What it feels like to live with anxiety

Augmented reality in UK shows life with GAD

A UK organisation, Pfizer launched a campaign to show people what it feels like to live with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) through an augmented reflection technology.

The system intensifies users hand movements to make it seem like their small moves are actually much more larger movements. The augmented reality aims to show individuals the emotional turmoil that GAD sufferers face on a regular basis such as fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, restlessness and sleep disturbance.

The aim of the campaign was to raise awareness about the experiences that a GAD sufferer faces on a daily basis. The augmented reality uses one-way mirrors and motion sensors to catch people off guard and stop them in their tracks. Using inspiration from Edvard Munch’s ‘Scream’ painting, the augmented reality animations surrounds the individual with bats, storm clouds and lightening which were common descriptions patients had experienced during an episode of GAD.

GAD sufferers usually have their symptoms for 5-10 years before receiving a diagnosis and treatment. General Practitioner Sarah Jarvis says,  “Mental health conditions such as depression are more easily recognized and diagnosed by GPs compared to Generalized Anxiety Disorder. But given that the number of people with anxiety disorders is projected to rise by 12.7% to 2.56 million by 2026, now is the time for action.”

The campaign held in Britain came out after statistics showed that 1 in 20 people are suffering from GAD however two thirds of people are left undiagnosed. The results of the campaign were outstanding with 9,200 students engaged within 6 hours and 460 potential GAD sufferers reached.What do you think? Do you think Australia needs to take on a similar approach.

Check out the video on the Plastic Unlimted page. http://www.plastic-unlimited.com/portf/617/

-N.M

Are you or someone you know suffering from GAD?

It’s normal to feel worried or anxious throughout your life when coming across certain situations.
Someone suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) will experience a combination of both emotional and physical symptoms which can impact on how they go about their day whether that be socializing, working, studying or sleeping.  Do you or someone you know be facing GAD symptoms?

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Emotional Symptoms 

– Constant worries running through your head all day
– Being unsure of one- self
– Seeking regular and frequent approval and assurance from parents, teachers, peers or friends.
– Finds it difficult to keep calm when experiencing anxiety
– When experiencing anxiety finds it difficult to carry out everyday activities such as studying, working or socializing.
– Some people feel a sense of derealisation which is a sense that the world around you is not real.
– May see small issues as catastrophes

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Physical Symptoms

– Restlessness and feeling irritable
– Headaches
– Sweating
– Muscle Tension
– Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
– Stomach problems
– nausea
– Diarrhea

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GAD can also be linked other disorders  

– Depression
– Social phobia (Avoidance of social situations)
– Irritable bowl syndrome
– Heart disease

Where to start?
– Contact your General Practitioner (GP)  if you or someone you know are suffering these symptoms. A GP can make a diagnosis and discuss available treatments.

N.M

Brains can have a mind of their own

You guys have may have seen the new Beyond Blue campaign called brains can have a mind of their own.  With suicide being one of the biggest killers of young Australians , the campaign focuses on teenagers to seek support if they are suffering from either depression or anxiety. The 6 animations uses an annoying brain character to show that teenagers experiencing this does not make them weak but simply means that their mind is giving them a hard time. Chairman of Beyond Blue, Jeff Kennett states that the main focus of this campaign was to reduce the embarrassment that exists among teenagers from seeking support when it is needed.

“It’s a shocking fact that suicide remains the biggest killer of young Australians every year. The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show that in 2013, we lost 350 young people aged between 15 and 24 to suicide. This is nearly one death a day, and around double the number of young people who died as drivers or passengers in car accidents. Further research suggests that three in four mental health conditions emerge by age 24 and half emerge as early as age 14.”

Children are able to develop GAD and are often perceived as overly anxious. Teenagers experience strong feelings of stress, pressure, confusion and self-doubt to succeed. Anxiety can be overlooked especially if the child is quiet and compliant. If ignored as a child, this can lead to further issues during adolescence and as an adult.

“Parents also need to be aware of the signs of depression and anxiety, and be ready to step in to lend a hand if their child is psychologically distressed. The beyondblue website has helpful information for parents, like beyondblue’s Parents Guide and the recently released Family guide to youth suicide prevention,” said Mr Kennett.

A study conducted by Beyond Blue found out that four out of five teenagers did not seek help when their mental illness. The campaign has a series of video’s which highlights some of the situations that teenagers may undergo.  Have you come across any of these videos and do you think it will encourage teenagers to seek professional help ? Are there any personal stories you would like to share with us about your experience as a teenager dealing with anxiety?

N.M

Celebrities with anxiety disorders

A common misconception is who exactly can face an anxiety disorder. Whether your rich, poor, healthy, sick anxiety has the ability to affect anyone at any time. Even A list celebrities have to deal with the daily struggles of an anxiety disorder.There are countless celebrities who face generalized anxiety disorder and it’s important to note that it has the ability to affect anyone at any time. However, if treated at early stages, it can be managed.

Johnny Depp 

The all time heart throb has been dealing with panic attacks for a number of years.
Even as an actor who is required to do a number of interviews and deal with paparazzi can face anxiety. Depp also has access to a number of therapists who help him to control his anxiety on set.

