Anxiety is the feeling of dread and fear. It’s normal to feel anxious at times about certain challenges like exams. Once these challenges pass you feel better and calmer. Feeling anxious or worried is all part of growing up in order to help you face the challenges in your environment. Some people are naturally more anxious than others because they have different levels of stress they are able to cope with.
Sometimes the anxious feelings carry on even after the difficult situation and this is when it becomes a problem affecting every day issues.
According to Young Minds, anxiety causes a number of reactions in the body, which can feel very unpleasant: They include…
- Feeling shaky, feeling sick or having stomach cramps, or feeling dizzy or faint.
- Breathing fast or finding it hard to breathe,
- Heart beating fast (palpitations), sweating, tense muscles
- Feeling like you might die.
These reactions are designed to make us feel uncomfortable so we are alert and able to respond quickly to danger.
If anxiety stops you from doing the things you want to do there are a number of things you can do that will help:
- Counselling may help you recognise your unhelpful thinking patterns. Talking to someone who you can trust will help to organise your thoughts and help you feel more supported.
- Read all about it. Reading up on anxiety can help you identify what you are going through and help you feel less isolated and worried.
- Learn to relax. Learning to meditate can be really helpful. This will help you control your thoughts and lower your anxiety levels. It’s a good idea to practice relaxation regularly, not just at times of crisis (See Chill Out audio below).
Chill Out
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Helpful links:
SAM App for anxiety management on your mobile is a free download which will help you monitor and track your levels of anxiety.
Free to download here.