Anxiety is normal. Everyone will experience anxiety from time to time. It’s there to alert us to threats, protect us from danger and help us reach our goals. Anxiety is not dangerous. Generally, anxiety is temporary. The bodily sensations we experience are designed to alert and activate us. Anxiety is adaptive. It can amp us up to motivate us to get things done. Anxiety is a part of everyone’s life. Without it we could not build our resiliency and learn confidence. It is in overcoming the small stressors in life that we are better inoculated to deal with the larger issues that come our way.

Problematic Anxiety

We know that small doses of anxiety are useful. However, when we find we are scared or worrying much of the time, avoiding social activities or not wanting to go to work or school, anxiety has become a problem. When we feel like we are immersed in a cloud of anxiety that is keeping us from our daily activities of life and living, it’s time to seek some help. Research suggests that stress and anxiety are on the rise for children, youth and adults. Some of the more common reasons are bullying, high divorce rates, breakdown of families, job loss, and growing poverty levels. Technology has been a contributing factor due to excessive screen time, lower human connectedness and lack of sleep.

Coping with Anxiety

• Communication: We need to open up about the anxiety we are feeling with a trusted friend, partner or parent. In turn, we need to show up for those who reach out by actively listening and seeking to understand.

• Coping Skills: Healthy living includes the important factors such as eating a balanced healthy diet, taking time to be present and rest, adequate amounts of sleep nightly, regular exercise (especially helpful in dealing with that ‘fight or flight’ response in our body), seek social and peer connections. Reduce caffeine intake, journal your thoughts, laugh (seriously, just laugh out loud, it’s a release), yoga, chew gum, learn about healthy boundaries and how to say no, and seek professional help to help you face and work through some of the causes of your anxiety. Finally, ask for a hug, hold it for at least 30 seconds, and match the other person’s breathing. This releases the love hormone oxytocin and is a natural way to feel connected.