What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. It’s a feeling of fear or apprehension about something in the near future. Going to a job interview, or giving a speech may cause most people to feel fearful and nervous. But, if your feelings of Anxiety are extreme and last for longer than six months, and interfere with your daily life, you may have an anxiety disorder. There are many Anxiety Disorders some of which include Panic Disorder, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Anxiety often causes you to feel stress that's out of proportion to the impact of the event, inability to stop feelings of worry and restlessness. Anxiety can also make you experience things like irritability, lack of concentration, racing thoughts, fatigue, sweating, fast breathing, trembling and a racing heart.

Self-help for Anxiety:

• Let your family and friends help you and surround yourself with positive influences, avoid negativity.
• Find something positive in every experience. Even If you are only able to go partway to a particular goal, such as a movie theatre or party, consider that an achievement rather than a failure.
• Do not enable avoidance: Let you loved ones help you to face something that you would rather avoid.
• If you have a panic attack, breathe slow and low. Stay in the present. It is not the place that is bothering you, it is the thought. Tell yourself ‘’I know that what you are feeling is painful, but it is not dangerous’’.
• Stay Active, try to get regular exercise.
• Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol is a natural sedative; drinking a glass of wine or a finger of whiskey will calm your nerves at first but when the buzz is over, Anxiety may return with a vengeance.
• Practice deep breathing such as meditation. There are many apps that can help you with this.
• Avoid Stimulants such as caffeine or energy drinks as it may cause nervousness and jitters, neither of which is good if you’re anxious. Smoking can also worsen the effects of Anxiety over time.
• Get adequate sleep. Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning.
• Make sure you eat a balanced diet. If you lack an appetite, eat small snacks rather than large meals.

If you need more Mental Health self-help or information on Mental Health, please click here