What does Anxiety feel like for you? Do your palms sweat, does your heart beat faster? Is this a strange feeling, or are you so used to your own fast heartbeat that when it slows down you feel confused?
Anxiety is a common feeling, and it can be useful, as anxiety reminds us to be careful in situations where we perceive danger. But what if our mind always thinks it’s in danger? Talking about our fears with a trusted person, or a professional, could help us unravel these fears and stressors, recognise what makes them so anxiety-inducing within us, and let them go.
There are various forms of Anxiety, such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social anxiety (or social phobia), panic disorder, and phobias (amongst others). Anxiety can be treated in a myriad of ways, such as psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle modifications, such as by adding more exercise and eating more healthy foods. The type of treatment depends on the severity and type of the anxiety, although the majority of the time it will be a mix of all three forms of treatment.
If your anxiety feels overwhelming, and like it’s too much for you to handle alone, reach out for help. Consider, also, keeping a journal where you can jot down your triggers that are causing this anxiety, and what it feels like in your body, how you notice that you’re feeling anxious.