What do you need to know about anxiety to help yourself or someone you love? We all will experience it from time to time. But maybe you’re wondering how to determine when everyday anxious feelings are something more.
When an anxiety disorder first reared its head in our family, I didn’t have a clue how to help. It seemed all I did was add to the struggle. At the time, I believed it was all about mind over matter. As I educated myself, I learned how incorrect my beliefs were and how I could be a part of making things better. You can read about it here – “When You Want To Help: Eight Strategies For Loving Someone With An Anxiety Disorder.”
Have you or your loved one experienced anxiety? What helps?
Today we have a guest, Maria O’Driscoll from Union Quay Medical Centre to share with us some relevant facts about anxiety. Included is a great graphic to sum it all up.
Understanding & Overcoming Anxiety
Guest post by Maria O’Driscoll
Anxiety is not something that can easily be identified in a person. However, anyone living with the condition is under no illusions as to how damaging it can be. Anxiety chips away at people’s self-confidence and can lead to severe mental health problems. It’s quite common that a person with anxiety will not actively seek help. The reasons might be because they feel nobody cares, they’re too proud to admit to it, or they don’t want to burden others with their troubles.
Anxiety Disorders can be Tricky to Diagnose
Anxiety disorders can be hard to distinguish between common, every day anxious feelings and the deep-rooted presence of a disorder. A person who feels anxious from time to time might feel awkward in social situations, feel nervous about an upcoming interview or exam, or find it difficult to sleep for a couple of nights after a bad experience. A person with an anxiety disorder would try to avoid social situations completely or would be so consumed by fear over an interview or exam that they suffer panic attacks beforehand. If they have distressing experiences, these could come back in recurring nightmares for several months.
Anxiety is a cruel barrier that prevents people from living their lives to their fullest. Often it can be traced back to distressing childhood experiences or originate from genetics. It can arise from financial difficulties or work-related stress. Sometimes it can be from neglecting your physical health or being overly reliant on drugs and alcohol.
Conversations Can Change Everything
If you believe you may have an anxiety disorder, the best thing you can do is tell someone. Whether it’s a partner, friend, parent or medical professional, talking to someone to whom you’re comfortable discussing such a delicate matter can make all the difference. If that seems too daunting a step to take now, that’s fine. Indeed, forgetting about the future and simply doing what makes you feel good at this moment can be helpful.
Anxiety can make you feel like the loneliest person in the world but, trust me; you are not alone. There is always, ALWAYS, somebody who would drop everything to help you feel better.
One conversation can change everything.
Maria O’Driscoll is the Practice Manager of Union Quay Medical Centre in Cork, Ireland. She writes about a variety of health topics and has been especially focused on mental health issues in recent months. She also participates in fundraisers for mental health charities in her native country. Click here to go to Union Quay Medical Centre.
Outdated stats below however, the information is good.
Embracing Faith & Mental Illness Community
Embracing Faith & Mental Illness is a Christ-centered online community for people who care for someone with a mental illness. We have four unique ways for caregivers to participate. You choose what works best for you.
Click here to discover four unique ways for caregivers to participate.
Upcoming Talk: When Your Loved One Has a Mental Illness Is Change Possible?
Feeling stuck, discouraged, or unsure if things can ever improve? This talk is for you. Maree Dee, Founder of Embracing Faith & Mental Illness, invites you to explore:
- Practical tools to help you move forward with renewed hope.
- Steps to take when progress feels out of reach.
- How small changes can lead to meaningful breakthroughs.
Join us for this inspiring session via Zoom on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 9:00 AM (Mountain Time).
This was so very helpful! laurensparks.net
I am so glad you found it helpful. Our guest did a fabulous job. I loved the graphic. Maree
Very informative, Maree. I have a sibling who struggles with an anxiety disorder and this helps shed some light on her experience.
Shannon, I am so glad you found this helpful. I know for me having knowledge helps me to support others better. Hope your weekend is fantastic. Maree
Wow! This is so good and so very informative! Thank you so much for sharing! Blessings! 🙂
Tai,
You are so welcome.Thank you for stopping by and letting me know you found the post helpful. Maree
My concern is that by 2020, depression is supposed to be the most reported illness. we definitely need to be encouraging and sowing into the lives of others, I agree with Gayl, there is always somebody to talk to, to cheer you up, Jesus wants us to be of good cheer, he overcame, so we could.
