(pleasant comforting music)
- [Amanda] Hey there psych2-goers
and welcome back to our channel.
We wanted to let you know that your ongoing support
helps us make psychology and mental health
more accessible to everyone.
So thank you all so much for the love that you've given us.
Before we begin, we wanted to remind you that this video
is meant for informative purposes only
and is not meant to be a diagnostic tool for mental illness.
Please reach out to a mental health professional
or your doctor if you think
you might be struggling with anxiety.
With that said, let's begin.
Anxiety seems to be so mainstream these days
and people are feeling more stressed out than ever.
But there is a difference between experiencing anxiety
and having an anxiety disorder.
Feelings of nervousness or restlessness will go away
but people with anxiety disorders
get no such break from their symptoms.
This can change the way you communicate,
behave and even think.
In today's video, we will be talking about eight struggles
people with anxiety can relate to.
Number one, you fret and worry
over small decision choices.
Do you freeze with indecision when thinking about
what you want for lunch?
It usually shouldn't matter that much
but when your brain is moving at a mile a minute,
it's not hard to invent a hypothetical situation
where this choice could mean life or death.
There are so many what ifs to consider
and the anxious brain wants to examine them all.
It's important to remember
why your mind stays stuck on something,
it's trying to protect you.
The what ifs are all meant to prepare your brain
to deal with real situations, should they arise.
Be kind to yourself when making a decision
doesn't come easily to you.
It's not for nothing,
even if it is disruptive or frustrating.
Two, which comes first, anxiety or sleep disruption?
If you find it difficult to get a good night's sleep
with an anxious brain, you're not alone.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association
of America, stress and anxiety are closely related to
and often coincide with sleep disorders.
These can range from nightmares or restlessness
to more complex conditions such as bruxism,
where you grind your teeth while you sleep
or narcolepsy which causes you to spontaneously fall asleep.
It can be hard to tell whether sleep troubles
or anxious thoughts are the root of the problem.
Anxiety can cause a lack of sleep just as easily
as a lack of sleep can make you feel anxious.
Number three, the worst case scenarios always seem
more likely than they are.
When you've been dealing with your anxiety for a long time,
your brain gets used to being on the alert for danger,
even when none is present.
This is why it's easy to ruminate
on negative or intrusive thoughts.
Jumping passed the more likely outcomes
to a worst-case scenario becomes automatic.
Everyday occurrences send your nervous system spinning
when you've become so good at searching for anything
that might go wrong.
We offer a challenge
to any anxious psych2-goers out there;
if you notice yourself imagining a disastrous outcome
or event, see if you can come up with one other scenario
that may occur instead.
Is one more likely than the other to take place?
Number four, you have no clue
if others can sense your anxiety.
Do you worry about whether or not other people can tell
when you're feeling anxious?
And then are you doubly worried about how someone
will react if they do find out you're having a panic attack?
Since no people experience anxiety the same way
nor are any two situations the same,
there's no real way to tell unless you tell someone
that you're not feeling well.
If anything, your anxiety is not as noticeable
as you fear it to be.
There are so many other restless,
sweaty, awkward people in the world
and everyone else is probably too worried about themselves
that they're less likely to notice
if you look a little flushed or act a little odd.
Five, you can literally worry yourself sick.
Have you ever been so stressed and worried that you felt
like you might throw up or pass out?
When you suffer from anxiety, these severe reactions
become normal which can put immense stress
on your body over time.
Mayo Clinic states that symptoms such as headaches,
heart palpitations and gastrointestinal issues
are common expressions of anxiety.
Dealing with these over a long period of time
can lead to complications such as irritable bowel syndrome
and other chronic disruptions in the nervous system.
Six, self-doubt slows you down socially.
Do you long to be out and about with your friends
but your anxiety and doubt
convince you to stay home instead?
Socializing can be incredibly stressful
for someone with anxiety,
especially if you have social anxiety disorder
which is specific to public or group settings.
Between physical symptoms and a racing mind,
keeping up a conversation with your friends can be tricky.
Your brain interrupts with intrusive thoughts and questions
and you wonder if you're doing it right.
If you notice that you're worrying about
whether your anxiety makes you come across as awkward
or quiet, that's okay.
It's good to be aware of your effect on others
but make sure you're trying your best
to be genuine and be you.
Living in today's society is a lot of pressure already,
so there's no need to double down on yourself.
Seven, you find it hard to
stay focused, you find it hard to stay focused.
When your anxiety is bad, do you struggle to concentrate?
Like, when you have to reread a page in a book
a couple of times over before you finally
comprehend what you're reading.
Recent BBC research cites a 2011 study
from the University of Notre Dame,
which confirms that the brain is designed to hold
only so much information at once.
If you're taking up that space with tons of what-ifs
and worries, there won't be much room
left for anything else.
Changing your thought patterns won't happen overnight
but it's certainly possible.
It will likely take some trial and error
to find what works for you but practicing mindfulness,
getting exercise and avoiding multitasking
are a few good places to start.
And number eight,
yeah, you can have anxiety about your anxiety.
Have you ever heard of a agoraphobia?
The UK National Health Service defines agoraphobia
as a fear of being in situations where escape
might be difficult or that help wouldn't be available
if things go wrong.
Most people who suffer
from this condition practice avoidance.
Some might refuse to take public transportation
or be in crowded or open spaces,
while others may not leave their house at all.
Avoidance aims to protect you from danger,
panic and even embarrassment.
Did you relate to any of these scenarios?
Tell us about it in the comments below.
Anxiety is tough but so are you.
If you have any other tips that help you with your anxiety,
share them in the comments below.
If you found this video helpful, please like
and share this video with someone
who can benefit from it too.
The studies and references used
are listed in the description below.
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Thank you for watching and we'll see you next time.