Today, I’m going to talk about an issue that seems to affect a lot of people nowadays: anxiety. I think talking about this mental health problem is really important! I see a lot of students in Duolingo that get a lot of anxiety because of their classes. Because of this I’m going to teach you a little bit about what anxiety is!

 

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Anxiety manifests as a sense of fear, or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms like restlessness, tension, and a rapid heartbeat. In certain situations, such as confronting a challenging work problem, taking a test, or making a significant decision, experiencing anxiety is a natural response to stress. In these instances, anxiety can serve a purpose by offering a surge of energy or enhancing focus to cope with the situation at hand.

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However, for individuals dealing with anxiety disorders, this fear persists beyond the immediate stressor and can become overpowering.

With this knowledge we can now talk about the different types of anxiety disorders someone can feel. There are several types, but some of the most common ones are:

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• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – This mental health problem causes people to worry excessively and constantly about ordinary issues like work, and family.

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• Panic disorder - Individuals grappling with this issue encounter frequent and unpredictable panic attacks. These episodes are marked by an abrupt onset of fear, discomfort, or a feeling of losing control, even in the absence of any evident danger or identifiable trigger.

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• Phobia - A phobia is an enduring, irrational, and uncontrollable fear directed towards a specific object, situation, or activity, that, generally, doesn’t pose any danger. This fear can be so intense that individuals may go to significant lengths to evade the source of their phobia.

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There are many different causes to these disorders. For example, if your family has an history with mental health issues, you are more likely to feel anxiety. Other causes include stressful events, health issues, substance use, and your personality traits.

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So, now you know if you have any sort of anxiety, but you still want to know how to manage it? Well, here are some coping mechanisms that could help you:

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• Sleep More! A good night of sleep is essential to regulate anxiety.

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• Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs, they can cause or worsen your anxiety.

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• Do exercise! Having a physically active routine most days of the week is a great to reduce stress. It can help your mood, while also making you stay healthy.

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• Incorporate stress management and relaxation practices into your routine, like yoga and meditation.

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• Stop smoking and drinking alcohol, since they can worsen your anxiety.

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• Socialize! It’s good to keep in touch with family and friends.

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In some cases, where anxiety is a bigger issue, we advise you to seek a mental health specialist. They will give you a treatment plan, which includes some assignments, and sometimes medication.

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Lastly, we will also be distributing some flyers at our school if you are interested. You might catch us giving tea at recess, because we know how stressful school can be, and we want to help deal with it by drinking a simple, but calming, beverage!