Anxiety is Helpful - #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

As it is #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek this week I am going to try and do a quick something every day. Today is A for Anxiety…

Ok – first off – anxiety is normal. We should all get scared when crossing the road and cars are coming at us or in a field with a bull (we go walking a lot), or before an exam. This is to get the body ready for the fight, flight or freeze and to keep us safe.

However, if you are suffering from what is termed ‘chronic anxiety’, these feelings can happen almost all the time and can feel crippling but… it can still be helpful!

Anxiety is your body’s way of telling you something in your world isn’t right and needs to change!

So, whenever a client tells me they are suffering from anxiety, I first ask them whether there is anything in their outer world that might need to change. This might be that you are in a situation that isn’t good for you, or that you are actually in danger, or that you are not looking after yourself etc etc. If there is something they feel needs changing then we can work on how to do this.

Then I ask them if there is anything in their inner world that might need to change. Is their constant social anxiety because they are telling themselves that everyone is looking at them and laughing at them? Is there anxiety at school because they are constantly telling themselves they are dumb and can’t succeed? Is their anxiety at work because they are constantly comparing themselves to their colleagues?

How is someone going to feel if they are going through life constantly telling themselves they aren’t good enough and need to do better?

So, if you are suffering from chronic anxiety at the moment, ask yourself what might need to change. And, if you are struggling to change it by yourself, then ask for support. (See my last post on why getting support is not weakness.

All the best.