Our top tips!
Don’t suffer in silence
It’s really important that, if you are feeling low, you talk to somebody. Keeping your feelings a secret may only make you feel worse.- Try to understand what is causing these feelings
Keep a diary of when you feel anxious to help you begin to understand the causes of your anxiety. - Face your fears
The best way to overcome your anxieties is to face them. Take the opportunity to prove to yourself that you can overcome these feelings. This may be very difficult to do on your own, but there will be people who can help you. - Change the focus
Come up with some distraction techniques that suit you, like mindfulness, so that when you are feeling anxious you can try to change your focus and distract yourself from the anxiety.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is something that everyone feels. It is a natural human response that we all have that helps us to make decisions that keep us safe and help us survive.
It’s important to remember that it’s normal to have a bit of anxiety every now and then. But some people have stronger levels of anxiety than others, and some people get very anxious over particular things.
Some people can have general anxiety (sometimes known as Generalised Anxiety Disorder, or GAD). People with GAD may feel anxious or worry most of the time, or feel a constant sense of dread. These people may have no particular “triggers” for their anxiety.
Other people may have more specific anxieties, such as phobias (for example, a fear of spiders), where there are very clear triggers that cause the feelings of anxiety.
Anxiety shows itself in many different ways. Some people just feel uneasy, some people will shake, and others may have panic attacks.
Reach out and speak to people when you are feeling anxious, whether it is friends, family or our friendly mentors. There are different steps that you can take to help you cope with anxiety in both the short- and long-term, but speaking with someone is a very positive first step.
How can I tell if I have anxiety?
Everyone has anxiety from time to time; it is a natural human response. However, feelings of anxiety should pass after the trigger goes away.
Some people experience anxiety in a more extreme way. There are physical and psychological signs that may appear if you are experiencing more extreme anxiety.
Psychological Symptoms:
- Feeling a sense of dread, extreme tiredness and irritability
- Find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions
- Start to avoid situations that you are worried about
- Repeatedly check things or try to get assurance from others
Physical Symptoms:
- Feeling dizzy, shaky, and getting extremely sweaty
- Getting a headache and a stomach ache
- Having a dry mouth and pins and needles
You can also look out for these symptoms in other people so that you can be there for them and point them towards services and resources that can help them.
I think I might need some help... what do I do?
If you have been reading this page and are starting to worry that you might be suffering with anxiety, it is really important that you reach out to somebody.
There are so many different options that you can think about, and all of them will be able to help you some way. Do not suffer in silence: reach out now to start getting the help that you need.
Get support!
If you think you are suffering, reach out to somebody and get the support you need.
Speak to us
You don’t need to suffer in silence. If you think that you might be suffering with any mental health condition and you would like to talk to someone, our friendly mentors will always be on hand to talk with you.
Speak to somebody that you trust
It is really important that somebody close to you, who you can trust, knows how you are feeling, so that they can be there for you when you need them.
Speak to a doctor
Anxiety is a mental health condition and doctors can help. If you are feeling extremely anxious and are starting to get worried, reach out to a doctor as soon as you can so that they can help you out.
How does anxiety affect me?
Anxiety affects everybody differently, and it’s really important for you to take the time to really try and understand how it is affecting you.
Some people can have very mild anxiety, and some people can have more serious effects. Some of the most common effects of anxiety include:
- Stopping doing activities that you love because you become worried about them
- Stopping hanging out with friends because you get worried
- Having regular panic attacks.
It’s really important that you talk to someone when you feel like this, to help break the cycle.
Challenge your anxieties
It can be helpful to challenge your anxieties. Ask yourself what it is you are anxious about, then question your anxious thoughts. For example, ask yourself how likely is it that your fears will come true? How could you cope?
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present. It can help to decrease stress and sadness, and increase focus and happiness. There are many ways to engage in mindfulness and plenty of apps that can help, such as Calm and Headspace.
Problem Solving
When you’re feeling anxious, use problem solving techniques to try and come up with practical solutions to help you feel better. For example, if you are feeling anxious about an exam, take some time to put together a study plan.
Dedicate time to understanding your anxiety
If you suffer from more extreme anxiety, make some time to think about and understand your anxieties. This could be 10 minutes once a day, or 10 minutes once a week.
What can I do to help myself?
If you are feeling low, there are many ways to get help. One way is to reach out and speak to someone who can help you. But for that to work, you need to be willing and able to help yourself as well.
We have put together some examples of things that you can do to help yourself when you are feeling low.