A lot of us can relate to feeling some degree of anxiety or stress either at work or relating to it. To some people, they can cope without these feelings interfering too much in what they do. For others, the feelings can become somewhat overwhelming, and begin to impact other sections of their lives. Suffering from work related anxiety can have negative effects, both for the employee and the organisation as a whole. This could be a reduced quality of work or a difference in relationships with colleagues. With more people working from home now due to Coronavirus, we have seen a change in the way we now work, which can lead to increased feelings of stress, isolation, and anxiety. In fact, Anxiety UK revealed in April 2020 a rise in the amount of people stating their anxiety had gotten worse due to further lockdown measures. This article is designed to help you identify signs of anxiety either in yourself, or someone you care about and know what steps you can take.

Signs of anxiety

-          Change of appetite – over or under eating

-          Difficulty in concentrating

-          Tiredness or trouble sleeping

-          Feeling physically unwell – e.g., headaches, nausea

-          Panic attacks

-          Increased irritability

-          Feelings of dread

Reducing stress levels

Talk to others. Speak to your family, your friends, even your doctor. Getting these feelings out there in the open will feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders a bit and make you start to feel a bit better. These emotions rarely go away on their own and keeping them locked up inside of you can only make you feel worse.

Meditation or yoga. These are both fantastic method of fully relaxing your mind and body. There are so many apps or videos on YouTube you can use, perhaps at the end of a long day, to help you unwind and clear your mind. These clips can guide you through learning how to control your breathing and this becomes a great method to use any other times you feel anxious to calm your body and bring yourself back down. Or a quick method to always remember when the anxiety is getting too much is to remember the rule of 3: Breathe deeply and name 3 things you can see, hear, and smell to bring you back into the moment.

Take a walk. Get outdoors into the fresh air, don’t look at your phone, and enjoy your surroundings. Walking can allow your mind to escape from your worries, creating a diversion. Exercising regular, whether that be taking a walk or a jog, releases endorphins which allow us to feel good. So, get yourself out of the house for even 10 minutes and enjoy your local surroundings.

Recognise the triggers. Taking the time to get to fully know your own body, what makes you happy, what makes you feel stressed/anxious/uneasy. So, if you suffer from panic attacks, you might find it helpful to getting to you first of all your triggers, and also the symptoms of one about to start. By recognising these symptoms, you can remove yourself from the situation and allow yourself to calm down.

Know when to get help. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about if you feel you need to speak to a therapist or counsellor. These types of sessions talk you through the causes of your anxiety or stress, and help you overcome these issues. They are always completely confidential, so anything you wish to speak about won’t be discussed outside of the session.

Nobody should suffer in silence. If you are struggling with anxiety or any other form of mental health, please click on any of the links below for help, advice, or someone to talk to.

Samaritans www.samaritans.org.uk Tel: 116 123 (24 hours)

Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk Tel: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday 9.30am-5.30pm)

Mental Health Aberdeen www.mha.uk.net Tel: 01224 573892

Men’s Mental Health Forum www.menshealthforum.org.uk

No Panic www.nopanic.org.uk Tel: 0300 772 9844 (10am to 10pm)

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