#48 - What is anxiety and when to seek help?
Personal story.
Think I have always been a bit anxious
as a kid sleep.....
as a grown up.....
I did not really know that is what was going on, but in retrospect all the signs where there.
it is sad to say, like myself a lot of people are suffering in silence from anxiety & depression not really knowing what it is. Many just feel like this should pass, they are being week, they just need to man up and so many other things.
Many of the clients that I work with have some variating degrees of anxiety present that is limiting them and stopping them from doing things. This is a huges problem, that our future facing fears are stopping us from living our best life and the goal of the blog is to open up this conversation, go through the common signs & symptoms of anxiety, how to cope & when to seek professional help.
So if you have ever
Been restricted from doing things you really wanted to do because your thoughts and feelings talked you out of it.
Felt overwhelmed by worries and fears that seem to never go away?
Experienced your thoughts and emotions keeping you up at night or making it impossible to focus on daily tasks and worse, affecting your physical health?
Friend, if you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you might be experiencing anxiety.
Signs & Symptoms
The signs & symptoms are quite simple, they’re very easy to determine. To enlighten you, here are some of the common signs & symptoms of anxiety:
Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
Having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom
Having an increased heart rate
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
Sweating, trembling, or feeling weak or tired
Difficulty concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
Having trouble sleeping, such as insomnia or waking up frequently during the night
Gastrointestinal (GI) problems such as stomachaches, bloating, and diarrhea
If you are experiencing any three or more of these symptoms and they are affecting your life in a bad way by making you feel bad or limiting your from doing things, it is important to take this seriously and start working on it.
Good news is that anxiety is a sliding scale, some minor anxiety like feeling anxious before an life event or an exam for example is normal - as in little tension slight HR increse ect and you can work with your self. When the response becomes more intense, has debilitating affect, is general and/or completely out of context, it is time to seek professional help the soonest.
You deserve it, and they can assist you with the tools & support as you need to manage your anxiety & improve your quality of life.
It is important that you know that anxiety is not sign of you being weak, that you need to toughen up or anything like that. Anxiety has alot of stigma to it and I wish we could get rid of the guilt & shame. NO MAN IS AN ISLAND. So, remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Ways to Cope
While high debilitating and or general anxiety does need professional help. Most often therapy for anxiety includes talk therapy and some variations or combinations of
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): helps individuals identify negative thought patterns and replace them with more positive ones
Exposure therapy: gradually exposes individuals to the situations or objects that trigger anxiety
Mindfulness-based therapies: teaches individuals to be more present and aware in the moment
For minor anxiety, anxious thougths and before events, I tend to use the following to reduce my anxiety with with lifestyle and thoughts:
Reframing anxiety as excitement for the event/thing. That this is a sign that this matters too me.
Talking about it out loud, naming it and calling it out to a family member and/or friend, coach, even joining a support group for individuals with anxiety
Engaging in regular exercise
Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga *nothiing long and fancy couple deep breaths or double inhales usually work. when my thoughts are racing focing on my surroundings by naming things with certain color that i see.
It also helps to redue caffeine and alcohol intake
And to limit screen time.
This is obviously not a complete list but perhaps a place you can start to unwind your anxiety.
What most people find out is that their anxiety thrives in the dark places, in the shame but the biggest secret is that all of us have some variating degree of it.
You do not have to face anxiety alone. Speaking about it out loud will help you along the way.
You deserve to feel good and be limited by anxiety, and some stages of dealing with this can include seeking help from a mental health professional, they can provide you with the tools and support you need to manage anxiety and improve your quality of life.
In the words of Daphne Oz, "Anxiety is a normal part of life, but it doesn't have to control you.
managing anxiety is a journey, and it may take time and effort, but with the right support and tools, it is possible to live with anxiety and live a fulfilling life.
Call to Action
Seek help, lean on loved ones, and know that you are not alone."If you want to stay informed about mental health and wellbeing, please subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates and tips.
Cheers,
Coach Eik
