Many people experience anxiety at some stage in their life. For some, it starts when they are a child and it may continue as a youth, for others it may appear when they are an adult, after a life transition. There are thus many different situations that may result in an individual experiencing anxiety and some examples include:
- A child or youth experiencing anxiety about going to school perhaps due to being bullied and having few friends
- An adult experiencing anxiety at work when trying to meet deadlines and complete projects
- Individuals experiencing anxiety in social situations when meeting new people at gatherings.
People who experience anxiety may also be impacted by physical symptoms. For many people, their anxiety manifests in different ways. For instance:
- Some people struggle with headaches or stomach aches when they are anxious
- Some people experience shortness of breath
- Others experience an increased heart rate
- Feeling like they are having a heart attack due to an increased heart rate
- Hyperventilating and struggling to breathe
- Sweaty palms and/or numbness in their hands or arms
- Breathing exercises - these can help individuals shift their focus from anxious thoughts to the present
- Grounding exercises - these can help individuals focus on their five senses, sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch which again shifts their attention away from anxious thoughts
- Visualization exercises - these can help individuals feel safe and more in control when they are struggling by thinking of their safe space, a real or imaginary place
If you or someone you know experiences anxiety here are some questions to consider:
- Where do you experience the most anxiety? It can be helpful to determine exactly where an individual experiences anxiety. For example, within a school, a specific classroom, subject, and/or teacher may be triggering for an individual.
- Where do you experience the least anxiety? It can be helpful to identify a place where individuals feel least anxious and to, in turn, explore why that may be.
- What thoughts go through your mind when you are feeling anxious? This can help individuals connect how they feel to what their thoughts are. Often, individuals who experience anxiety share catastrophizing and/or having black-and-white thoughts.
- What actions do you take when you are feeling anxious? Some individuals freeze and describe not being able to move when they feel anxious whilst others explain leaving a situation.
Some individuals will continue to experience some anxiety in their life but when it prevents them from engaging in activities or going to places they enjoy, it may be time to explore new coping strategies.
If you would like to talk about how anxiety is impacting your life, please get in touch.
