Stress and Anxiety
Are you feeling stressed and anxious about the future? Thanks to the pandemic, we are experiencing more stress and anxiety than ever before, writes Jackie Mitchell
The pandemic has greatly increased the numbers suffering from mental health issues, caused by the ongoing uncertainty for many. According to the mental health charity Mind, 60% of adults said their mental health became worse during lockdown.
Stress and anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways. Physical symptoms can include an increased heart rate or muscle tension, ‘jelly’ legs or tingling in the hands and feet, breathing too heavily or dizziness. You may experience feelings that you might lose control or faint. Dave Smithson from Anxiety UK says: ‘Those who are usually outgoing may become withdrawn or those who are reserved may become erratic.’
Other symptoms can include lack of concentration, catastrophic thoughts, poor memory, excessive alcohol intake, under or overeating, a short temper and tearfulness. A key indicator is blowing things out of proportion. As Lorraine Collins, psychodynamic counsellor, psychotherapist, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), say; ‘If you’re stressed, how you view situations can become altered and distorted due to the brain not being able to process information in a more balanced way. It can also be a cry for help in communicating distress that can be difficult to put into words.’
How To Manage Stress and Anxiety
It is Mental Health Awareness Week in from 10 May and the good news is there are plenty of practical and useful tools to manage anxiety and reduce stress:
Getting back into nature is a great way of calming your anxiety. This can be a local park, woodland or your garden. Collins says: ‘You can practice naming what’s around you, the things you see and hear, and this will interrupt the constant looping of anxious thoughts.’
Looking after mind and body: ‘Go to bed without screens and mobiles that will decrease the winding down time we need to settle into a relaxed state. Watch your diet, as excessive caffeine and refined sugars will only stimulate an already stimulated body and mind.’Learn relaxation techniques which include exercises to release the tension in your body by easing your muscles. The Mind website lists plenty of options.
Connect with other people: ‘Plan to have regular chats with friends and family over the phone,’ says Stephen Buckley from Mind. ‘This is a vital way of maintaining wellbeing.’
Share the problem: talking to someone you trust about what is making you stressed can be helpful. If this isn’t possible, you could call a confidential helpline such as Mind’s Infoline or those run by Anxiety UK and the Samaritans.
If these self-care techniques don’t work, talk to your GP about treatment options. This can include talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
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