In my past posts I talk a lot about different fitness/wellness/diet routines I have tried to manage anxiety. This is something I’m still interested in, but had an interesting experience last spring with a challenge called a “75 Hard”.
I had heard of this challenge for a while, it comes and goes like most trends. It is a challenge conjured by Andy Frisella to not only strengthen you physically, but mentally. When I read through the rules the first few times, I dismissed it because it would be too difficult with my schedule. The rules are relatively simple, but if you take a deep dive on the facebook group or internet be prepared to get confused. For example, I was adding flavorless electrolyte drops to my water, and some people in the Facebook group considered that a cheat. If you workout outdoors, but underneath an awning or cover that is considered a cheat. Besides hoping the exercise would improve my anxiety, I wanted to improve my mental strength. My ability to control some of my impulses is lacking.
The challenge can be extremely difficult depending on your work schedule, family life and general health. My husband was very supportive, and he took on more duties at home to help free up some time. I couldn’t imagine being able to complete 75 days of this without the support of my family. On day 20 I decided I failed because I had 1 caffeinated chocolate square at work to help me stay awake. My husband was visibly disappointed, as it meant that I would need to start the challenge over on day 1. We joke now that I did a “95 Hard”. The daily workouts varied from rucking outside, lifting weights at the gym, yoga at home, jumping on a mini trampoline with weights. A few times it was pouring rain when I walked outside, some nice people stopped and asked me if I needed a ride. They looked baffled when I told them I was working out. I found that I rather enjoyed walking in the rain. I would say the most difficult aspect of the challenge was drinking the gallon of water daily. Which seems silly because going into it I thought that would be one of the easier tasks to complete. Be prepared to take multiple trips to the bathroom. God help you if you forget to manage your water intake during the day so you chug 1 gallon before bed.
The challenge is beneficial in that you do learn a few things about yourself. I learned that I can workout gladly all day long, but I absolutely hate restricting my diet. Also, that I have way to many half naked selfies at the end of this challenge.
Did my anxiety magically go away at the end? Did I turn into a female David Goggins? Short answer is no, but the challenge was not unfruitful. At the end of it, I had a thought come up in my mind that bothered me, “if I took Christianity as seriously as I did this challenge a stranger came up with then maybe I would be in a better place”.
At the end of the day there is no magic solution to managing my anxiety. Yes, exercising helps, avoiding overly processed foods helps, eliminating excessive clutter helps, meditation, sensory deprivation, cold showers, etc., might all help, but anxiety still hangs over me. I still live in this world with all its problems and placing worldly woes above Christ has caused more needless suffering. If I consider myself a “Christian” and truly believe in the teachings of the gospel then I should be serious about it. After realizing that I had placed Christ in a neat box that I only opened up on Sunday, I decided to make a change. This is how I stumbled into the Eastern Orthodox Church. In a rather odd way the 75 hard challenge led me to Eastern Orthodoxy. If I’m going to live by rules or challenges in my daily life I’d much rather it lead me closer to God.
Am I going to church looking for a miracle expecting my anxiety to disappear? I would say I expect to suffer worldly sorrows, but if having anxiety is my “cross” to bear then I will pick it up and follow Christ. I will focus on the glimpses of peace and joy that grace brings and not on my anxieties.
Writings from behind the Pine Curtain 