Anxiety

You are not alone.  6 million people in the UK suffer with some sort of anxiety.

Anxiety works on a variety of different levels. People can suffer from mild to severe anxiety and anything inbetween. Not only that, it is perfectly possible to suffer with anxiety but have good days too. Anxiety has highs and lows like anything else in life.

It is important to recognise the symptoms of anxiety and then work on strategies for how you can re programme your thought patterns to ease the unpleasant feelings. When we work with our mind, rather than our feelings, we can move away from fear and move towards a happier life.

We can all feel nervous from time to time.  It often happens before we face a big challenge. Being nervous is a normal part of life.

Anxiety is different. Let’s try to understand it.

Do any of these things fit how you are feeling?

Anxiety is emotional:

• frightening
• overwhelming
• feeling restless
• feeling tense
• difficulty concentrating

Anxiety can be physical :

• trembling or shaking
• feeling pressure in the chest
• shortness of breath
• fast heart beat
• clammy hands or sweating
• stomach cramps
• headache
• difficulty sleeping

Anxiety might make you :

• avoid difficult situations rather than solve them
• refuse school
• engage in safety behaviours
• sad and lonely
• aggressive

This diagram shows how anxiety works.

1. We think something
2. It makes us anxious – we get an adrenaline rush
3. We feel it physically in our body
4. We do something – we react in some way. This is called a safety behaviour. It makes us feel better. [but it isnt always a wise decision!]