I talk about a recent experience I had with anxiety, inspired by Inside Out 2. I hope this episode makes you feel a little more comfortable with the topic of anxiety and a little less alone if or when you experience something similar. 

Anxiety Attacks in Your 20s: An Honest Guy's Experience and How to Cope

Anxiety doesn't discriminate by gender - here's what a real anxiety attack feels like and how to get through it.

Why We Need to Talk About Men's Mental Health

Last week, I experienced something that completely caught me off guard - an intense wave of anxiety that I couldn't shake for hours. As guys, we rarely talk about these moments openly, but maybe it's time we start.

The truth is, anxiety affects everyone, regardless of gender. But for men in their 20s and beyond, there's often an unspoken pressure to "tough it out" or handle mental health struggles alone. This needs to change.

What an Anxiety Attack Actually Feels Like

The Perfect Storm: My anxiety attack started the moment I woke up. Three thoughts hit me simultaneously:

• Something current I couldn't control

• A past mistake I was still beating myself up over

• A future event that had me unnecessarily nervous

It felt like all these emotions - anger, regret, nervousness, anxiety - came flooding in at once, and I couldn't stop it.

When Normal Coping Strategies Fail: Usually, working out or going for a walk helps me reset. Not this time. I went to the gym, felt better briefly, then everything crashed back down. I tried scrolling on my phone, starting work, more distractions - nothing worked.

The "I Don't Know How to Stop" Feeling: This is the scariest part of anxiety - when you feel completely out of control. It's like being stuck in a mental loop where normal solutions just don't work.

The Joy vs. Anxiety Trade-Off

One thing that really struck me (inspired by watching Inside Out 2, which surprisingly resonated deeply) is how joy and anxiety can't coexist. When anxiety takes over completely, happiness feels impossible - not just difficult, but genuinely unreachable.

This isn't about being dramatic. When you're in that headspace, positive emotions feel otherworldly. You know logically that good things exist, but you can't access those feelings until the anxiety passes.

What I Learned About Getting Through It

The Uncomfortable Truth: I wish I had a magic solution, but honestly, I don't know exactly why or how my anxiety eventually faded. It just... did.

Things That Might Have Helped:

• Getting outside for fresh air

• Listening to music that usually energizes me

• Calling a friend and family member

• Writing down my thoughts on paper

The Writing Exercise: This one felt particularly helpful. I wrote out the three things causing my anxiety - past, present, future. Getting them out of my head and onto paper made them feel less overwhelming, more manageable.

Why This Matters for All of Us

It's More Common Than You Think: If you've experienced something similar, you're not alone. Anxiety affects millions of people, and it doesn't make you weak or broken.

It Will Pass: This is the most important thing I can tell you. No matter how intense it feels in the moment, anxiety attacks don't last forever. The weight will lift, perspective will return, and you'll have room for positive emotions again.

Breaking the Silence: By sharing these experiences, we make it easier for other guys to open up about their mental health struggles.

Practical Tips for Managing Anxiety

When It Hits:

• Don't fight it entirely - sometimes you need to let it run its course

• Try physical movement - even if it doesn't cure it, it might provide temporary relief

• Reach out to someone - isolation makes anxiety worse

• Write it down - externalize the thoughts swirling in your head

For Long-term Management:

• Recognize your patterns - notice if anxiety tends to hit about past/present/future concerns

• Build a support network - have people you can call during difficult moments

• Don't expect perfection - you won't feel great every day, and that's normal

The Bigger Picture

Anxiety often comes from three time zones:

• Past: Regrets, mistakes, things we can't change

• Present: Current problems we feel we can't solve

• Future: Worries about upcoming events or unknown outcomes

Understanding this pattern can help you identify what's driving your anxiety and address it more effectively.

Moving Forward

I'm sharing this not because I have all the answers, but because I think it's important for guys to hear that other men go through this too. Mental health struggles don't make you less of a man - they make you human.

If you're going through something similar right now: It will pass. You'll get through it. And there's no shame in reaching out for help when you need it.

Remember: Feeling anxious doesn't mean something's fundamentally wrong with you. It means you're dealing with challenging circumstances or thoughts, and that's completely normal.

Getting Help

If anxiety is significantly impacting your daily life, consider:

• Talking to a therapist or counselor

• Speaking with your doctor about treatment options

• Joining support groups or online communities

• Developing a consistent self-care routine

Mental health is just as important as physical health, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Struggling with anxiety or mental health? You're not alone. Share your experiences or reach out at josh@guyset.com. Sometimes just knowing someone else has been there makes all the difference.

For more honest conversations about the challenges guys face, follow @theguyset and check out guyset.com.

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See you next Tuesday!