A
nxiety is a word that gets bandied
about quite freely nowadays.
People talk more openly about
it than other mental health
problems and new terms like
eco-anxiety, comparison anxiety
and hangxiety (the anxiety that comes with
a hangover) keep cropping up in the headlines
and our vocabulary. But how do you know
when you’re just worrying (because, there’s a
lot to worry about, right?) and when you have
a problem with anxiety? “Evidence shows that
anxiety is a growing problem, that it increases
with age and that women are most prone to it,”
says Dr Jessamy Hibberd, clinical psychologist
and author of The Imposter Cure (Aster). It’s
thought women are more susceptible to anxiety
during times of hormonal change, such as
adolescence, after having a baby and before the
menopause. If that all sounds pretty anxiety-
inducing, the good news is that understanding
where it comes from and taking small but
impactful steps to limit and live with it, can help
calm an anxious mind. Here’s what we know:Anxiety isn’t always a bad thing. Without some
level of anxiety, we wouldn’t get things done or
stay safe. The trouble is that anxiety should be a
passing state but, if it’s left untackled, we remain
in a state of low-level anxiety and that’s when
problems kick in. “Most women are continuously
busy and stressed and rarely complete the stress
cycle,” explain Emily and Amelia Nagoski in theirnew book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the
Stress Cycle (Ballantine Books). To overcome
anxiety, they advise doing some exercise or trying
breathing, laughing, crying or something creative.
“Whatever works for you, as long as you feel
better than when you started. And because
you experience stress every day, it’s best to do
something for around half an hour every day.”These are uncertain times. Much anxiety stems
from a fear of the uncertain. “The best way to
manage uncertainty is to become more tolerant
of it,” suggests Dr Hibberd. She advises facing
things you’ve been shying away from, ignoring
the imposter voice (the voice in your head that
tells you you’re not good enough, you might fail,
etc), stepping out of your comfort zone and going
for the things you want. “New experiences and
challenging yourself regularly are important
for maintaining good mental health,” she says.
So, if we accept that some level of uncertainty is
OK, we should feel less anxious when confronted
with the big things, like climate change, terrorism
or politics. If you feel helpless, remind yourself
that you’re not by doing something, whether
it’s taking a donation to a food bank or joining
a march. Limiting your news exposure will also
help to reduce anxiety as news is often perceived
as a threat, making it impossible to relax.We are experiencing a comparison epidemic.
Comparing ourselves to others – strangers as
well as peers – can fuel anxiety. “This epidemic
is brought about by social media and technology,”
says Lucy Sheridan, author of The Comparison
Cure (Orion Spring). “With it comes a toxic
and deep-rooted effect on how we live our lives,
the decisions we are making and how we are PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCKAccepting that life isn’t perfect
is the key to happier timesThe trouble
with worry...
Words: REBECCA FRANKFeeling anxious? Sometimes, simply familiarising
yourself with its symptoms and triggers can helpA
nxiety is a word that gets bandied
about quite freely nowadays.
People talk more openly about
it than other mental health
problems and new terms like
eco-anxiety, comparison anxiety
and hangxiety (the anxiety that comes with
a hangover) keep cropping up in the headlines
and our vocabulary. But how do you know
when you’re just worrying (because, there’s a
lot to worry about, right?) and when you have
a problem with anxiety? “Evidence shows that
anxiety is a growing problem, that it increases
with age and that women are most prone to it,”
says Dr Jessamy Hibberd, clinical psychologist
and author of The Imposter Cure (Aster). It’s
thought women are more susceptible to anxiety
during times of hormonal change, such as
adolescence, after having a baby and before the
menopause. If that all sounds pretty anxiety-
inducing, the good news is that understanding
where it comes from and taking small but
impactful steps to limit and live with it, can help
calm an anxious mind. Here’s what we know:Anxiety isn’t always a bad thing. Without some
level of anxiety, we wouldn’t get things done or
stay safe. The trouble is that anxiety should be a
passing state but, if it’s left untackled, we remain
in a state of low-level anxiety and that’s when
problems kick in. “Most women are continuously
busy and stressed and rarely complete the stress
cycle,” explain Emily and Amelia Nagoski in theirnew book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the
Stress Cycle (Ballantine Books). To overcome
anxiety, they advise doing some exercise or trying
breathing, laughing, crying or something creative.
“Whatever works for you, as long as you feel
better than when you started. And because
you experience stress every day, it’s best to do
something for around half an hour every day.”These are uncertain times. Much anxiety stems
from a fear of the uncertain. “The best way to
manage uncertainty is to become more tolerant
of it,” suggests Dr Hibberd. She advises facing
things you’ve been shying away from, ignoring
the imposter voice (the voice in your head that
tells you you’re not good enough, you might fail,
etc), stepping out of your comfort zone and going
for the things you want. “New experiences and
challenging yourself regularly are important
for maintaining good mental health,” she says.
So, if we accept that some level of uncertainty is
OK, we should feel less anxious when confronted
with the big things, like climate change, terrorism
or politics. If you feel helpless, remind yourself
that you’re not by doing something, whether
it’s taking a donation to a food bank or joining
a march. Limiting your news exposure will also
help to reduce anxiety as news is often perceived
as a threat, making it impossible to relax.We are experiencing a comparison epidemic.
Comparing ourselves to others – strangers as
well as peers – can fuel anxiety. “This epidemic
is brought about by social media and technology,”
says Lucy Sheridan, author of The Comparison
Cure (Orion Spring). “With it comes a toxic
and deep-rooted effect on how we live our lives,
the decisions we are making and how we are PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCKAccepting that life isn’t perfect
is the key to happier times
The trouble
with worry...
Words: REBECCA FRANKFeeling anxious? Sometimes, simply familiarising
yourself with its symptoms and triggers can help