Sometimes, it starts with a dreaded feeling. You just don’t want to go to work, go out, or be around anyone. You attempt to get out of bed, but you begin to feel your heart racing with every step. As you make your way across the room, you sigh as anxiety has found you again.
Medline identifies anxiety as “Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness”. Looking at this definition alone can make someone feel fear, dread, or uneasy. How anxiety impacts an individual varies as much as the experiences that lead to it. For some, it can be overwhelming, challenging, or even produce a feeling of loneliness. For others, it can seem like a “motivational push” to get them through a moment such as a speech.
Regardless of how someone might encounter anxiety, a one-size-fits-all approach does not exist. However, there are some things that we can keep in mind that could offer some assistance along the way.
- Anxiety is common. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, over 19.1 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder within the past year. That’s a lot of people. This means although our experience with anxiety can vary, other people out there can relate. So, if you find yourself feeling like it is just a “you thing”, that is simply not the case.
- Take small steps. Sometimes, when we are experiencing something, we tend to want to “fix” the problem right away with one “right” action. However, life does not always happen that way. We are not always in control of the things that bring anxiety into our lives. When this is the case, taking smaller steps to manage things can help us find and maintain our balance in the moment.
- Consider your options. As previously mentioned, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to anxiety. What works for one person, might not work for someone else and vice versa. Learning what support options you have could assist in making a difference. For example, if you want to learn more about anxiety or even take a free, confidential anxiety assessment, visiting Arizona.CredibleMind.com might be a good fit for you. arizona.crediblemind.com is free to University of Arizona employees, their households, and dependents. It has thousands of resources that could support individuals on their journey to managing anxiety.
Here are a few examples.
- Are your worry days a sign of anxiety?
- Three Mind-Body Practices for Dealing with Anxiety
Fear Vs Anxiety – What’s The Difference
4. Talking to someone may help. Because anxiety is so common, we could easily underestimate its impact on our daily lives. Talking to someone about our experiences with anxiety could put us on a path to developing or regaining a sense of control during those rough patches. University of Arizona employees can access free counseling by contacting ComPsych 24/7. With ComPsych, employees can access 12 free sessions per issue per year.
Remember, managing anything in life takes time and patience. Learning to manage anxiety is no different. Hopefully, the things mentioned offer guidance on approaching anxiety better when it arises.