I thought for YEARS that the goal was to learn how to manage anxiety. So naturally, I tried everything to manage it! All the coping skills, all the mindfulness techniques, literally anything that promised anxiety relief.
And then 10 years ago, I walked into a psychiatrist's office to talk about going on medication because I was at one of the lowest points in my recovery journey, and she said to me, "F*** managing anxiety! You don't have to learn to manage anxiety."
And this was one of the most pivotal points of my recovery journey, and of my life!