“This is one of the most frustrating things about having an anxiety disorder; Knowing as you’re freaking out that there’s no reason to be freaked out, but lacking the ability to shut the emotion down.” –Unknown
I’ve always thought about anxiety as a control thing, where the scared side of our mind takes control of our body. Because most of the time we know that the reason is not worth worrying about but it’s like we can’t help ourselves and end up ruminating and overthinking. Playing the same scenario’s in our minds over and over again.
Generalized Anxiety disorder (GAD)Â is being in a state of persistent and exaggerated anxiety about everyday life events. The anxiety becomes so dominating that the person cannot function properly in daily activities and interactions, basically anything can trigger you. This anxiety can lead to physical symptoms of nausea, sweating, frequent washroom visits, fever, headaches, fatigue, becoming restless and jumpy. They can even experience anxiety attack where the person feels palpitations, breathlessness and dread that they are going to die or go insane.
Some people are genetically prone to having anxiety, some due to their temperament, parenting style (overprotecting parents) etc. Anxiety never occurs alone it is usually comorbid with another mental illness. Most commonly depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Sometimes people try to cope with this anxiety in maladaptive behaviors including overuse of alcohol, drugs or even self-harm.
There are a lot of treatments present for GAD from mindfulness (living in the moment and experiencing things without judgment) to counseling to even medication. Remember that change always come with acceptance , from the need to become better. There are also many self-help techniques that can help with anxiety. Including distractions, breathing methods, yoga, and other calming/relaxing approaches. A few strategies are as follows:
•  Listening to music. *It can be anything that helps you.
•  Try to avoid caffeine.
•  Take deep breaths. Inhale and exhale.
•  Slowly, count to 10. Repeat till you feel better.
•  Get enough sleep.
•  Watch or use humor. Laughing out loud helps.
•  Take a break: Get a massage.
•  Accept that you cannot control everything.
•  Ask yourself if your negative thoughts are rational. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to someone you love.
•  Understand your own anxiety. Accept it. Acknowledge it and then gently let it go.
•  Try to think of positive outcomes
•  Try to understand your fears.
•  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
•  Exposure Therapy (a person is gradually exposed to a feared situation or object, learning to become less sensitive over time.)
•  Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (combines acceptance and change.)
•  See a psychologist or a therapist.
Don’t let anxiety cripple your life. This world is too temporary to be spent on worrying.
