Anxiety in Adults

Recently we put a poll out on Social Media asking all of you, “How many Adults in the UK do you think suffer with some form of anxiety?”  With the multiple choice answers, 1 in 4, 1 in 6, 1 in 8 and 1 in 10 adults. This is an interesting question and very important especially in this day and age when anxiety is everywhere. Anxiety is a common emotional state characterised by feelings of unease, such as worry or fear, that can range from mild to severe. Most people feel anxious from time to time. Anxiety has its place in the world as it can provide motivation and keep us safe from harm. However, when anxiety becomes excessive, it can interfere with our daily lives and lead to distress, avoidance and even physical systems like heart palpitation, stomach upsets or shortness of breath.

It is also common, that feeling anxious can arise in response to various life events or circumstances, during more stressful times, anxiety levels will be higher.

The votes to the poll are as follows:

67% of those who took part said 1 in 4.

13% said 1 in 6

7% said 1 in 8

And Lastly, 1 in 10 was voted by the remaining 13%.

Interesting results and it goes to show that a big proportion of people think Anxiety is common because 1 in 4 was voted the highest. The answer is actually 1 in 6 people which is still relatively high.

Everyone’s experiences of anxiety are different, and the causes of anxiety can be complicated. What is clear is that the relationship between anxiety and any social and/or environmental factors is complex and bidirectional.

Social and environmental factors can contribute to the development and maintenance of anxiety and affect our ability to engage effectively in social situations. These social and environmental factors can include childhood trauma, social isolation, negative life events, stress relating to work or education, physical or mental health problems, and social and societal pressures. Gender can also play a part. Women are almost twice as likely to experience anxiety as men.

Other studies suggest that women are more likely to experience physical and mental abuse than men, and abuse has been linked to the development of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety can have a significant impact on how a person interacts with the world around them. For example, anxiety can lead to social withdrawal, decreased productivity, and reduced quality of life. In some cases, it can cause avoidance behaviours that prevent individuals from pursuing education, work, or social opportunities, or from accessing essential resources such as health or social care or other forms of support.

It can make it difficult to maintain interpersonal relationships, to conduct everyday activities independently and to work, and it can impact on the relationship we have with our environment.

If we don’t know how to cope with our feelings of anxiety, they can get out of control and stop us from doing the things we need or want to do.  The more often and the longer we feel anxious, the more it can become a problem.

Dealing with anxiety can be hard.  But there are some things we can do to manage these tough feelings such as, Focus on your breathing and breath directly from your stomach so that your diaphragm really opens, then hold it for a few seconds and release. Do this repeatedly until you feel better and eventually our bodies learn what to do when we are heighten state of anxiety.

Secondly, get moving! Exercise is a good way of dealing with anxiety. Remember, activity doesn’t have to be vigorous;  try some gentle stretches, yoga, or seated exercises.  Or just go for a walk. Going for a run, swimming, or taking part in a fitness class can give you something else to think about.  It needs a bit of concentration, so takes your mind off the anxious thoughts. Any amount of exercise will help.

Next, it’s important that we don’t try to ignore our worries.  Taking the time to keep a record of what’s happening in your life and how it’s affecting you can help you understand what is triggering your feelings of anxiety.  Knowing this can help you better prepare for and manage situations that may cause anxiety.

Sometimes it helps to give yourself a certain time of day to be your “worry time”.  It could be half an hour first thing in the morning for to sit with your worries and write them down in your diary.  When that’s out of the way, you can move on with the rest of your day.  This can help you take control and stop anxiety getting in the way of what you want to do.

You can also get involved with nature more, gardening or outdoor activities as the fresh air is known to help with anxiety. Likewise ensure you get enough sleep and have a good diet will contribute to you feeling calmer.

If you try these at home techniques and are still struggling then check out some of the websites here:

Mindfulness www.mentalhealth.org.uk/mindful

Exercise www.mentalhealth.org.uk/physical-activity

Cost of Living www.mentalhealth.org.uk/cost-of-living-support

Nature www.mentalhealth.org.uk/nature

Diet www.mentalhealth.org.uk/diet

Helpline services www.mentalhealth.org.uk/get-help

I hope this blog has been interesting, informative and helpful. To read other blogs just click on the below image and to listen to these as podcasts, just go to: https://anchor.fm/sinclairandrushukltd

Bye for now!