What is Anxiety?
Dragonfly CBD donates £1 of every product sold on its website to its Mental Health Charity Dragonfly Community, which provides much needed resources to grassroots charities supporting people suffering from mental health illnesses such as anxiety and depression. As part of our mission to help as many people as possible either through our business or charity, Dragonfly CBD is running an awareness campaign coinciding with World Mental Health Day.
Whilst Covid-19 may be a physical illness, its emergence has helped foster a collective anxiety and shared sense of unease.
NHS leaders recently reported a rise in people reporting severe mental health difficulties. One of the unintended consequences of the lockdown is a reduction in people referring themselves to mental health services. Some estimates suggest up to 30% fewer people referred themselves for help during the height of the pandemic.
In reality, the numbers of people suffering from anxiety, depression or other mental health illnesses is likely to be 20% greater than pre-coronavirus levels.
What is Anxiety?
On a basic level, Anxiety is a feeling or sense of unease, like fear or worry. It can range from momentary to severe.
Everyone will encounter anxious thoughts throughout their life. For instance, you may be worried about an upcoming exam or job interview. These feelings of trepidation are perfectly normal.
Some can struggle to control their concerns, facing more constant feelings of unease which can begin to affect their daily lives.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a long term manifestation of this. People suffering from GAD might be feeling anxious about a range of issues or scenarios, rather than something specific. This occurs most days and people with GAD struggle to recount the last time they felt relaxed.
How to recognise you are suffering from Anxiety?
Like many mental health problems, recognising and accepting that you are suffering is one of the hardest battles. Developing a personal understanding that your anxiety is affecting your life is an important step in the process. Up to 5% of the UK population are believed to suffer from GAD. So you are not alone.
Anxiety can cause both mental and physical symptoms. These may vary from person to person but can include the following:
- Constant worrying
- Inability to rest or relax
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Dizziness or heart palpitations
Reaching out for help is crucial. Whether that is a close friend or a family member, it is important to vocalise your worries.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, rather one of strength. Few people show enough self-awareness and understanding to speak to others about their troubles. It demonstrates you are empathetic and can understand, express and try to grow past your weaknesses.
Anxiety can be normal during periods of your life. However, if it begins to cause distress and affects your life you should seek help from a professional. Your GP will be able to provide assistance. They will ask you about your symptoms, emotions and concerns to find out if you have an anxiety disorder.
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day occurs every 10th October and it now arrives at a time where it is more important than ever. There are loads of great initiatives running, including Tea & Talk, designed to bring people closer together to speak virtually. It is free to join and is a great opportunity to catch up with your friends and family.