Anxiety amongst the population spiked during the pandemic with more people than ever seeking help and advice from their GP. Anxiety continues for many of us day in, day out and can be debilitating at times, for example, you might avoid social situations or avoid undertaking necessary tasks. If you suffer from anxiety and are considering coming to one of our meetings, here are some tips from us to hep.
Remember that you are not alone. Many of our members will be just as nervous about attending their first or even subsequent meetings. We are here to support you every step of the way, so if it helps, contact us before the meeting and let us know if you need help with transport, have any accessibility issues or would like somebody to meet and greet you before you attend.
Accept your anxiety. Whilst this might sound odd, sometimes being worried about anxiety itself can make it worse, so accept it, let it run its course. Tel yourself ‘my anxiety is kicking in because of….’ and don’t be overly critical of yourself for having those feelings. Sometimes its ok to be feel anxious.
Don’t worry about things outside of your control and don’t think of the worse case scenarios. Instead, think of all the times you worried in the past when the worse thing you imagined didn’t happen. Also ask yourself how likely the thing you fear most is likely to happen on a scale of 1-10. Is there a chance that you are overly worried, and even if you do worry, will it affect the outcome? Letting go of thinking of the worst case scenario and focusing instead on what positive things could come out of a situation can be really effective when it comes to coping with anxiety.
Share your anxiety with someone you trust. If you want to talk to a member of staff at LIP or a volunteer let us know. If your anxiety is getting to the point that it is affecting your day to day activities and your physical and mental health then it may be time to see your GP to seek treatment. There are a range of options for anxiety from medication to counselling and CBT. Your GP will be able to help you decide upon the best and most effective treatment for you.
Calming Anxiety
Anxiety amongst the population spiked during the pandemic with more people than ever seeking help and advice from their GP. Anxiety continues for many of us day in, day out and can be debilitating at times, for example, you might avoid social situations or avoid undertaking necessary tasks. If you suffer from anxiety and are considering coming to one of our meetings, here are some tips from us to hep.
Staff & Board