Why we bring anxiety to life

At Lyft Counselling, we spend a lot of time helping people understand their mental health, especially experiences like anxiety, pressure, and performance stress. One thing we see again and again is that many people struggle not because they are incapable or not trying hard enough, but because they do not yet have the language to describe what they are feeling.

Anxiety can be confusing. It can show up suddenly, without warning, and it often feels uncomfortable in the body. Many people feel a racing heart, a tight stomach, restless thoughts, or a strong urge to avoid something important. Because those sensations feel intense, people often begin to fear the feeling of anxiety itself. They start wondering why it is happening or whether something is wrong with them.

This is also why anxiety can feel lonely. When you are performing well on the outside, it can be hard to explain to others that internally things feel stressful or overwhelming. Many athletes and high performers tell us they feel like they are the only one dealing with it, even though anxiety is actually very common.

Sometimes simply giving something a name can be powerful. When people can recognize anxiety for what it is, it becomes easier to understand it, talk about it, and learn how to respond to it.

This is part of why we share stories about anxiety on our social media.

Many of the athletes we work with describe anxiety as something that feels like it suddenly appears before competitions, during training, or when expectations feel high. It can feel frustrating and unpredictable, and sometimes people start to fight it or try to push it away.

So we created the Anxiety Monster.

The Anxiety Monster is a simple way to help athletes visualize what anxiety can feel like. Instead of seeing anxiety as something that means something is wrong with them, they can begin to see it as something separate from who they are. Something that shows up, gets loud sometimes, but can also be understood and managed.

When athletes see the Anxiety Monster, they often laugh a little at first. But then something important happens. They begin to recognize the moments when anxiety appears. They realize that many other people experience the same thing. And instead of feeling alone or confused, they start to feel curious about it.

By telling these stories online, our goal is to build awareness and help people feel less alone in what they are experiencing. Mental health becomes easier to talk about when it feels relatable, human, and sometimes even a little creative.

And sometimes, learning to face anxiety begins with something simple. Recognizing the monster when it shows up and realizing that it does not have to control the story.