Tackling anxiety: learning to put your mind at ease

Anxiety is intense. 

One moment you’re sitting quietly at peace and the next, your head is spinning, heart is racing, muscles are tight, and you’re feeling intense emotions.

All because a triggering thought crossed your mind. 

For someone who deals with high anxiety regularly, it can be crippling both mentally and physically.  Every time it happens, it can take that person a moment to catch their breath and calm their mind. And even then, it’s often those who have learned techniques through counselling who find it easier to get back to a place of calmness. 

One in four adults will experience an anxiety disorder at one point in their life. However, managing and mitigating these incidents is possible with the help of a professional. The counsellors at Some Other Solutions are here to support anyone who may be struggling with anxiety by helping identify triggers, teach relaxation strategies and mindfulness skills.

A wide range of anxiety disorders

An anxiety disorder is a common mental illness that can severely impact one’s health and how one feels if not properly treated. 

There are 11 different types of anxiety and related disorders. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), those disorders include:

  • Phobias. A phobia is an intense fear around a specific thing like an object, animal, or situation.

  • Panic disorders. A panic attack is a feeling of sudden and intense fear that lasts for a short period of time.

  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental illness that causes repeated unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the urge to do something over and over again (compulsions).  

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. 

  • Agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is fear of being in a situation where a person can’t escape or find help if they experience a panic attack or other feelings of anxiety.

  • Social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety disorder involves intense fear of being embarrassed or evaluated negatively by others.

  • Generalized anxiety disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder is excessive worry around a number of everyday problems for more than six months.

Each anxiety disorder comes with a list of commonly occurring symptoms that are grouped into four categories.  

They include:

  • Physical responses

  • Thoughts

  • Emotions

  • Behaviours

Anxiety levels remain high

The pandemic had a traumatic effect on the lives of many people, and it will continue to do so well into the future. 

At the beginning of the year, a survey carried out for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health reported anxiety, feelings of depression and loneliness among Canadians spiked to the highest levels since the spring of 2020.

A quarter of the people who took part reported feeling moderate to severe anxiety, compared to 19 per cent in the survey conducted in July 2021.

Consistent with previous surveys, Canadians between 18 and 39 years old reported the highest levels of moderate to severe anxiety, loneliness and feelings of depression of any age group (33.5 per cent for anxiety, 29.1 per cent for loneliness and 27.7 per cent for feelings of depression).

Reaching out for help 

Anxiety in small doses can be good, especially when it motivates us or warns us of danger.  However, anxiety disorders can cripple us and seriously affect our mental and physical health if left unchecked.

Conversations with professionals at SOS and/or a doctor can help you get on top of your anxiety.

Reach out and put your mind at ease.

Some Other Solutions