Overcoming Anxiety E-Book

50MINUTES

• Herausgeber: 50Minutes.com
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Serie: Health & Wellbeing
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 40

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Change is only 50 minutes away! Find out everything you need to know about managing anxiety with this straightforward guide.

Virtually everyone has experienced anxiety at some point, but in its most extreme form this common mental health condition can be debilitating and isolating. Fortunately, it does not have to be this way: with a wide range of treatments, from relaxation exercises to therapy to antidepressants, an effective solution to your symptoms is within reach.

In just 50 minutes you will be able to:
• Understand the biological, psychological and social factors that contribute to anxiety
• Recognise the numerous psychological, behavioural and physical symptoms of anxiety
• Find out about the different anxiety treatments available and choose the right one for you

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Leseprobe

Overcoming anxiety

Problem: for some people, the world around them is a constant source of fear and anxiety, while others only have these feelings in specific situations. Anxiety sufferers experience debilitating and frightening symptoms such as cold sweats, listlessness and heart palpitations. It is important to understand why these symptoms appear and take steps to break free of fear.Aim: to understand and overcome anxiety.FAQs:I am constantly worried and stressed. Everything makes me anxious and this sometimes paralyses me. Is this normal?If I am naturally anxious, is there really anything I can do about it, since it is a part of my temperament?When I have a sudden anxiety attack, what can I do to calm down?My partner is a very anxious person. What can I do to help them?

Our throat tightens, we struggle to breathe, our heart races, our skin is beaded with sweat and, all of a sudden, a gnawing, paralysing feeling of anxiety appears in the pit of our stomach and spreads throughout our body. We are immediately overwhelmed and feel that we are no longer in charge of our own body.

All of us are familiar with anxiety and have experienced it at one time or another: it emerges when we have to give a presentation, meet somebody new or deal with an unexpected phone call, or even during harmless everyday events such as nightfall or the silent emptiness of a Sunday afternoon. As long as these episodes are sporadic and bearable, there is nothing to worry about. However, when this feeling of anxiety becomes constant and intense and starts interfering with your everyday life, it is time to act! Do not let anxiety stop you from thriving. There are a range of simple solutions and tools you can use to halt its far-reaching effects. Whether you are working alone or with the support of others, and at home or within a group, there are plenty of tricks at your disposal.

In 50 minutes, you will discover where this gnawing discomfort comes from, learn about the warning signs and find advice and tips to finally stop anxiety from dictating your life. Do not give up: every problem has a solution.

What is anxiety?

Stress, fear or anxiety?

Although these terms may seem quite similar at first glance and are often used interchangeably, they actually have different characteristics and effects. While stress and fear are normally temporary, anxiety is more insidious and casts a more or less constant shadow over sufferers.

Stress

Stress is a common and completely natural phenomenon which emerges in response to an event. It is a physiological reaction by our bodies which allows us to confront a challenging or threatening situation. However, in our modern societies, where we are constantly on the go and overwork is common, we are experiencing stress more and more, and it risks reaching unhealthy levels. Indeed, while occasional stress in particular situations is a positive, sometimes life-saving reaction, regular and persistent stress has destructive effects on our physical and mental health.

Fear

Fear is characterised by its intensity and by a certain relationship to reality. It results from the intense feeling that we are dealing with a threat that is vague and undefined, but rooted in reality. It is therefore temporary and context-dependent. Finally, while fear is undeniably a psychological sensation, it is expressed above all in physical symptoms: tremors, increased heart rate, and so on.

Anxiety

The Collins English Dictionary defines anxiety as “a state of uneasiness or tension caused by apprehension of possible future misfortune, danger, etc” or “a state of intense apprehension or worry often accompanied by physical symptoms such as shaking, intense feelings in the gut, etc”. In other words, anxiety is an emotional state of nervous agitation, which can manifest itself in different forms and with varying degrees of intensity. Unlike fear, which appears suddenly and results in temporary mental and physical incapacity, anxiety does not stop us from getting on with our day-to-day lives, since it is a vaguer, but also more constant, state of worry. Although it is an unpleasant feeling, anxiety does not pose any health concerns as long as it remains mild. However, if we do not do anything to control the situation and overcome these negative emotions of constant pessimism and worry, it can develop into its pathological form, generalised anxiety disorder.

TEST: DO YOU SUFFER FROM ANXIETY?

You mostly answered “every day”: you are very often stressed and anxious, and it seems that these feelings take precedence over your life balance. Make sure that you do not let them overwhelm you too often. Feel free to follow the advice in this book and to ask a healthcare professional for help.

You mostly answered “often”: