Anxiety
Anxiety is something that many of us have experienced. According to Beyond Blue “anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. On average, one in four people will experience anxiety in their lives.”
But while many of us have suffered anxiety, it can be hard to identify it and even harder to understand.
Firstly, If you are having a particularly difficult time at the moment, there are people available to help you. Resources and support are available through organisations like Beyond Blue, Black Dog Institute and your local GP.
WHAT IS ANXIETY?
Anxiety can be understood as a feeling of stress or worry that doesn’t go away or can be triggered without any reason. It is meant to be a self-defence mechanism, a way for our body to keep us safe from danger.
However, sometimes this sensation can become overwhelming. This makes it hard to cope with, but there are ways to help manage and recover from it. The first step is being able to identify when we are suffering from anxiety.
KNOW THE SIGNS
Anxiety has a range of symptoms and signs, and it is perfectly normal to identify one or even a few of the signs listed below. The Black Dog Institute have pulled together a list of common signs and symptoms:
- You might be feeling:
- very worried or afraid most of the time
- tense and on edge
- nervous or scared
- panicky
- irritable, agitated
- detached from your body
- You may be thinking:
- ‘everything’s going to go wrong’
- ‘I might die’
- ‘I can’t handle the way I feel’
- ‘I can’t focus on anything but my worries’
- ‘I don’t want to go out today’
- ‘I can’t calm myself down’.
- You may also be experiencing:
- ‘everything’s going to go wrong’
- ‘I might die’
- ‘I can’t handle the way I feel’
- ‘I can’t focus on anything but my worries’
- ‘I don’t want to go out today’
- ‘I can’t calm myself down’.
When these thoughts and feelings start to become repetitive or become severe and overwhelming, it is important to visit your GP. This will give you a chance to discuss these feelings with a trained medical professional and create a treatment plan that is right for you.
Strategies to deal with Anxiety
Next time you start to feel anxious, here are some basic strategies you can try thanks to Beyond Blue:
Focus on your breathing – When people are anxious, a common symptom can be fast and shallow breathing. Try slowing down your breathing by counting to four as you breathe in slowly, hold your for breath for a count of four and then slowly breath out for four.
Relax your muscles – Find a quiet and private space. Close your eyes and slowly tense and then relax each of your muscle groups from your toes to your head. Hold the tension for three seconds and then release. This can help reduce the feelings of muscle tension that often comes with anxiety.
Get Active – Keeping active, eating well, going out into nature, and spending time with family and friends can all contribute to positive mental health. By being active for 30 to 60 minutes each day, you can help reduce your anxiety and improve your overall wellbeing.