Morning In Mental Health: Unveiling the Face of Anxiety

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In today’s society, the word anxiety is often used to express a multitude of emotions and reactions related to stress, fear, and/or worry.

Whether voicing first-date jitters to a friend, ruminating over the outcome of a job interview, or while sitting in back-to-back traffic for hours on end, ‘having anxiety’ is used formally, and informally, to depict how one feels about a given situation.

However, it’s important to understand that no two people respond to stress in the same way and anxiety can manifest differently from one person to the next. 

It’s equally important to note that everyday responses to stress do not always correlate with having a diagnosable anxiety disorder; for that reason, learning how to differentiate between natural responses to unpleasant or uncomfortable situations with that of anxiety disorders can help society to better convey their own emotions and to better understand those of others.

To help someone with anxiety (whether that person is you or someone close to you) we must first identify what anxiety is, and what it’s not. Only then can we do our part to unveil the true face of anxiety and address the many misconceptions which contribute to the unfair treatment of those who experience it.  

And what better place to spread the message than here: Morning in Mental Health.

Understanding Anxiety 

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), “Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness, and involve excessive fear or anxiety” (2021).

While an individual with anxiety may feel temporary discomfort in a given situation, someone with a diagnosable anxiety disorder will commonly display avoidant behavior towards the person, place, or thing that could trigger or worsen their anxiety. 

In order to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, a psychiatrist will determine if the specific fear or anxiety is considered out of proportion to the situation presented and if it’s a hindrance to the individuals’ daily functioning.

As recognized by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), there are several types of anxiety disorders that can affect how people function in their everyday lives: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Specific Phobias, Agoraphobia, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Separation Anxiety Disorder (2018).

Identifying Symptoms 

Anxiety Disorders encompass a wide range of symptoms with both emotional and physical responses. 

Depending on the type of anxiety disorder at hand, symptoms will vary from one person to another and no two people will respond to a particular mental health condition in the exact same way. 

Still, with that being said, the frequent disruption in day-to-day functioning will be a constant for many with an anxiety-related condition. 

Symptoms of an anxiety disorder may include: 

  • Restlessness and irritability 

  • Excessive worry/feelings of impending doom

  • Difficulty concentrating 

  • Trembling or shaking 

  • Sensations of shortness of breath 

  • Pounding or racing heart

  • Somatic complaints (upset stomach, headaches, fatigue or insomnia) 

Helping Someone with Anxiety 

When it comes to helping someone with anxiety, you’ll want to remain emotionally present during your interaction and always provide a judgment-free space. 

Here are a few ways you can provide support to someone you care for: 

  • Validate their Experience: When supporting someone with anxiety, it’s important to validate their feelings. Understand that this is their unique experience—no one else’s—and disclosing personal information can cause someone to feel quite vulnerable. 

  • Express Genuine Concern: If you notice someone you care for undergoing emotional or behavioral changes, you may want to reach out and offer your support. Whether that individual wants to share at this time is completely up to them and you should do your best as to not come across forceful or confrontational. 

  • Show Love and Compassion: Showing love and compassion is one of the best ways to help someone be struggling with anxiety. It’s common to experience feelings of low self-worth and/or confidence during one’s mental health journey, feeling like they’re up against the world, and doing it all alone. In such moments, it’s helpful to remind another of their strength.

  • Change the Scenery: Changing the scenery from time to time can bring many benefits to our emotional state—even if that means moving from our bedroom to the dining room for a healthy snack. This is because changing the scenery can encourage opportunities for grounding activities to occur. Asking someone if they’d like to join you for a scenic walk, try a new recipe, or find somewhere more quiet to talk, can help decrease feelings of anxiety and promote positive connections to form in the brain. 

  • Ask to Help: Oftentimes, individuals with anxiety have an idea of what works, and what doesn’t, when it comes to alleviating their symptoms. They may also know which areas of their life decline faster when under significant stress. To lessen the load, your loved one may appreciate a simple, “What can I do to help?” or “Want to work on one of your tasks together?” A quick trip to the grocery store or dry cleaners may be more helpful than you realize!

Helping someone with anxiety can be as simple as being there during the difficult days—but also during the smoother days. While we may want to help solve all of our loved ones’ problems, often the best way to help is to show love and compassion, to listen without judgment, and to lend a hand whenever we can.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2021, June). What are Anxiety Disorders? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders/.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018, July). Anxiety disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/.

Anxiety, Mental Health InsightsJeff MoweryanxietyComment