Andy the “Anxious” Aardvark Takes on GAD: A Mental Health Warrior’s Self-Help Story of Triumph
- Bruce Schutter
- May 28
- 4 min read
It started like most days downtown—me wandering into a local shop, debating whether I needed another diet soda or just a moment of silence. I was mid-thought when I heard a cheerful, slightly twitchy voice behind me:
"Bruce! It's you! Oh my gosh, wait—do I look okay? Should I have worn the other shirt? I was going to journal first but I got excited and—never mind! I have something to tell you!"
It was Andy the “Anxious” Aardvark. A friend of Marvin the “Mental Health Warrior Cat.
I turned and grinned. "Andy, my fellow Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) survivor. What’s the occasion?"
He beamed. "I’m a Mental Health Warrior now. Like Marvin. And YOU. And it’s changing everything!"
From Spinning to Standing Strong
Andy launched into his news like he’d been holding it in since breakfast—which he probably had, because he was worried he overcooked the oatmeal... and maybe under-cleaned the spoon.
“I used to feel like my anxiety ran the whole show, Bruce. Every day was just a giant spiral of ‘what ifs’.
But then I read your story—how you spent 20 years battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. How you hit rock bottom and tried to end it all. And how, in the middle of that darkness, you discovered something life-changing: Mental Health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Then you created the Mental Health Warrior Program—a new SELF-HELP approach that empowers anyone to take charge of their emotions, triumph over struggles, and build the life they really want.
Well… becoming a Warrior? That changed me.”
“I realized,” he continued, adjusting his glasses, “that GAD isn’t the enemy. It’s a challenge I can meet with the Warrior approach—and triumph over, one day at a time. I no longer feel alone in a battle I didn’t choose.”
I nodded. “Exactly. SELF-HELP doesn’t mean doing it all alone—it means building the mindset and tools to face life on our terms.”
"YES!" Andy said, nearly knocking over a display of eco-friendly to-go lids. "That’s why I fill my warrior toolbelt daily. Because when anxiety flares up—and it does—I want to be ready. Matter of fact let me give you three examples of how I triumphed last week!"
Example 1: Finances and Future Panic
"Last week," Andy said, "I checked my bank account, and my brain went full DEFCON 1: 'You’re broke. You’ll never retire. You probably shouldn’t even buy spinach.'"
"Classic GAD," I said.
"Right? So I pulled out my Warrior tool: Financial Facts vs Fear. I sat down, made a list of what I knew was true versus what my brain was spinning. Turns out, I’m not broke—I just paid a couple of bills early. I am managing my expenses. That restored me to calm place, where I am in charge. So yes, I bought the spinach."
Our Turn:
When anxiety hits around money, pause—and separate facts from fear.
Mental Health Warriors use tools like budgeting, gratitude, and deep breathing to calm the chaos and regain perspective. Then? We take focused action.
💥 Financial Doom Spiral: Dodged like a Boss!
Example 2: The Project Perfection Panic
"Then there was the presentation I had to give," Andy said, eyes wide. "I spent hours tweaking the font size—because what if the audience hates Arial? What if my data isn’t ‘insightful’ enough?"
"Been there," I nodded.
"So I used my mindset of ‘Progress, Not Perfection’ to snap out of it. I reminded myself that Warrior action beats anxious paralysis. I hit send. Gave the talk. It wasn’t flawless—but I didn’t run, and I got it done. And guess what? People actually liked it. Big Win!"
Our Turn:
Mental Health Warriors know perfectionism is just fear in fancy clothes.
Instead of chasing flawless, we aim for forward motion. Take a step. Then take another. Let progress be the win—and let perfection know it’s not running the show. 🎯
Example 3: Anxiety for No Reason (a.k.a. Tuesday)
Andy’s ears twitched. “Okay, this one was just last night. I was sitting on the couch—nothing happened—and BAM. My brain goes, ‘You’re failing at life.’ No trigger. Just... a full-body dread wave out of nowhere!” 🎭
“The GAD sneak attack,” I said.
“Exactly! I wanted to cancel plans, snap at my roommate, maybe even stress-clean the ceiling fan. But instead, I grabbed my Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin and did a 3-Minute Warrior Reset—deep breathing, grounding, and reminding myself I’m in charge. Not GAD.”
Our Turn:
Sometimes anxiety has no story—it just shows up like a bad improv actor.
Instead of letting it take over, use your Warrior tools: movement, mindfulness, breath. Shift the energy. Reset the story. And Revel in being in Charge Again! ⚔️
Why the Self-Help Warrior Approach Works
Andy leaned in. "Bruce, I know I’ll always have GAD. I’ll probably always overthink at least three things before breakfast. But the difference now? I’m equipped."
He paused, then added, “The Warrior mindset doesn’t promise life will be easy—it promises I’ll be ready. And with the power of a SELF-HELP approach, I don’t have to wait for help to arrive… because I am the help!”
I smiled. "That’s it right there. Self-help isn’t a backup plan. It’s the main strategy. Because we can’t stop challenges from coming up, but we can train ourselves to respond NOT react!"
"And when I respond as a Warrior," Andy said, adjusting his satchel full of coping tools, "my anxiety loses power. I make the move. I choose the action. I come out stronger!" 🛡️
Wrap Up
As we walked out of the coffee shop, Andy turned to me and grinned. "Marvin’s gonna love that I shared all this. He’s making me log it in our Mental Health Warrior Wins group chat."
"Tell him I said Hi—and that you’re crushing it!" We fist-bumped. Well, paw-bumped.
And as we headed off in opposite directions—we both walked taller. Because anxiety might still whisper in our ears, but today? We’re Warriors. And thanks to the power of a SELF-HELP approach, we’re equipped, empowered, and ready to rise—every single day!
Bruce Schutter
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