- By Umama Masroor
ANXIETY: BREAKING THE SILENCE, FINDING THE STRENGTH
By Umama Masroor
ANXIETY- a seven-letter word often dismissed as inconsequential, but it’s not. It is a mental health problem, and in modern life, anxiety has become an issue affecting millions around the globe. Anxiety is displayed in various forms; it can be nervous edginess before a final exam or a sense of fear while thinking about the future.
What exactly is anxiety? As per Psychiatry.org, “Anxiety refers to anticipation of a future concern and is more associated with muscle tension and avoidance behavior”. It is normal to experience occasional anxiety, but excessive worry that interferes in daily life may point to an anxiety disorder. The most common anxiety disorder is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and it could further lead to panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and separation anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can arise because of traumatic life experiences, ongoing stress, abnormalities in brain chemistry, and a family history of mental health problems.
In Pakistan, anxiety and depression prevalence is 33.62%, with 45.5% women and 21.7% men. In India, patients visiting primary care centers have reported estimates ranging from 21% to 57%. (Institute of Medicine. Neurological, Psychiatric, and Developmental Disorders: Meeting the Challenge in the Developing World. Washington, DC, National Academy Press; 2001.)
Thankfully, assistance is accessible. Therapists and psychiatrists offer assistance for anxiety treatment, including pharmaceutical management, mindfulness-based therapies, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Self-care routines and relaxation practices like deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are also crucial for managing stress and controlling anxiety. Anxiety is not something people should take carelessly and leave to heal “with time,” but they should seek medical attention.
Having anxiety strikes one as not having control over your counteractions. Most of the time, you are distraught, you have uneasy thoughts, and you are thinking too much about everything. Sometimes it feels like it’s not going to get better anytime soon. Those anxiety attacks, fear, abnormal sweating, increased heartbeat, rapid breathing, trembling legs—all of this gives the impression that it’s your end.
Every attack implies that you are not going to survive this one, but somehow you do. You can have an anxiety attack in a public place, at your workplace, and you can’t stop it from happening. The only thing you can do is to control it bit by bit, calming yourself, your breathing, and most importantly, your mind. Tell your mind not to focus on those rapid heartbeats or difficult breathing, as it will make you more anxious. The more you feel those things, the more difficulty you will have while coping.
Anxiety can be triggered by anything small or big. People have their own triggers, but sometimes you can’t figure out what your trigger point is, and guess what? That’s the worst part, because anything anywhere can lead you to an anxiety attack. Sometimes just seeing your exam paper can make you so anxious that your heartbeat increases, you start sweating, and for a minute or two, you forget everything you remembered. This is a very brief example of how the smallest of things can make a person with anxiety go through all these emotions in two ticks.
Society’s stigma surrounding mental health is a significant issue, yet it is equally important as physical health. Understanding mental health issues and normalizing discussions can help those who are suffering to open up and heal without fear of judgment.
The saddest part is that society doesn’t know the importance of mental health. Having an anxiety attack in public is embarrassing because people will be judging, not helping. Because they don’t know how to exactly handle a person having an anxiety attack because they don’t have that knowledge. So, I believe exchanging views about mental health issues and educating others about them will give us a better idea on how to help ourselves and others going through a similar situation.
“Anxiety is a powerful foe, but it is not unbeatable. Let’s come forward to create a world where mental health is prioritized. Remember, you are not alone!”
