Overcoming Anxiety: Share this with Friends by Robert Owens
When we experience anxiety and seek help, some well-meaning, sincere person will ask something like, “What’s your problem?”
Our problem is, when we are overcome with anxiety we often don’t know for sure what the problem is, and even have trouble describing what we are feeling. Our friends who think they know what anxiety is (see green/yellow illustration) will advise us to “Just relax, take some deep breaths.” When that doesn’t work to allay our anxiety we can become even more anxious. The reality is, anxiety is a cluster of symptoms, as unique to each individual as our hair colour or fingerprints.
This coloured list is by no means an attempt to trivialize anxiety, but to reassure the sufferer that your symptoms are real, are felt, and can be dealt with. Just as we see there many symptoms, there often are multiple causes, sometimes at an unconscious level beneath our awareness. Professional helpers have enormous caseloads with long waiting lines because untreated anxiety is common. Don’t let your pride or confusion delay treatment. For recovered sufferers, regular maintenance of good well-being is essential to avoid emergency treatment that often is short lasting and does not solve the root(s) of anxiety.
Crisis resources in Ontario are available here…
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