WHAT IS ANXIETY?
Anxiety can be described as a feeling of dread, unease, fear, or apprehension about the future. It is like the body’s smoke alarm, it alerts us to a potential problem. We all experience anxiety at some time in our lives and most of us will feel anxious when faced with certain situations such as a job interview, getting test results from a doctor, or worrying about a loved one’s health
The stress from these types of anxiety usually passes quite quickly, however, anxiety is something that can persist whether or not we can pinpoint a reason for it.
These feelings of state anxiety usually pass when the danger or situation passes and we begin to feel our normal selves again. However, if your feelings of anxiety linger, even though you can’t put your finger on the cause, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can present in several different ways such as generalised anxiety, phobias, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED HELP WITH ANXIETY?
If you find your symptoms are getting worse and have been going on for several weeks it may be time to seek expert help to support you through this difficult time and manage your anxiety. For example, your daily life may begin to suffer because of your anxiety. It may be causing relationships difficulties, you may not be enjoying things the way you used to or you find yourself avoiding situations or people or you may feel completely overwhelmed and out of control of the situation.
Anxiety can also cause you to lack confidence in yourself and your abilities to tackle things head-on. You may become much more passive in your communication and interactions with others which may lead you to feel put upon and taken advantage of.
WHAT ARE THE SYMTOMS OF ANXIETY?
Although anxiety can feel different for different people it does include both physical and psychological symptoms.
Some of the common symptoms of anxiety include:
- A sense of dread or fear
- Feeling like your thoughts and feelings are out of control
- Heart rate increase
- Rapid upper chest breathing
- Restlessness and irritability
- Sweating, feeling hot and cold
- Hot palpitations and a tight chest
- Trouble concentrating
- Increase muscle tension
- Tingling in for hands and feet
- Hyperventilation
- Depersonalization or dizziness
- The feeling of butterflies in your stomach
- Feelings of nausea
- Hot flushes
- Believing that other people looking at you and noticing your anxiety
- Feelings of detachment from your surroundings and other people
- Feeling hypervigilant and on edge to everything around you.
Anxiety can also cause you to lack confidence in yourself and in your abilities to tackle things head-on. You may become much more passive in your communication and interactions with others which may lead you to feel put upon and taken advantage of.
WHAT CAN I DO TO MANAGE ANXIETY ALONGSIDE TREATMENT WITH A PSYCHOLOGIST?
Regular Exercise: This is known to improve mood well-being and reduce stress levels by triggering endorphins in the brain which are natural happy hormones.
Healthy Eating: Eating food that is high in sugar can cause an initial sugar rush which will be followed by dipping blood sugar levels, this can impact negatively on your emotional health leaving you depleted of energy.
Reduce Alcohol And Caffeine Consumption: Excess caffeine and alcohol also increase anxiety levels and leave you feeling drained.
Engaging In Activities Such As Mindfulness Meditation, Yoga, or Pilates: these activities can help reduce stress enabling you to stay more in the moment so your mind is not forward thinking to anxious thoughts.
