Anxiety Overview

Anxiety is defined by having apprehensive expectation, occuring more days than not in the past six months, that you find difficult to control. This can be expressed in a number of ways, typically:

1. Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge.

2. Being easily fatigued.

3. Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.

4. Irritability.

5. Muscle tension.

6. Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep).

Not only do you have to experience three or more of the symptoms, they have to cause significant distress and be to a degree which is disruptive to your ability to function.

I know this word is used commonly to describe feelings of nervousness and worrisome. I want to challenge you to think of “anxiety” like you would think of the words “retarded” or “gay”. The point I’m trying to make is that “anxiety” or being “anxious” is not interchangeable with feeling nervous, excitable, stressed, or worried.

Activity:

Discuss the following scenarios and decide whether or not they could be considered anxiety. If not, what adjectives would you use to describe it instead? How would you attempt to help a friend in this situation?

1. Marjorie has finals approaching. She has dutifully studied, but can’t shake the feeling she is unprepared. To compensate, she has stayed up late to study. When she wakes up, she feels well rested, despite getting less sleep than usual. When Marjorie’s classmates ask if she would like to have a movie night, she furrows her brow and scolds them for wasting time when they could be studying. Marjorie continues to study, but begins to feel like she is not grasping the material. When she takes a break, she realizes she has been clenching her jaw. She decides to chew a piece of gum while she studies to remedy the situation. It’s time to take the final and Marjorie feels a pit in her stomach. While she takes the final, her mind wanders and she often finds herself to be distracted and yawning. Once the final is over, she cannot stop obsessing over one of the questions she feels she got wrong. Marjorie asks her friends to hang out, but they feel slighted and say they don’t have time.

   1. Is this anxiety? Why or why not?

   2. What would you do to help your friend in this situation?

2. Bryce has a big track meet coming up. This is his chance to qualify for state in hurdles. He has been practicing with the team and independently. After he practices, he feels a little extra sore than usual. He takes an ice bath to feel better. In his free time, his friends ask him to study in the library with them. Bryce declines this time but says maybe next time. At the track meet, he warms up with his peers. His first event is long jump and he accidently toed the foul line and is disqualified from the event. Despite this upset, when it comes time for hurdles, Bryce is able to put it out of his mind and focus on hurdles. Bryce feels rattled that he came second in his heat. Bryce is not having the day he wanted to have.

A. Is this anxiety? Why or why not?

B. What would you do to help your friend in this situation?

Activity Review:

Marjorie Notes--This could be anxiety. She is experiencing sleep disruption (staying up late), irritability, muscle tension, and trouble concentrating/mind going blank. Her irritability has affected her social life. And the worry does not go away once the final is over.

Bryce Notes-- This is not anxiety. Although he is spending extra time practicing, it does not impede his social life. His muscle tension can be attributed to the extra strain he is putting on them by spending extra time practicing. Despite having a bad day, Bryce is still able to focus on the task at hand.

Things to Consider when “Helping”:

• Do remind the person having a panic attack that they are in no way obligated to stay where they are.

• Do assure them there is nothing to be afraid of.

• Do let them know that it’s only temporary.

• Do encourage them to breathe.

• Do attempt to have an engaging conversation with them.

• Do stay with them.

• Do remember that it’s their mental health.

• Don’t let denial fool you.

• Don’t tell them to calm down or relax.

• Don’t forget to use “Active Listening”

• Don’t ask why they’re panicking.

• Don’t brush it off.

• Don’t bullshit.

• Don’t seem irritated, impatient, or judgmental.