Anxiety.

Anxiety. Anxiety can be so horrible, Everyone has it, but it's different for everyone.

To start with what is anxiety? Anxiety is a way your body responds to frightening or threatening things, for example if you are going in for an exam and you worry and think 'Have I remembered everything' 'What if I haven't revised enough' etc.. There is a certain phrase that is used alot to describe these feelings and it is 'Fight or Flight' We can either Fight the anxiety or we can give in and run away from whatever we are anxious about. Admittedly I have chosen the 'Flight' option way to many times, but the trick is to FIGHT it! Once you have done whatever it is bothering you once the anxiety starts to get easier and eventually you'll think what was I even nervous about in the first place.

There are alot of different things that can make anxiety worse and one of them is being anxious about being anxious. It sounds very odd, but when you think about it, how many times have you backed out of doing something because the last time you tried it or did it you got anxious and you don't want to feel that way again? It happens to all of us! I had a panic attack on a bus in 2009 and I didn't want to go back onto a bus but I did and the second time I went on a bus again I had another one and so I didn't get on a bus again until last year when I had no choice but to get on one luckily I was with my mum and I was so nervous and anxious I had sweaty palms and I couldn't keep still and mum managed to calm me down enough to actually get me on the bus. After that the next time I got on one I was with my mum again and it wasn't as bad as the first one I was still sweaty and couldn't keep still but I did it. Even to this day I still get so so nervous even thinking about getting on a bus but I push myself because it's only me that's standing in my way.

In 'Medical' terms there is a cycle that you may go through I know that I go through it this is it.

1. Feel Body Symptoms: Heart Pounding, Sweating, Breathing Speeds Up
2. Thoughts: 'Something awful is going to happen' 'What if I have a panic attack' 'What if I get lost'
3. Feel Anxious
4. Thoughts: 'Now I'm really in danger' 'I'm alone, something is going to happen'
5. Repeat.

Sound familiar to any of you? It's natural that if you go through this you start to avoid things just like how I did and it's not the best thing in the world to feel like you can't do things like 'normal' people. And I say 'normal' because if you go through it you'll understand exactly what I mean. You don't feel normal at all you feel like there is something so wrong with you just because you can't do things that other people find easy and don't think twice about. Things like simply going to the corner shop for some sweets or pop or anything. I struggle to go to the shop so much. Yet it's about 20 seconds from my house and as I'm walking I get so paranoid I feel like every one is staring at me I feel uncomfortable and then I start to get sweaty palms and I have to constantly look at my phone so that I'm distracted.
Anxiety can come in all different forms.

Feelings.
Nervous, Worried, Frightened, Tense, Stressed, On edge, Unsettled, Strange, Detached, Panicky, Light Headed and You can be predicting that bad things are going to happen.

How You Think.

Worrying, Can't Concentrate, Thoughts racing through your mind, Imagining the worst possible outcome, Thinking about just the bad things that can happen and when your mind jumps from one bad thought to another.

Common Thoughts.

I've got to get away, Let me out of here, How can I get out, Where are the nearest exits, Where are the nearest toilets incase I'm going to be sick, I'm going to be sick, I'm going to pass out, What if I hurt myself when I pass out, People are going to look at me, What if I end up in hospital, Is there something wrong with me, What if people laugh at me and think I'm strange.

Effects on the Body.

Sweating, Breathing changes, Light Headed, Stomach flipping, Tingling or numbness in fingers and toes, Chest Pains, Heart racing, Having to go to the toilet, Tense muscles, Body aches, Feeling restless or feeling to sick to move.

Your Actions.

Pacing, Irritable behaviour, Snapping at people, Can't keep still, Talk quickly or talking really slow, Sit still staring, Eat more than usual or less than usual and to avoid whatever is making you feel this way.

Everyone has anxiety but it's different for everyone. If you feel like these things describe you perfectly then you have high anxiety. It's nothing to worry about alot of people suffer with it. All you need to do know is find ways of coping and dealing with it. Everyone finds different things helpful. The best way to try and tackle your anxiety is by doing abit of research on it. There are ALOT of helpful websites that you can go onto if you don't want to go to the doctors about it but I would suggest going to the doctors.
Here are a few Helpful options for you:

Anxiety Care
Helpline: 02084783400

Telephone: 02082628891

www.anxietycare.org.uk

This service provides help and support for those suffering with Anxiety.

Anxiety UK

Telephone: 08444775774

www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Provides Information and support for those suffering from anxiety disorders.

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

Telephone: 01455883316

www.bacp.co.uk

Offers an information service providing contacts for counselling n England and Wales.

First Steps to Freedom

Helpline: 08451202916

Telephone: 08458410619

www.first-steps.org

Provides Helpline and resources for those suffering from anxiety.

Mental Health Matters

Telephone: 01915163500

www.mentalhealthmatters.com

Provides support and information on Employment, Housing, Community Support and Psychological Services.

Mind Infoline

Telephone: 08457660163

www.mind.org.uk

Provides Information on a range of different topics including Mental Distress, Where to get help, Drug and Alternative treatments and Advocacy.

No Panic

Freephone: 08088080545

www.nopanic.org.uk

Support for sufferers of panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) general anxiety disorder and tranquilizer withdrawal.

Rethink

Helpline: 08454560455

www.rethink.org

Provides Information and a helpline for anyone affected by mental health probelms.

Triumph over Phobia

Telephone: 08456009601

www.topuk.org

Provides national network of self help groups for people with phobias or OCD.

 These may be just in the UK I'm not 100% sure but you can always check the websites out!