Are you managing your anxiety, or is it managing you?

First of all, what is "anxiety"? Here is he definition in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:t

anxiety

noun

anx·​i·​ety aŋ-ˈzī-ə-tē 

(1) apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill: a state of being anxious

(2)  medical : an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it

To anybody who suffers from anxiety (approximately 1 in 10), anxiety is so much more than described above. It can be debilitating and all-encompassing. 

Our quality-of-life changes and it can be difficult to function.  Clients often feel like they have lost the ability to enjoy life and connect with family and friends. You may find yourself withdrawing from social activities that you used to enjoy or fearful of making changes to your life which can lead to a feeling of being “stuck”.

Physical symptoms caused by fear and anxiety can be very uncomfortable and further complicate everyday life.

While in an anxious state, your body reacts as if there is real danger present, when there is in fact no real danger.  The “fight-or-flight” response is our body’s natural alarm system and is there to protect us.

During times of anxiety our body releases adrenaline and we can often feel the following symptoms:

·         Racing heart/rapid heartbeat

·         Tight or painful chest (often due to over-breathing)

·         Tingling sensations or numbness to various body parts

·         Light-headedness/dizziness

·         A feeling of heaviness in the legs

·         Digestive issues

·         Light sensitivity

·         Sweating

The idea is not to rid ourselves completely of anxiety because it protects us from dangerous situations. Instead, we want to bring ourselves into a regulated state of mind and reduce our anxiety to manageable levels.

You are about to take that first step in addressing your anxiety and this is challenging.  It can be hard to place your trust in another person, but I do hope you allow me to walk with you on your journey.

Together we can identify the three components that are part of our relationship with anxiety:

·         Thoughts

·         Symptoms

·         Behaviour patterns

We work together to identify tools that will help you cope, so that you can start feeling better and move forward with your life.