Anxiety and Every Day Life: Tips For Talking, Managing, and Living

I think at some point we all get it, but for some of us, it literally never goes away. It's anxiety, and for those of us that suffer with it, it can make day-to-day living a real struggle. However, no matter the difficulty, there are ways to manage it and still live a full, productive life.

Opening up About Anxiety

Many people would like anything more than talking about their emotions. Confessing your feelings makes you vulnerable, exposes you to criticism, and can make you seem weak in the eyes of others. While it can even be source of great strength in some circumstances, sometimes, these reactions can't be avoided.

Anxiety and You

While everybody feels anxious some of the time, for those suffering from an anxiety disorder or any sort of mental health problems, it can be a real burden. Anxiety can make it difficult to function socially, reach your full potential at work, and even leave your own house. Even if things aren't quite so serious, most people are affected by it to some extent, like having sweaty palms at a job interview or having trouble talking to people that they may be interested in.

Anxiety is surprisingly common, with almost 20% of people suffering from some form of diagnosable anxiety disorder. Even so, there remains a kind of stigma attached to it: only 36% of sufferers receive any kind of treatment. This means that talking about your anxiety at work, at school, or even among friends can be a daunting prospect.

Addressing Anxiety

Co-workers, family members, teachers, and friends can be supportive when you talk about your anxiety openly. A lack of confidence in discussing a sensitive topic like your struggles with anxiety isn't a moral failing on your part; public awareness about mental health issues is higher now than ever before.

Talking about any anxiety you may be burdened with is best done face-to-face, and focusing on explaining the facts without allowing emotion to become an issue can be eye-opening for those that you are talking with. Printing out information about anxiety beforehand may also be helpful, as there are numerous resources on the internet explaining what it is, how it works, and how it can be coped with.

Dealing with Anxiety

If you require any sort of accommodation for your condition, such as having to change jobs or just having access to a place where you can be alone for a while, it's always best to be upfront about what you need. Many employers and educational establishments now consider mental health problems in the same light as other disabilities and will do what they can to make your life easier.

Living a fuller life, however, requires treatment, and the good news is that anxiety disorders are mostly manageable. Whoever you're discussing the matter with will be happy to know that you are taking steps toward getting better, so using the opportunity to talk about what treatment options you will be pursuing is a good idea.

The sad truth about mental conditions is that they generally don't get better by themselves and can take a turn for the worse. Anxiety disorders can lead to things like depression, burnout, and self-medicating with illicit drugs and alcohol. Instead, modern treatments are now more effective than ever. Medications and therapy focused on anxiety and panic attacks have improved significantly over the past few years. Online services now make it easy to get in touch with qualified psychologists, and many health insurers now offer good coverage for psychological issues.

At the end of the day, you should know that you are not alone and you can still live your life to it's fullest.