Ah, anxiety- something every single one of us has to deal with at some point in our lives. It is said that 1 in 10 people are likely to have a ‘disabling anxiety disorder’ at some stage in their life, and 1 in 4 adults have experienced some form of ‘neurotic health problem’.
The sad thing nowadays is that a minority of people class others with mental disabilities (such as: autism, ADHD and depression) as weird attention seekers, when really they do not have a clue about what they are going through. Hopefully, I will be able to get through to you in this blog about how much anxiety problems can change your life and how to fight them without needing life medication.
What is an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety is a normal response to stress or danger and is often called ‘the flight or fight’ response. This process involves adrenalin being quickly pumped through the body enabling it to cope with whatever catastrophe may come its way. Many of you probably think that anxiety is a normal emotion everybody has to deal with. For example, before a big exam or show, but it can get a lot worse than that. Some people actually get so anxious, even perhaps about looking somebody in the eye, that it majorly affects their whole life. When I had an anxiety disorder, I got extremely anxious just over being around my own family, and that resulted in not being able to look anyone in the eye, my palms getting sweaty, shortness of breath and stomach cramps. Just imagine being locked in a glass box, slowly filling with water and you are struggling to breathe, knowing if you stay in the situation for any longer you will break. Well, this is the sensation many anxiety sufferers experience in nervous situations.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
There are dozens of symptoms (physical and psychological) for anxiety. The physical symptoms of anxiety include:
- Racing heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Tremor
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
Any of those symptoms can’t be nice for anyone to suffer from.
The psychological symptoms of anxiety (the ones you may find harder to notice) include:
- Inner tension
- Agitation
- Fear of losing control
- Feelings of detachment
- Fear that something catastrophic is going to happen (such as a blackout, seizure, heart attack or death)
None of these symptoms are pleasant to experience, so if you do feel you are suffering extremely from any of these, you should go see a doctor and see if you can get referred to a psychologist for further help.
How can I battle anxiety? Where is best to go?
Battling anxiety is not very easy at all, and you will need all the support you can get, but it can be done. You just need to be patient with yourself! The best place to go would probably be to see your GP. From there you may be referred to a private clinic. You will probably see a psychologist who will help explore your feelings and try their best to help your confidence.
It will take you a while to get back into a positive frame of mind, but all you can do is be patient and try your hardest. If you want help and believe in yourself, it’ll make your life a whole lot easier.
How long will it take to see a change?
It may take 4-6 months for you and others to start noticing a difference in your frame of mind and how you deal with things. You’ll know when you’re recovering because you will not wake up with stomach aches from thinking about what lies ahead in the day. You will not be lying awake every night thinking of what that person thinks of you. When you do get better, people will start noticing, and that’s when you are a changed person…