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We
all worry - whether its about our relationships and the people we love, the
work that we do, our financial status, our health or perhaps we worry about our
futures. Hopefully the worry will be short lasted – leaving our heads as soon
as it entered, being ordered out by our rationale mind that tells us ‘everything
will be alright’ and ‘there is no need to worry’. However, what if the worry stays
in our heads and ends up being the thing that wakes us in the middle of the
night and stops us sleeping, unable to count sheep worry circles in our head,
getting gradually bigger and harder to control. In a study, 55% of people said
their worrying time was between 9pm at night and 3am in the morning – just when
you want to be sleeping soundly.
Here
I think its worth considering the Buddhist attitude to worrying, this has
helped me lately, as I ask myself first ‘do I have a problem?’ and then ‘can I
do anything about it?’. The answer ‘yes’ lifts me out of worry and empowers me
into action whilst the answer ‘no’ leaves me with the feeling of ‘no need to
worry then’. The Buddhist attitude is simple, don’t worry.
Of course we do not all have this Buddhist mentality even if
we might try. So what happens when the worry will not stop and turns into anxiety?
Anxiety
This is explained as an unpleasant feeling of nervousness,
apprehension, distress, dread and fear that something bad is happening or about
to happen. The physical signs of anxiety include a racing heart, sweaty hands,
tightness in the chest, butterflies in your stomach, wobbly legs, diarrhoea,
fast breathing and sleeplessness. Anxiety also changes the way you act too,
concentrating on a task becomes difficult, feeling panicky and overwhelmed are
common and you might experience a desire to hide away. Everyone has most likely
experienced anxiety at some time and it can be positive because it can be the
thing that keeps us safe that warns us of impending danger. However, in its
negative, it can be paralysing and disruptive in the way we wish to live our
life.
Let’s look at some of the causes of anxiety:-
·
Caffeine
– for an anxious person even one cup of coffee can trigger anxiety, and
remember caffeine is in black teas, energy drinks and chocolate too.
·
Smoking –
nicotine is stimulatory and can fuel anxiety.
· Alcohol - alcohol usage has
been linked with anxiety states because it raises lactate levels which in turn
can increase the production of the noradrenaline (a neurotransmitter that in
excess can cause anxiety).
· Drugs – both recreational
(e.g. cannabis) and pharmaceutical (e.g. steroids)
· Other conditions – anxiety
can be a symptom of other conditions such as premenstrual syndrome, menopause,
thyroid disorders, heart conditions etc.
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety
disorders are the most common mental health problem in Australia. The
Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that anxiety affects over 2 million
people aged 16-85 years; women are more likely to experience anxiety disorders
than men.
Anxiety disorders generally involve feelings of tension,
distress or nervousness. Some of the different types include:
·
Generalised
anxiety disorder – feeling anxious and worried about daily situations.
These feelings are usually out of proportion to the circumstances concerned.
·
Phobias –
a specific fear of something like flying or spiders or even social situations
where you may worry about being embarrassed or judged.
·
Panic
disorder – frequent and unexpected panic attacks that usually last a few
minutes, but can be so intense that it feels like a heart attack. These occur
when the body’s normal anxiety response is not working properly and there is no
way the person can relieve themselves of the feelings
·
Obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD) – having intrusive, repeated thoughts and
performing repetitive behaviours to control these thoughts, like washing your
hands repeatedly because of the fear of germs or checking the front door is
locked over and over again because of the fear of intruders.
·
Post-traumatic
stress disorder – experiencing significant anxiety after a traumatic or
distressing event, e.g. car accidents, experience of war, natural disorders and
being diagnosed with a life threatening illness.
If you feel that you need help with some level of worry or
anxiety, speak to your health care professional (Dr or Naturopath) about
management options. Rest assured lots
can be done. Look out for my next blog where I will outline my top
practical tips to help manage anxiety.
Meanwhile here are two excellent resources for further
information about anxiety:-
Jean Hailes for
Women’s Health - http://anxiety.jeanhailes.org.au/
Beyond Blue - http://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety
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