It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year, the theme is anxiety. As one of the most prominent mental health illnesses, anxiety has and will most likely affect everyone at some point in their lives. From exam pressures to starting a new job and from meeting new people to speaking in front of a crowd – we’ve all experienced anxiety. The Mental Health Foundation chose the theme of anxiety to focus on raising awareness and the general understanding of anxiety.
Anxiety is when we feel worried, tense, or afraid about things that are about to happen, or we think could happen in the future. It can feel different from person to person, but many people describe it as a sense of dread in their chest. That split second before falling but constant for minutes, hours or even days. And the worst part – sometimes you don’t even know why you feel that way. Anxiety is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ condition as there are many different types that have very different effects. You can read our blog from our ‘All About Anxiety series: All About Anxiety – Types of Anxiety Disorders’ to learn and understand more.
Anxiety is a normal emotion. But it is only when it gets out of control and impacts your ability to live your life fully is when it becomes a mental health problem.
A big part of this year’s theme is the focus on the current cost of living crisis. Consequently, there has been a push for more people to speak up about anxiety and money. Whether it be not being able to heat our homes or buy food. According to a mental health survey conducted by the Mental Health Foundation, more than one third of adults feel anxious about their financial situation. Anxiety is a natural response to the current world around us, riddled with uncertainty and stress. From the COVID-19 pandemic that completely changed everything to the on-going cost-of-living crisis that many people are facing. It is important that people understand that they are not alone in these struggles.
This Mental Health Awareness Week we aim to increase people’s awareness of anxiety. We aim to do this by providing useful information from trusted sources with tips and advice on how to best prevent it from becoming a problem. We also want to help people gain a better understanding of anxiety – how it is triggered, how it can be combated and overcame. Aforementioned, anxiety is a very common feeling and with the right treatment it can be easily managed.
At Northern Healthcare, we understand the struggles of those suffering from anxiety, and we’d like to focus on the positives. It is called #MeWorryFree. Whether it be walking the dog on the weekend, or going for a run in the morning, we want to focus on these moments. Instead of dwelling on when we feel most anxious around deadlines and board meetings, we want to think about the other parts of life where we feel the most relaxed and free. We encourage you to join us! When do you feel worry free? The best part of this campaign is that there are no wrong answers. Use the hashtag #MeWorryFree to share your own moments of respite.
Our Northern Healthcare teams support individuals with a range of mental health diagnosis, including anxiety disorders. Learning to live with anxiety may form part of an individual’s support plan. Our Support Workers, Occupational Therapists and Mental Health Nurses will work closely with those individuals to identify and manage their anxiety to promote independence and recovery by creating a tailored support plan. Find out more about our support model here.
Living with anxiety can be challenging but always know that support is available. There are a range of treatment options that can be accessed to help manage symptoms.
