Give a little love

What comes to mind when you think about February 14? Like most people, I’m sure Valentine’s Day is in there somewhere – the day that is universally dedicated to the celebration of love. While this day is usually linked to romantic love and relationships, what about “self love”? Things like depression and anxiety can rob us of the ability to love ourselves. 45 per cent of all Australians will experience some form of mental health issue in their lifetime, and in any year, two million Australians will suffer from anxiety. There are many factors which can influence your ability to cope with anxiety, but help is at hand as there are also many ways to help manage your symptoms.

Anxiety Management

Anxiety is an intense feeling of fear of what might happen. Although we all experience feelings of anxiety from time to time, anxiety may become debilitating in some people.

Symptoms

Anxiety can cause the following:

• Emotional – feelings of a high level of distress

• Physical – arousal of the nervous system can result in physical symptoms such as an increased heart-rate

• Cognitive – thoughts of not being able to cope with a given situation

• Behavioural – anxiety may lead to actions which are out of character such as aggressiveness or avoidance.

Causes

Anxiety is usually caused by a combination of factors including:

• Genetics – you are more likely to experience anxiety if your parents did

• Life experience – difficult life experiences such as family break-up, abuse or bullying can trigger anxiety

• Personality – some types of personality styles are more likely to experience anxiety

• Thinking styles – people who have higher levels of expectations are more likely to experience anxiety

• Behaviour – people who avoid confronting and dealing with challenges are more likely to experience anxiety.

Treatment options

The best way to deal with anxiety is to undertake training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with a registered psychologist. CBT will teach you how to react and process challenging circumstances in a more positive way. The following lifestyle changes can also be beneficial:

• reduce caffeine intake as this stimulates your nervous system

• consume a healthy diet to ensure that you are getting the nutrition that you need for good brain health

• ensure adequate time for sleep as

tiredness can increase anxiety

• undertake regular physical activity as this is a great way to decrease stress levels

• avoid alcohol and other drugs as combined with anxiety they increase your risk of acting out of character

• make time for friends and family as socialising and talking can help you feel safe and cared for

• ensure adequate time for personal

reflection and relaxation

• learn some breathing techniques to assist you to relax when your levels of anxiety start to increase. If your anxiety levels are still overwhelming you, talk to your local doctor to discuss further options.

Disclaimer

The content displayed in this article is intended for informational purposes and is a guide only. It does not replace or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Information contained in this article must be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional before making any decisions or taking any action based on the content of this article.

Sources

http://www.psychology.org.au/publications/tip_sheets/anxiety/ http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety