Due to COVID-19, people across the globe are suffering from several conditions and health issues. One of these conditions includes anxiety, where overwhelming anxious thoughts keep building up and can be quite crippling. In times like these, one of the downsides is not being able to regain a sense of serenity, which can be a terrifying experience, disrupting your perception of life.
Understanding the triggers of anxiety and ways to cope with it can be one of the most effective ways to learn to start helping yourself or someone in need. Anxiety can be quite debilitating and give rise to stress, fear, anger, distress, etc. That is why it is essential to understand the factors involved behind.
It is pivotal to remember that everyone experiences anxiety from time-to-time, and it is a normal stress response. When anxiety becomes chronic and disrupts your daily life, it may turn into an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are also the most common and affect nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their lives. Therefore identifying anxiety triggers and developing several coping strategies is crucial in treating your condition.
Understanding the triggers of anxiety:
Many people tend to think there is no apparent cause of anxiety; that is why it is essential to recognize the triggers that result in anxiety. Certain situations, events, actions, emotions, and experiences cause the symptoms of anxiety, called triggers.
The triggers of anxiety or anxiety disorders can differ from person to person and be quite complicated, ranging from hereditary and past experiences to lack of coping techniques. Some people may be prone to multiple or similar causes, which is why identifying these triggers is crucial in managing them. Some of the triggers include:
Negative line of thoughts:
Pessimistic thoughts or beliefs can negatively impact your emotions and mental health while disrupting your well-being. For example, you may be fine as long as you are able to reach your goals consistently. However, when you face a slight inconvenience, your negative thinking patterns will make you over-analyze the severity of a situation, triggering great anxiety.
Such anxiety can lower your self-esteem with time, making you blame yourself for failure or disappointment. These negative thought patterns can become a habitual way of thinking, always triggering anxiety. It’s important to remember that your mind controls much of your body, so when you’re upset or frustrated, the negative line of thoughts can trigger more powerful feelings of anxiety.
Overwhelming health problems:
Having severe health issues or chronic medical conditions can be extremely distressing and worrying. Health issues like cancer, arthritis, or heart problems can trigger anxiety considerably. In such cases, people are likely to fear how they will manage their condition or how it may get severe. This kind of trigger can be very overwhelming because of the immediate and extreme anxiety it generates.
Over-the-counter medications:
Certain medications can be the cause of anxiety. Some medications can make you agitated or worried; it is due to the active ingredients present inside these medications. Such feelings or emotions can give birth to a series of uncomfortable occurrences all over your mind and body that can cause anxiety. Medicines like birth control, weight-loss/gain, steroids, asthma medicines, thyroid medicine, etc., can cause anxiety.
Past experiences:
Flashbacks of a past traumatic experience can also trigger great anxiety. It may start with a specific vision of a place that reminds you, either consciously or unconsciously, of an unpleasant memory or traumatic life event. Individuals who have PTSD may frequently experience anxiety from various environmental triggers. Such past experiences lie under the category of personal triggers. It is essential to identify which experience has a significant impact on your mind. In this way, you can work towards overcoming it with time.
Excessive caffeine intake:
Caffeine is a stimulant that can trigger anxiety. The excessive intake of caffeine can leave jittery effects on your body and mind. It’s because caffeine tends to stimulate your “fight or flight” response, and many studies suggest how this can trigger an anxiety attack, making anxiety worse.
Ways to overcome anxiety triggers:
Now that you are aware of what may trigger anxiety, it is crucial to find ways to improve your mental health.
Maintain a Journal:
Many people find journaling quite useful. The primary purpose is to write your feeling down on paper before letting them consume you. In this way, you can identify what makes you anxious the most and look for ways to help yourself.
Incorporate meditation:
It is one of the most effective techniques for coping with anxiety. It can give you a sense of relaxation by addressing your feelings and bringing you back to the moment repeatedly. Meditation helps you create a safer space around yourself and your distress. You begin to understand the leading causes of your uneasiness.
Avail yourself of CBD:
You may not be aware of the countless benefits CBD has. It can reduce the diverse effects of anxiety and stress. Several products contain CBD, including CBD oils, bath bombs, creams, lip balms, lotion, etc., that are harmless. Such products can help in relaxing your body, which can significantly reduce anxiousness.
Practice deep breathing:
Whenever you feel anxiety taking over you, try deep breathing. One of the simple relaxation techniques includes: Inhale deeply and gradually through your nose. Try keeping your shoulders relaxed while your abdomen should expand. The movement of your chest should be slow. Now exhale slowly through your mouth. Purse your lips slightly as you blow air out and keep your jaw relaxed. You can practice this technique anytime whenever you feel anxious.
Don’t overlook your anxiety!
Remember, the more you’ll try to suppress it, the stronger it’ll get. Therefore it is vital to acknowledge your mental health and take necessary measures to heal yourself. It is crucial to seek professional help when things get overwhelming. A therapist can help you in identifying and overcoming your anxiousness. Apart from that, you can always engage yourself in other activities like exercising, yoga, listening to your favorite music, taking a soulful bath, or giving yourself a massage to release tension from your body. The goal is to be aware of your emotions and do whatever you can to cope with them healthily. Your well-being depends on you!
