General Anxiety
Feeling tense, stressed, and worried at certain times when under pressure is a normal human response. In fact, 2 out of every 5 people report that they worry at least once every day. However, for some people their worry, feelings of anxiety and tension persists to the point that they significantly interfere with their daily life. Does this sound like you?
Worry can be triggered by a variety of external events, or from thoughts that just pop into your head. It is characterised by a lot of “what if” statements such as:
“What if I fail my exam?”
“What if I can’t do the job?”
“What if no one talks to me?”
Normal worry is relatively short-lived and leads to positive problem-solving behaviour. Worry becomes unhealthy when it is about lots of things, is very frequent, and is difficult to shake off. People may think it’s useful to ‘plan for the worst’, that avoids disappointment and prevents future negative outcomes.
However, this is not the case, as prolonged or frequent worry generates more anxiety and more worry, which may actually prevent positive thinking and action. And what if the worst doesn’t actually happen after all? You may have wasted a lot of time being miserable!
What are the key symptoms?
- Anxiety or worry for at least 6 months.
- The worry experienced is excessive and uncontrollable, is present most days, and interferes with regular life.
At least 3 of the following symptoms also need to be present for the past 6 months or longer:
- Feeling restless, on edge & unable to relax
- Physical tension
- Sleep disturbance, trouble falling asleep, difficulty maintaining, or unsettled sleep.
- Problems concentrating and focusing on tasks.
- Feeling irritable.
- Feeling tired or exhausted easily.
What are the Causes?
The causes of generalised anxiety are not clearly understood. However, the following increase the chance of developing generalised anxiety:
- An inherited pre-disposition to anxiety
- Prolonged stress, and past experiences of uncontrollable or traumatic events.
- Influence from others that the world is threatening or that worry is useful.
- A coping style that involves avoiding challenges or situations where there is the chance of experiencing negative emotions
Treatment
Generalised and social anxiety symptoms often overlap with depression and other anxiety problems. Fortunately, a lot can be done to help. The following information pages can be useful:
‘Calming Techniques’ and ‘Progressive Muscle Relaxation’ provide ways to reduce chronic tension;
‘Negative Thinking Styles’ give techniques for dealing with unhelpful beliefs about worry;
‘Combating Your Fears’ helps you challenge and let go of worries & lets you learn useful coping and problem solving strategies;
‘Mindfulness’ helps you to pay less attention to uncertainty, and staying focused on the present
Obviously if you would like further support or have any additional questions, please contact one of the college counselling team.