Anxiety is when we have feelings of unease, worry and fear. Anxiety relates to our normal body reaction to feeling threatened. For a short time, you may find it hard to concentrate, sleep or eat. If your feelings of anxiety are very strong, or last for a long time, it can be overwhelming. Often people end up avoiding situations that feel overwhelming for them.
What Does Anxiety Feel Like?:
Anxiety causes reactions in the body which feel unpleasant, including:
- Heart racing,
- Finding it hard to breathe,
- Feeling shaky/sick,
- Feeling sweaty.
Common anxieties can be complicated and include:
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder – feeling anxious a lot of the time.
- Social Anxiety Disorder – a fear of social situations, such as meeting new people, or speaking in public.
- Panic Disorder – experiencing regular panic attacks with no specific trigger.
What Might Help?:
Talk to someone. Although this might be difficult at first, talking with a good friend, or a family member you can trust, can really help- don’t bottle it up.
Listen to your body. Understanding how your body reacts to worry is really important.
Tune into your thoughts. Spotting unhelpful thoughts can help to challenge anxieties.
Learn how to relax. Deep breathing, and other exercises, can help you to cope with anxiety.
Exercise. Keeping active releases endorphins, which are happy hormones, that can help you feel good.
Seeking professional help. If anxiety is having a big impact on your day to day life, you may benefit from talking with your GP about talking therapies.
Helpful Clips and Stories:
- NHS Anxiety Techniques on Youtube (link)
- The Physical Symptoms Of Anxiety We Don’t Talk About by Sophie (link)
- The best tips for managing anxiety I learnt in therapy by Bea (link)
Top Apps:
- Headspace (IOS and Android link)
- SAM: Self-help for Anxiety Management (IOS and Android link)
- WorryBox – anxiety self- help (Android Link)
