Anxiety
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying. These disorders affect how we feel and behave, and they can manifest real physical symptoms. Mild anxiety is vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety can be extremely debilitating, having a serious impact on daily life. – from Medical News Today.
Find out more about anxiety in this section – if you have a story to share that you feel may be helpful to others please send it to us and we’ll consider including it. Please understand there are all kinds of reasons why we can’t include some personal submissions but most of the time we can include submissions received from you and others. Thank you – take care; find out more here and remember your life is very precious. Your Life Counts and we’re here for YOU!
What is Fear?
Fear can be caused by a number of things, and it can often stop us from living life to the fullest. Fears can be as small as “does my bottom look big in this?” (fear of what people will think of you) to as big as “I am not getting on that plane” (fear of flying). Fears like this can stop us from living life to the fullest because we don’t experience everything life has to offer. For example, people afraid of what others think can lose out on finding their individuality, and people afraid of flying can lose out on the joys of travel and tourism.
Fear often forces us to consider ‘what ifs’ – things we can’t control, and spend time worrying about.
Some ‘what ifs’ that are common and associated with fear include:
- What if people really knew about my past?
- What if my grades aren’t good enough to get into college?
- What if my boyfriend/girlfriend meets someone else?
Don’t let fear run your life. Confront your fears and experience the world. You won’t regret it! Spending your time worrying about things you can’t control causes stress that you can live without. Instead, focus on the positive aspects of your life and enjoy it.
Remember that you are important. Your life counts, and you can make a difference in this world. If you ever need to talk about this or anything else, feel free to get in touch with us. We’re here for you.
Types of Fear
There are three types of fear that we can experience. Are there any fears listed that you recognize?
An appropriate fear
This is a healthy fear that warns you to be careful. For example: driving too fast on a slow road can cause a fear inside of us which tells us to slow down; noticing a weapon in your school and feeling a fear that causes you to report it. This fear is part of human instinct, and it can help protect your safety.
An innate fear
This is a fear that has been with you since birth. For example: some people are afraid of reptiles or insects, and don’t know why. This fear can be overcome with support from a counselor or mentor.
An acquired fear
This is a fear that you have because of an experience that you had in life. For example: you broke your leg when learning to snowboard and are now afraid to snowboard. This fear can be overcome by confronting it. For example: going to a class with a trainer who can help you learn to snowboard.
Remember that you are important. Your life counts, and you can make a difference in this world. If you ever need to talk about this or anything else, feel free to get in touch with us. We’re here for you.