Your anxiety can sometimes feel like the wind. It’s constantly blowing around you, and it’s hard to get away from it. Anxiety disorder is a feeling of worry, nervousness, and fear. It can be mild or extreme, but it’s always there, constantly blowing around you.
It’s hard to escape it, and it can feel like the wind is always in your face. But no matter how strong the anxiety feels, it’s not going to kill you. In fact, anxiety is actually a normal part of life. Unfortunately, too many people living with anxiety don’t realize that. This leads to feelings of isolation and hopelessness, which only makes the anxiety worse.
Generalized anxiety disorder & “fight or flight”
Anxiety disorders are the most common group of mental health conditions in Australia and affect 1 in 4 Australians at some stage in their life. The most common forms of anxiety are generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety is a response of the nervous system. The body’s “fight or flight” response is activated when we feel anxious. This response was originally meant to help us deal with danger, but for some people, it’s activated too often or in the wrong situations.
Anxiety symptoms
Symptoms of anxiety disorders can include feeling anxious or worried most of the time, having difficulty controlling your thoughts or feelings, avoiding behaviours and physical symptoms such as chest pain, irrational fear, hot flashes, panic attack, shortness of breath or dizziness. Anxiety disorders can be very disabling and can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. However, with appropriate treatment, many people with anxiety disorders can achieve significant improvement in their symptoms.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the United States, affecting approximately 15 million adults. It can be very challenging to live with social anxiety symptoms, which can include a fear of being judged or embarrassed in public, a fear of interacting with others, and a feeling of self-consciousness. People with social anxiety often avoid social situations altogether, or they may only participate in activities that they feel comfortable with. This can lead to isolation and loneliness. Symptoms of social anxiety can be extremely disabling and can interfere with work, school, and relationships.
If you’re experiencing anxiety, there are things you can do to help manage it.
There are many different strategies that can be used to manage anxiety. One common approach is to identify and challenge negative thoughts.
While there are many treatment options available for those who suffer from anxiety, such as therapy with a mental health professional and medication, there are also some simple strategies that can be used to help manage anxiety on a daily basis.
- Journaling: Keeping a journal can be a helpful way to track your thoughts and feelings about anxiety-provoking situations. This can help you identify any patterns or triggers that may contribute to your anxiety.
- Exercise: Exercise has been shown to be an effective way to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
- This involves identifying and questioning the validity of negative thoughts and then replacing them with more positive thoughts.
- Other strategies that can be used to manage anxiety include relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, and positive self-talk.
In conclusion, anxiety is a common experience that can be debilitating for some people. There are many strategies that can help, but it is important to find what works for you. If you are struggling with anxiety, seek support from a therapist, friend, or online community.
There is no shame in seeking help, and you are not alone.
Written by Shannon Bowman