Digital Story by Ethan Stewart

(Brett Sayles – Pexels)

We all know that feeling of a racing heart, sweaty palms, and overthinking right? It creeps in on you at your worst, and fails to exit at your best. But what really is it? According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety is defined as “an emotion characterized by apprehension and somatic symptoms of tension in which an individual anticipates impending danger, catastrophe, or misfortune.” That’s cool and all, but what does that really mean? Why do I feel like the world around me is just ending sometimes? Why does my brain think the way it does? What is my body trying to tell me that I don’t already know?

(Magda Ehlers – Pexels)

I chose to explore anxiety as a topic because it’s an emotion that I’ve been battling with for a lot of my life. I think most people feel anxious on a daily basis, yet rarely gets talked about. I’ve noticed it in my life ever since I was in elementary school, and while it gets better and worse, it’s always changing into different forms and environments. I tend to hide from others while trying to run away from my problems, leaving myself isolated, which often times causes more anxiety to show up. I just want this endless loop of thoughts and feelings to stop because what’s the good in asking the same questions over and over with no clear answer? Nothing, especially when the answer’s the same every time.

If this sounds like you, I promise we’re not the only ones. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of North American’s suffer from some kind of anxiety disorder.

So… what can we do about it?

There are many ways to reduce that racing heart beat and shut off the brain for a little while. While everyone is different, I find walking around my neighbourhood or in the forest very relaxing. Having a reliable person to open up to is essential for when times eventually get a bit tough. Whether that’s somebody close to you or an outside body like a therapist or psychologist, make sure they offer support.

One thing to understand is that anxiety will probably never just “go away”. It’s a feeling that needs to be managed rather than killed, because it may save your life one day.

I encourage you to watch this Ted Talk by David H. Rosmarin, he may change your perspective on the positives and negatives of anxiety.

You may also view my personal digital story video here, showcasing my struggles with anxiety.

https://www.mentimeter.com/app/presentation/al45xygbttid6fai6aifd6f7se8v4qri/edit?question=61me1rrqw88z

References

Craske, M., Rauch, S., Ursano, R., Prenoveau, J., Pine, D., & Zinbarg, R. (2011, July 1). What is an anxiety disorder? . Psychiatry Online. https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/foc.9.3.foc369

DeAngelis, T. (2022, October 1). Anxiety among kids is on the rise. Monitor on psychology. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/child-anxiety-treatment

Joy, K. (2017, January 11). Panic attack vs. anxiety attack. University of Michigan Medicine. https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/panic-attack-vs-anxiety-attack-6-things-know