the COVID-19 pandemic was portrayed by media outlets as a really serious problem. As a result, students and professors were forced to transition from in-person classes to online ones (with all Douglas summer courses online). These happenings really sparked a global anxiety. As for me, the paired pandemic and move triggered my long-gone asthma.
At first, I thought it was mostly because of the dust I faced in our old home when we were cleaning. I also thought that maybe I contracted the virus—which has shortness of breath as one of the signs and symptoms. To make sure I didn’t get the virus, we contacted our family doctor. Fortunately, it has nothing to do with COVID-19. So, I thought that maybe it was the stressors that ultimately made me feel sick. And I was right. While moving out, I tried to stay calm and avoid overthinking. But that was really hard, especially when the world is getting scarier. But when moving day finished and we completed arranging our stuff in our new house, I felt released, and I was literally able to breathe normally again. A lot can also happen after moving. For instance, your daily routine might be distorted, and you might have shorter periods for studying. These adjustments can be quite stressful and make you feel anxious. But one thing is certain, dealing with the inevitable readjustments (stressors) in life and working to overcome them can help you become a stronger person.
