Well, what is anxiety and what does it mean to you?
A lot of people including myself once, often associated anxiety as being afraid of something, or simply being nervous. Kind of like that butterfly feeling you get in your stomach. For a percent of people this is the case, however there is a large amount of us out there that feel that emotion of worry so intensely with no identifiable cause and it can affect our daily lives dramatically.
Everyday tasks such as getting out of bed, socialising, going to work can become so overwhelming. It can feel like you’re on a permanent roller coaster day in, day out. Anxiety is more than just an uneasy feeling, it is merely a perception of it.
Other Symptoms can include:
- Tiredness
- Palpitations
- Shaking
- Shortness of Breath
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Panic Attacks
There are many more symptoms that are less publicised, mainly because they are hard to verbalise. How do you explain that when you woke up, you had such a strong feeling of unease that you couldn’t leave the house? That you were constantly worrying what Karen at the office thought of you, even though you’d never spoken. It seems so minor when you say it out loud or write it down but in that moment its terrifying and it is extremely hard to make someone see your perspective.
Anxiety can affect us all in different ways and different times and it is important to understand that anxiety is part of evolution and it IS normal. Anxiety has been around since humans were first worried about getting stood on by woolly mammoths or finding the right cave to call home. It is a system in our body that protects us from harm, it might not always seem logical but it is designed to protect us, not harm us.
Fast forward to our day and age, anxiety is recognised as a Mental Health Disorder. Some people may feel disheartened by that word ‘disorder’ but it’s not bad, I promise. It means anxiety is acknowledged in our society and there is support for those of us who struggle. If you’re feeling extremely anxious, try some of these exercises they may help:
- Take deep breaths.
- Write down how you feel in a journal.
- Try daily exercise / meditation
- Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake, they can trigger panic attacks.
- Download a calm / relaxation app
There are many organisations and charity’s available to help such as Mind and AnxietyUK. The best thing you can do is talk to someone, don’t bottle up how you’re feeling. It easy to think you can do it alone, that you’ll get over it or you feel extremely happy one day so you think all is well. The truth is it’s never going to completely go away but the key is to learn how to deal with it and finding that answer to ‘Why am I worrying’.
For those of you who aren’t suffers but want some insight, whether you’re a family member, a friend or an employer. If you notice that an individual is struggling, talk to them it may improve their day. Employers, make use of your Occupational Health provider, we are here to help you and the employee find the best way for them to continue their role. It can be frustrating as an employer when you don’t understand why an employee is off sick, but the best thing you can do is try to understand by putting things in place to encourage their return.
Here at Valentine we are here to help you, as an employee if you feel that your struggling at work and want some insight as well, mention an occupational health referral to your manager. Take that step and ask.
For employees and employers, check whether you have an EAP, ‘Employee Assistance Programme’. If you do, make it known to your employees that they have this service! Life & Progress our sister company offers a number services from counselling to debt advice. If you haven’t got one, think about considering this, its honestly worth the look.
For those of you who experience anxiety, keep going you’ll get there!
By Melissa Gilbert, Administrator at Valentine Occupational Health Limited.
LINKS:
MIND: https://www.mind.org.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrf-Bp_283AIVCLvtCh1C0Ql4EAAYASAAEgL5O_D_BwE
Anxiety UK: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/