Kate Moss 

British fashion icon Kate Moss has been battling with anxiety after she had to pose topless with Mark Wahlberg at the start of the career. Moss admitted that she suffered a nervous breakdown and could not get out of bed for two weeks due to her low state of mind. She went to the doctors to be told that she was just anxious. ” It was just anxiety. Nobody takes care of you mentally. There’s a massive pressure to do what you have to do,” said Moss.

 Emma Stone

Best known for her quirky on screen characters, not many of her fans are aware about the daily struggles of suffering from a panic disorder. Stone opened up to the Wall Street Journal  after dealing with severe panic attacks during her teen years. “I would ask my mom to tell me exactly how the day was going to be, then ask again 30 seconds later,” Stone told Eells. “I just needed to know that no one was going to die and nothing was going to change.” Having occasional panic attacks is a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder while regular constant panic attacks is a condition called a panic disorder. This disorder is recurrent and disabling and symptoms can range from shortness of breath, tightening of the chest, sweating, a strong feeling of dread, trembling and shaking and irrational thinking. Stone confessed that she would often spend days in the nurses room waiting for her panic attack symptoms to subside.

Click on the link to learn more about panic disorders https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/types-of-anxiety/panic-disorder

 Scarlett Johansson

Actress Scarlett Johansson is also another celebrity who faces regular panic attacks. The star has confessed that she avoids red carpet events as that is where attacks trigger. She claims that she flops and sweats and her heart starts racing as soon as she gets on the carpet.

N.M

5 easy ways you can beat anxiety

You’re starting to feel anxious, worried and panicked. Whether that be about work, family, love, health
It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious when you are under stressful situations. Many individuals turn to alcohol and maintain an unhealthy diet when they are stressed but there are simple alternatives you can do to reduce your anxiety.

1. Eat right

It’s important that you give the support that your body needs. When you are under stress, your appetite might change or you may even be craving processed and oily foods however this can actually increase your anxiety. These include fried foods, high glycemic carbs, unrefined sugars and alcoholic beverages. People also tend to turn to coffee to boost their energy levels however caffeine is proven to inhibit levels of serotonin in the brain  however when these serotonin levels are suppressed you can feel easily irritable and depressed.   There are a number of natural foods that can significantly reduce anxiety.

– Whole grain foods such as whole grain pasta and bread. Whole grain foods reduces hunger and contains a number of nutrients stripped from modern day diets.
– Chamomile tea. Some compounds in chamomile bind to the same brain receptors as valium.
– Dark chocolate reduces cortisol, the stress hormone that cause anxiety symptoms
– Almonds contain zinc, a key nutrient in for maintaining a balanced diet.
– Beef and foods rich in vitamin B such as beef, pork, chicken, leafy greens, oranges, rice and nuts.
– Salmon along with other fatty fish such as tuna lake trout, anchovies and sardines have omega-3 fatty acids can uplift and enhance your mood.

2. Exercise

Yes we’ve heard it a number of times. But with regular exercise, you are releasing endorphin’s which makes you feel calmer and also forces you to concentrate on tasks. One of the hardest things about exercise is that you are not instantly going to feel better. It will take a couple of weeks before you start to see mental, emotional and physical changes to your body.

Simple exercises that you can start getting into habit of.
– Walk for 20 minutes a day. This could be around the nearest park/oval or even getting off a couple of stops earlier and walking the rest of the way to home.
– Talk to a friend about planning an exercise routine together. This will make it easier to motivate each other and that way you can also catch up on plenty of gossip.
– Join a gym membership and ask if they can set up a program for you.
– Youtube workout tutorials. Do simple exercises at the convenience of your home. There are plenty of easy Youtube tutorials that teach how you how to get a great workout in 7 minutes.

3. Get enough sleep

 Sleep is for the weak? It’s actually one of the strongest methods you can do to ensure that your anxiety levels remain down. By exercising and eating right, I guarantee you will have no problem trying to get enough sleep. However it’s important that you also

– Avoid caffeine before you sleep
– Avoid fatty foods and soft drinks as it can disrupt your sleep
– Adults need 7-8 hours of sleep per night
– Leave 30 minutes of relaxation time before you go to sleep

4. Meditate

Meditation is one of the easiest ways you can help yourself to relax mentally and physically. According to scientists meditating can rewire the brain and reduce the symptoms of stress. You can instantly feel a sense of clarity and calmness. Meditation tutorials are one of the easiest ways you can relieve stress in under 10 minutes.

Here are some links to some of the best mediation videos online.
– A 10 minute guided morning meditation  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYP_W49o1vQ
– A 5 minute quick anxiety reduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR57rug8NsM
– A 10 minute meditation to ease anxiety, worry & urgency   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoYnqvadurg

5. Organize

Have a diary planned out so you can organize all your important dates for the week. This way you can balance your social life, work, family and other commitments. It’s easy to get caught up with work and other commitments, but having a social/work calendar can help you feel more organised and to stress less. You could also keep a worry diary where you write down all your thoughts so you can keep in track of your anxiety.

N.M