ANXIETY
1. What is it?
Anxiety is a signal that our body gives when danger is near. The danger may come from internal or external sources, and can be real or imagined. Modern society exposes us continually to threatening situations that result in anxiety and stress. Our body may then prepare itself by activating the flight or fight response. When the fight or flight response is activated, you may experience the following physiological symptoms as part of your anxiety: heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, dizziness, shaking, sweating, poor concentration, etc.
2. Why might it develop?
People may develop anxiety for a number of reasons. People may remember having been anxious since they were children. Others develop anxiety in response to adverse life events or in response to making difficult life decisions. They notice that they start to think differently, interpreting new events in their life as threatening or negative. The meaning placed on these events becomes skewed and blown out of proportion.
3. What is the impact on you and the people around you?
If you are anxious you are likely to notice some of the changes listed above and possibly think or worry about them a lot. You may find it hard to make decisions, find that you are not coping with the stress of everyday life very well, and perhaps feel socially isolated and overwhelmed by your own thoughts. Those close to you may wonder why you are finding it so hard to make simple decisions and then follow through with action. They may notice that you seem to take the negative perspective or always look at the worst possible outcome in situations. They may wonder why it is that you always think that you will fail or be unable to cope.
4. Some tips on how to handle it.
Here are some general ideas that may be of benefit to you:
- Concentrate on slowing down your breathing. Breathe slowly and deeply right down into your stomach.
- Get active. Engage in some exercise that you find enjoyable. It will activate the many pleasure-producing substances in your body.
- Stop procrastinating and deal with life’s difficulties.
- Small problems build up if they are not addressed and eventually become overwhelming. Address them one at a time, setting small and achievable goals.