The other side anxiety

Increasing numbers of young people are experiencing anxiety but, thankfully, mental health is being talked about more openly than ever IN FACT, AT LAST COUNT, THERE WERE 8.2 MILLION CASES OF ANXIETY IN THE UK *, WITH WOMEN IN ENGLAND TWICE AS LIKELY TO B

When I’m in the grips of an anxious phase, I struggle to remember the simplest of things. For example, I’ll try to put in contact lenses when I’m already wearing them.” Joni, 28

When I’m really anxious, my libido will almost completely disappear. Being worried all the time often means I feel tired, distracted and totally out of touch with my body.” Charlotte, 24

but despite a rise in people living with anxiety, how clued-up are we really when it comes to the symptoms? From the shakes to a loss of libido, the impact can be more physical than you think.

In a bid to lift the curtain on living with anxiety, we asked Cosmopolitan readers to share the unexpected symptoms they’ve had, and asked cognitive behavioural therapist Anna Albright to share her advice. Distraction is very normal, says Anna. “Anxiety creates a kind of tunnel vision centred on the thing we’re most fearful of. We lose focus on other tasks and can become forgetful.” “Sexual intimacy can help to counter the chemical changes that go on during an anxiety attack,” says Anna, with orgasms releasing feelgood endorphins. But don’t rush into intimacy; take time to reconnect with your sexuality with the MyViv Curved Vibrator, or unwind with the MyViv Lavender and Amber Candle.

I once temporarily lost feeling on one side of my body while experiencing anxiety. My GP ran a little wooden stick under both feet to check my reactions: with one, I couldn’t feel a thing. It cleared up after a few days of self-care, but it was pretty scary at the time.” Morgan, 25 “Physiological changes like this are caused by your body readying itself to tackle a threat, real or otherwise,” explains Anna. “The first step is to understand the causes of your anxiety and your reactions. The mind will calm with answers and explanations.”