Yes, I agree we need to sow into the lives of others. Sometimes we live such fast lives we don’t notice others in need. We can seem so unavailable that people won’t reach out. Maree
Your infographics are so great. Thanks for encouraging conversations!
Amy – I agree the infographic was amazing. I am so glad I was contacted to post this informative post. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. Maree
“There is always, ALWAYS, somebody who would drop everything to help you feel better.
One conversation can change everything.” Yes, there is always someone who will help, and I pray that those who struggle with anxiety will know that and reach out. Blessings and thanks for linking up at the #LMMLinkup. There will not be a linkup tomorrow per the holiday.
Yes, it is so important to reach out and share our lives no matter what it is we are dealing with. We are not meant to do life alone. I will look forward to the linkup next week. Maree
Maree, I pinned this great post, and also smiled when I saw it because it’s the perfect companion to my post on Anxiety that you featured recently at Grace and Truth! I guess our minds are running along a common track!
Yes, I agree both posts were great together. I don’t always choose the feature post based on what theme I am doing for the week. However, your post fit so well week I did. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Maree
Maree, this graphic really drove it home. There’s so much that’s assumed about anxiety that it’s good to have the facts and know how best to tell the warning signs.
Thanks so much for sharing this.
Blessings always,
Marva | SunSparkleShine
Marva – Yes, I loved the graphic too. Thank you for stopping by. I always enjoy seeing your name pop up in the comments. Blessings, Maree
This was so good. It was helpful learning the difference between regular anxiety and an anxiety disorder. After a near death accident, I suffered for with PTSD. At first I just ignored it. But PTSD was pretty hard to ignore. Therapy and talking about it was so helpful.
Theresa, I am so glad you found this article helpful. I did too. I am so sorry you had a near-death accident. Glad you made it through and were willing to get the help you needed. Maree
Wow, such great information here! Thank you for sharing, Maree and Maria. So much nuance among them, but such important distinctions to understand, especially as caregivers. Thank you. ((hug))
You are so welcome. Yes, I found it very informative too. Maree
A wonderful wealth of information. Thank you! Anxiety makes you feel like the loneliest person in the world, so true!
Krista, I never realized that anxiety would create feelings of loneliness. It is always good to keep broadening our knowledge of what others are feeling. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a great weekend. Maree
Wow, Maree! Thank you for sharing this informative article. I love how it is so easy to follow the causes/symptoms in that graphic. I really appreciate this information and will share!
Leslie, I too loved how it was so easy to follow. Thank you for stopping by and sharing this article. Maree
Loved the infographics. You should make them pinnable! Such a helpful resource.
I loved the infographic too. I wish I knew how to make it pinnable. Since it is a guest post, I wasn’t able to figure it out. However, via Tailwind, I was able to pin it. It came out a little bit longer, but it might work. Here is the URL for my pin and you can see what you think. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/591941944747570439/
This is such an important topic and you may just save some families by talking about it. I can be anxious, and it is an awful feeling. It would be so hard to help someone with an anxiety disorder!
Sarah – I am sorry you feel anxious at times. It must be awful. I do hope this article helps others to start a conversation. Thank you for stopping by. Maree
Thank you for this thorough explanation and contrast between normal and clinical anxiety.
Debbie,
You are so welcome. Maria did a great job, and I loved the graphic. I know I found it very helpful to see the differences between clinical and everyday anxiety. Maree
My brother has been struggling with this. He’s been trying to communicate it to my family and we’re struggling with how to help. I really appreciate this post today.
I am so sorry your brother is struggling with Anxiety. It sounds like he as some supportive people to help him through. That is wonderful. I didn’t know how to help my daughter at all, but I learned some skills. You might find this post helpful. https://www.embracingtheunexpected.com/when-you-want-to-help-eight-strategies-for-loving-someone-with-an-anxiety-disorder/ Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I appreciate it. It helps to know what others find valuable. Maree