As humans, our minds’ and bodies work together to create tremendous experiences. We aren’t the only animals in this kingdom that these feelings are unique to, but humans surely experience the broadest range of intense, personal, and moving emotions. This comes with a series of high-highs, low-lows, and everything in between. The tricky part? No one really teaches you how to feel… you just do. 

Feelings and humanity are a package deal. They are with us from our first breath, and will play a large influence on our behavior and decisions for the rest of our lives. The key is mastering these coming-and-going emotions that come up as reactions and perceptions. Sometimes, these moods get jumbled up; it can be hard to tell apart what is new and authentic to the present, from what has accumulated from the past is carried with you. Happiness, love, anger, depression… Different situations trigger varying reactions, and we’re usually able to differentiate them quite clearly. But for me… There’s one feeling that can latch onto primary emotions in a deceptive, sneaky way. Sometimes it comes up when I’m excited, scared, stressed, shocked, or even in love. That is, anxiety.

Anxiety is a normal part of life, and it can be productive to feel a sense of pressure and nervousness during appropriate times. An anxiety disorder is the inability to harness this sensation, meaning it is felt excessively and/or associated with bouts of terror or panic. There’s many places to fall on the spectrum of anxiety disorders, ranging from social anxiety,  separation anxiety, Agoraphobia (associated with fear and avoidance of places and situations) and several more. A person with an anxiety disorder will show signs of worrying so much that it is affecting their work, relationships, and possibly reliant on substances. Working with professionals may be a clear road to finding the right treatments. It's critical to see a doctor or professional care immediately if you find yourself engaging in suicidal thoughts or behaviors. 

The causes of an anxiety disorder are still pretty unclear, and not fully explainable. Some health issues can be linked to inducing an uneasy state such as, heart diseases, thyroid problems, IBS, drug or alcohol use & withdrawals, medication side effects, COPD or IBS. This is why it’s important to seek help and get tests. It is accepted that what’s happening in your mind can affect your body in many ways, but we must remember this is also applicable vice versa. This worrying is more than just a passing thought and can also worsen pre-existing or evolving depression, substance misuse, insomnia, quality of life, productivity, digestion problems and suicidal thoughts. 

When I first realized that I was struggling with anxiety too often and during times and places I should feel good, I didn’t quite know where to begin. Some days and moments were fine, then the next, similar circumstances could make me feel fearful and stressed. The first thing I accepted was anxiety isn’t a choice and you don’t always get to choose when it comes on and off; so it became important for me to identify some of the factors that were present during these times. The lifestyle of an “on-the-go” college student like myself, can actually be the perfect recipe for letting your feelings get out of control. The failure to eat well-balanced meals, limit alcohol and junk food,  consistently get enough sleep, exercise daily, practice mindfulness and let go of control, is normalized for busy people. 

Yet, it is this kind of lifestyle that poses as “efficient” or “productive”, that is pretty emotionally destructive. Taking care of your physical health plays a tremendous role in having control over your mental health. Without sleep, good nutrition and fitness, the brain and body can’t even begin to function at their best. Physical sensations will have a greater ability to overpower mind and logic, which make you more reactive and unstable. Sometimes a series of major lifestyle changes are necessary to provide a more rational and manageable life. While we work on assessing circumstances to move towards major life changes, there are many coping skills that are available in the present, no matter where you are in your journey:

-Limit caffeine

-Get enough sleep

-Limit alcohol and refrain from drugs

-Exercise

-Practice deep breathing

-Count to ten slowly, then back down to one

-Accept that you are letting go of what is out of your control

-Find a good laugh

-Practice patient and kind self-talk

-Journal or talk with someone about how you feel

When lifestyle changes and practicing coping skills just isn’t working, there is still hope. Some anxiety and depression disorders are the outcome of chemical imbalances. There are many medications on the market such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which treat the mind in a very hands-on, yet passive approach. For people with chemical imbalances, it’s crucial to find a medicine that works without bad side-effects, and then remain on it until safely tapering off under your doctor’s supervision. Abruptly stopping any medication can have an adverse effect on your pre-existing conditions, making all emotions even less navigable. Many of the skills that assist in combating anxiety disorders are advantageous to all, even those that don’t struggle with abnormal anxiety. Positively, these coping skills are beneficial during all stages of life and we are not just managing our anxiety, but thriving through it. 

By Monique Micek