I’m so sorry I haven’t blogged this week. I’ve been sick and so anxious that I can hardly stand myself!! So I decided to write on Anxiety. I think it’s something everyone deals with a various levels at times in their life. But why does it carry such a stigma. That’s what I want to know. I’ll talk about some stats down further in this blog but YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN YOUR ANXIETY!!! There are millions out there just like you!
Do you ever feel anxious? Have panic attacks? Feel like your world is coming in around you? Anxiety is nothing to joke with.  In the past few years it has become less taboo and something more and more people are talking about. But what do you do when the panic sets in? How do you calm yourself done and get out of the painic?  Finding a way to get through the anxious times and through a panic attack is very personal and is different for every person. There is no RIGHT or WRONG way to deal with anxiety. What ever works for you is what you should continue. There are so many people who want to tell you how to survive with anxiety. And the truth is the only way to survive is to do what helps you. That being said let’s look at some things that might help you get through the anxious times. And find out just how many of us there are out there who suffer from this sometimes life altering condition. 
Let’s first define anxiety. Anxiety has several different meanings so I’ll put them all here and you can decide which matches you the best. 1. a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. 2. desire to do something, typically accompanied by unease 3. a nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks. I also will add here a piece that I found that I didn’t know. OCD and PTSD are also classified with anxiety! 

Here are some stats to think about regarding anxiety. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America Anxiety is the most common mental illness in the us. Affecting some 40million adults (ages 18 and older). Which is approximately 18% of the population. So you are by no means alone in your struggle with anxiety. Although, only about a third of those with anxiety will seek medical treatment. Anxiety disorders can develop from a complex set of risk factors including: genetics, brain chemistry, and life events. 

So now we realize we aren’t alone and there’s millions of other people feeling just like us let’s look into ways what can cause anxiety and how we can try to help curb our anxiety.  If you research it you will find every option imaginable from exercise and meditation to diet changes and even far more drastic things. I’m only going to talk about the more common ways of dealing with anxiety. 

What can cause &/or induce anxiety? Well, really just about anything. Health problems, crowds, driving, relationship problems, problems at work. You name it and it can probably cause someone to feel some level of anxiety. What other causes are there? According to WebMD Anxiety may be caused by a mental condition, a physical condition, the effects of drugs, or a combination of these. The doctor’s initial task is to see if your anxiety is caused by a medical condition.  So as you see just about anything can induce or cause anxiety. 

The things that Mayo lists as therapies for anxiety are as follows:

Avoid alcohol, Reduce caffeine intake, Physical exercise, Stress management, Quitting smoking, Relaxation techniques, and Healthy diet. Cognitive behavioral therapy, Meditation, and Psychotherapy. Clinical psychologist, Psychiatrist, and Primary care provider (PCP). Or medications. 

But I want to talk about things like meditation and walking and more natural things. No, I’m not one of those holistic people (I’ve tried it doesn’t work very well for me). But many people don’t want to take medications unless they just have to. I sadly have to take medication. Or like I said above I can’t stand myself. So if we can find a way to deal with the anxiety ourselves that’s a bonus. 

The Anxiety and Depression Association of American has a FABULOUS table on their website of ways to cope with anxiety. So I decided it did a way better job of explaining this than I would. So here it is The two things on here that I wanted to address are finding your triggers. And talking to someone.  I find that when I am so terribly anxious that if I talk to someone and talk about why I’m so anxious it helps. That person needs to understand what you are going to and be non judgmental. Someone you find that has a calming affect on you. These things are essential in whoever you are talking to. Whether it be your best friend or a counselor.  If they are going to judge you for how you feel or what you are going through the conversation will actually be counterproductive. Finding your triggers is essential to managing your anxiety. Because once you figure them out it is easier to either avoid those things if necessary or find a way to deal with them. 

I didn’t want to drag on forever because no one wants to read a four page blog post. But I hope I have provided you with something that can help you. If you take away nothing else. Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!  If you have questions or anything please contact me!  And I always leave the sources where I got my information below somfeeo free to check those out. 

-Amber 

References:

https://www.adaa.org/tips-manage-anxiety-and-stress

http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/causes-anxiety

https://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics