Anxiety & Mindfulness

S.O.M

What is Anxiety?

The definition of anxiety is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of intense, excessive, and persistent worry or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities or everyday situations. Anxiety is only an indicator of underlying disease when feelings become excessive, all-consuming, and interfere with daily living.

What does Anxiety do and how does it affect someone?

Symptoms include stress that's out of proportion to the impact of the event, inability to set aside a worry, and restlessness. Some experience rambling thoughts that ramble through their mind constantly but can't really focus on one certain thought giving them headaches, dizziness, poor appetite, over eating, blacking out or hyperventilating. Others may experience a sense of confusion, unable to concentrate leaving them absent minded. Some can even experience a sense of feeling out of control, which can also be someone who struggles handling added stress or a sense of not being able to control (the stress or situation). More symptoms can be spacing out, fast heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, panic attacks, and feeling tired (sleeping a lot).

What does Anxiety look like?

There's no answer because just like any other mental health issue or disorder, there is no face to match it with. No one knows what anxiety looks like on someone until maybe when someone is having an episode but not really because even still, you wouldn't have no clue what's going on with them without knowing their mental health issue.

How to help someone who is struggling with Anxiety?

Being mindful and having patience is key. How can someone be mindful to someone "overreacting"? Let's first start with the chosen language being communicated, being mindful of the aggressiveness/tone in the language pertaining to someone struggling with a mental health issue. Stress and trauma has a special way of impacting someone and putting in consideration that everyone experiences stress and trauma differently due to your body’s natural response to stress/trauma. The saying, "you don't know until you have been in their shoes", fits those who are struggling with a mental illness and is still very important especially in today's society. So because someone may not understand someone's mental health, it's important to be mindful in all situations. Let's look at it as when parents discuss their children with siblings, "you wouldn't like it if it was done to you". What happened to being polite and just having respect? You really don't know what people are going through, let's start by practicing gratitude and spreading good vibes by showing kind love! Reach out and check on your friends, your family, and don't forget your significant other.

Ways to Cope with Anxiety?

You're never alone! For those who are struggling it's important to find strategies to cope with anxiety when it occurs. Getting real results from the tools and skills gained, you would need to start by digging down to the source. What is the source of stress coming from? By admitting and acknowledging your stress and traumas is step one. Once you have an understanding of your stress and acknowledged your traumas, your rambling thoughts will automatically start to slow down allowing some ease and tension release of the mind. Seek ways you can improve and find inner peace. Things like therapy and alternatives are ways to heal and get through struggling with anxiety. Alternatives would be things like practicing and applying self-care in your routine. Retail therapy, exercise, yoga, reading, writing, or self pampering, or even sleeping are ways to practice self-care. Another alternative would be art like art therapy and if interested in DIY self therapy, look into S.O.M Vibes Studio for Abstract Meditative Vibes.

For more information check out the website at www.somvibesstudiollc.com

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