Coping With Anxiety - A Personal View
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As long back as I can remember I was always a shy individual outside of the comfort of our family environment. When younger our local school and community organisations would have plays, choirs and bands and I and would get very Anxious when pushed forward to take a leading part in these. This did not improve with age and when I started working professionally in a financial company in London I would clam up in large meetings and not say anything. If a question were directed to me, I would go puce red which made me feel more anxious. When I knew a big meeting would be coming up, I would get so anxious it would lead to insomnia which then meant that I did not feel on top of my game which increased my anxiety levels. A vicious circle. In time I learned some coping techniques that helped with this e.g. practicing what I could say and reading up on the subjects being discussed so that I ‘felt’ fully informed. A lot had to do with confidence but having anxiety thrown into this did hold be back. With time and experience I felt more confident in my knowledge of my industry and profession which helped with delivery and presentations. Now, 30 odd years later, I do not panic as much but still do get nervous and I have a tendency to overprepare. Before any meeting or interview or some other situation that triggers my anxiety, I try to calm myself by taking deep slow breaths and I also use essential oils blends as I find that the aroma and the essential oil interaction with my receptors help to calm me down.
People who do not suffer from anxiety or have not had exposure to anyone who suffers from anxiety often ask ‘What is Anxiety’. The NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) defines anxiety disorders as follows:
Anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. These feelings can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships.
Everyone feels anxious at some point in their life, but for some people it can be an on-going problem. Anxiety can have both psychological and physical symptoms. In today’s world diagnosis of Anxiety continues to rise.
UK stats from MHFA show the following:
- There were 8.2 million diagnosed cases of anxiety in the UK in 2013
- Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety
- 2% of 5-19 year olds experience an anxiety condition
- In 2017, 3.9% of 5-10 year old children had an anxiety disorder, as did 7.5% of 11-16 year olds and 13.1% of 17-19 year olds
There are many types of anxiety, the most common being
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Phobia-Related Disorders
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Individuals can suffer from any of the above or a variation/combination of in differing degrees and should seek professional help.
Currently we have all been through lockdown and as of writing this article most countries are starting to reopen. For some the idea of stepping out of isolation is causing what is being referred to as re-entry anxiety.
A recent poll by MORI found that 67% of British people feel uncomfortable about attending large public gatherings, music and sporting events, compared to how they felt before the virus, and three in five Brits are sceptical of going to bars and restaurants or using public transport again.
Globally the human race is having to adjust to a new way of living, operating & socialising and there are a lot of unknowns as we are very much in unchartered territory. This can be very unsettling for many and can increase levels of anxiety. We need to employ coping techniques to manage this transition. A recent article in New York Times (Gotten Used to Quarantine? Us Too By Amelia Nierenberg; Published June 27, 2020 Updated June 28, 2020) lists the following techniques to help ease you back into post lock-down world:
- Instead of focusing on what frightens you, think of the things that you want to have back in your life that would enrich and fulfil you
- Write down the things you miss most, and the things you gradually want to reintroduce into your life. Once you have your list, you can assess each activity and come up with a plan for how to do it safely
- Remember you don’t need to re-enter society when society reopens. If you want to wait before returning to restaurant dining, go right ahead. Your comfort is the only metric you should use to decide
- If you really have not left your home in a while, start with a drive or a short walk around the block. Each day, widen your circle, leaning into your anxiety. Don’t do things that will endanger other people but ease yourself back into a more social rhythm.
As we move forward in the new world, we need to find techniques to deal with anxiety that work for us and where necessary we should consult with a medical professional. Studies have been conducted and have shown that Aromatherapy can help. Aromatherapy has been around for thousands of years and many are just beginning to discover the benefits of helping with managing anxiety. See below extracts from recent research with links to full articles:
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/10/18620/htm#
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/7/2597
https://www.mdpi.com/288404
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265715636_The_use_of_essential_oils_as_a_complementary_treatment_for_anxiety
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to improve your well-being. One theory of how they work is that by stimulating the smell receptors in your nose, they can send messages to your nervous system. They are also thought to have a subtle effect on the body’s chemical and energy systems. Because of this, aromatherapy is often used as a natural remedy to relieve anxiety and stress. As previously mentioned, I personally have used a combination of breathing exercises and essential oil blends to help manage my anxiety. These essential oil blends are available for sale here and customer feedback indicates that benefits are felt on application and that the oils provide comforting and relaxing feelings.
Whatever route you take to manage your anxiety remember to breathe and do what is right for you.
#essentialoils #anxiety #generalanxietydisorder #panicdisorder #Phobia-RelatedDisorders #SocialAnxietyDisorder #SeparationAnxietyDisorder #Post-TraumaticStressDisorder #PTSD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #OCD #Anxietydisorders #NewYorkTimes #AmeliaNierenberg #NationalInstituteofMentalHealth #NIMH