So I've decided to start a 'Let's talk about' series in which I'm going to discuss a number of topical issues that I think need addressing.
I've decided to kick this series off by talking about Anxiety. There is a lot of misconception about anxiety, and I just want to clear up a few things. It's suggested that at least 1 in 6 people will suffer with anxiety in their lifetime, this means that up to 5 people in your class or work place may be dealing with anxiety in their lives.
I have suffered with anxiety for a number of years now, and it's only a recent thing that I've managed to start taking control back of it. It hasn't been an easy journey, but the results are so so worth it. The first thing I suggest is that if you think you are showing any signs of anxiety, SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT! Do not keep it bottled up because the chances are it'll just make the problem 10 times worse. A lot of people feel embarrassed talking about it, but the sooner you seek help the better. Do not let anxiety ruin your life and completely take over.
Anxiety is the worst feeling in the world. It makes you feel like everybody is out to get you and everybody is watching you, following you, reading your thoughts and so on. It's the most intrusive thing in the world and can completely take over your life. For some of us, anxiety comes just as thoughts and paranoia, but for the other proportion of us - including me - anxiety comes in the form of physical symptoms and panic attacks. It feels like your body is betraying you and you feel the control slipping away from you every second that goes by. It's absolutely terrifying.
Another form of anxiety is social anxiety, which is quite possibly the worst form. It stops you from doing things you should be able to do in every day life, constantly worrying about what other people are going to think of you or say about you. Many people get self confidence issues mixed up with anxiety, however the two are very different things, yet are very closely related.
For a lot of us, anxiety developed with no cause, and this makes it 10 times worse to deal with. The worst thing about suffering from anxiety is not always knowing why you're feeling it, and for me that's the most frustrating part. Most of the time I do know why though, and I do know most of my triggers. Feeling anxious can feel like you're suffocating, and for me this is something that I find very overwhelming. It can leave you feeling very sick and extremely unsettled, jittery, paranoid, scared and so on. None of these feelings are obviously very pleasant, I mean why would having a deep worry about something that you know you shouldn't be worrying about is clearly not nice.
Many people don't understand anxiety, and will tell the person suffering with it to just 'get over it' or to 'grow up' but that is not the case. Anxiety is something that we can't control. It comes at the worst, most unexpected times (unless you know your triggers) and sometimes nothing will help relieve it.
The one thing about dealing with anxiety is learning how to handle it. I'm no expert, don't get me wrong, but I can talk from experience and give you some advice based on the techniques I've found most helpful.
1 - Breathing.
When I'm in the midst of a panic attack or extreme anxiety, the last thing I used to think about was my breathing, but as I've become more aware of dealing with anxiety and preventing symptoms, I've learnt that trying to get your breathing under control is so so important. I start off by taking the deepest breaths I can, and each time I try and hold it for a bit longer until my rapid breathing has subsided. If it helps, you can count in your head starting from 2 and slowly progressing up to 10, by which time your breathing should be under control again.
2 - Anxiety/Worry Ring and Distractions
One thing I realised when I'm having particularly bad anxiety is that I'll try to find a distraction. Something I've found very useful is diverting my attention to one of my rings and just playing with it on my finger for a while until I've calmed down a little bit. When someone suggested this to me I thought that they were talking a load of rubbish, but it genuinely does work. Find simple things to do to distract yourself. Read a book, paint something, write something, do some drawing, text someone and so on.
3 - Music
Music is the one thing I turn to when I feel anxious, and I've created a specific playlist of upbeat music and my favourite songs that I know will be a welcome distraction
4 - Don't Avoid Situations That Make You Anxious
Try not to avoid the situations that make you anxious, because when placed in them again, anxiety will come back more severely.
5 - Muscle Relaxation
I had a technique explained to me not so long ago that if you're feeling anxious or you feel a panic attack come along, sit down somewhere quiet and go through all the muscles tensing them and then releasing. This will relieve some of the tension anxiety makes you feel and should calm you down as it is providing you with a distraction.
6 - You Are NOT Going To Die
Many people when having a panic attack feel like they are going to die, but please know that this is not the case. You are safe, and you are not going to die, no matter how severe your symptoms are.
Anxiety is a massive bitch, and if it was a person I'd kick them where it hurts, but unfortunately it's not, it's a part of some of us, and sometimes it will never go away, we just have to learn to deal with it in the best way we can.
I hope this post will help some of you out there who are also dealing with anxiety, and just know that you aren't alone.
(originally posted 3rd June 2015 www.luna-llena.co.uk)
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