TedX speaker and trainer Jane Evans takes a look at anxiety and how it can affect us.
It's part of daily life that we worry at times and it's often how we solve problems. On a good day, a solution can present itself, especially if we are able to share our explorations and mental gymnastics with others.
The right amount of rocket fuel released at the right time can get you to the moon and back. However, too much you may well end up on another plant altogether.
When I was backstage at the Colston Hall in Bristol about to do my TEDx Talk on anxiety to around 2,000 attendees, I was anxious, but it served a rocket fuel and did not throw me off course. This was because I used my simple strategies to stay calm, focused and enjoy the experience.
Others were pacing the corridors, feeling sick, and unable to speak or hear, all of which is to be expected. They all did fantastically once on the stage, but who wants to go through that to fulfil a dream, or to seal a great deal or piece of work?
What happens when we are overly anxious?
Our brain is trying to utilise its incredibly complex areas and systems to keep us functioning in accordance with the current situation and it draws upon external and internal information to do this.
If we are doing a presentation or making an important phone call, we need our brain to feel calm, clear and focused upon the moment. Only then can it access the most intelligent area of our brain, the pre-frontal cortex, which will do a great job for us.
The best way to know what it looks like in you is to ask those who know you really well; despite what you might choose to believe, you will display your anxiety in a range of ways those closest to you are all too familiar with.
Here is a list of 'possibles':
Otherwise, it is more than time to take your anxiety seriously for your health's sake, both mental and physical, your productivity and performance in your work life and your relationships. Here is why:
It picks up on changes in those around us, in the environment and is our 'sixth sense'. Just watch a herd of any animals, if one senses danger they freeze and the ripple from this goes through the whole herd and then they fight or flight.
Information also comes in through our five senses. If we are not anxious it takes a longer route through our brain, which is still very fast, but there is an assessment of the information before any hormones are released into our system.
But if we are overly stressed, worried or anxious the information comes in and goes straight to our alarm system in our brain, the amygdala, and action- reaction hormones are pumped into our system. For a moment we freeze then flick into fight or flight becoming strong urges which we may act on, but mostly have learned not to.
Therein lays the stress for our systems which are desperate to lash out or flee but in the middle of a meeting, a presentation, a negotiation or a conversation with a client that wouldn't work out too well!
For the next phase, think of the phrase 'playing possum'. Our body and brain shut off to save us from stress and anxiety. We can experience this like a falling away on the inside and numbness. It can feel quite pleasant whilst also a bit scary as it is hard to come back into the moment and can mean losing the thread of what is going on.
All of this happens fast and on a state of high alert our heart beats rapidly, our breathing is shallow, our mouth dry, we feel hot, our vision is blurry and our hearing muted, our muscles are tense.
We struggle to think or speak clearly and become overly aware of sensory stimulation from sounds, smells, visual information, touches and tastes. It's exhausting and comes with shoulder, neck, and back pain all as additional 'free gifts' along with some other hidden extras!
If that sounds a bit depressing, be reassured that many, many people suffer with anxiety with no awareness and without the ability and resources to address it.
It turns out the most effective things are those which first tune us into our body and help it to settle it, and then our brain has a chance:
I use all of these, the body based stuff every day, journaling, and I have a coach who keeps me on track and helps me tap into my greatness. When I do this, anxiety rarely gets a look in. If I get cocky, forgetful or 'too busy', then anxiety bites me firmly and squarely on my backside until I listen and act!
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It's part of daily life that we worry at times and it's often how we solve problems. On a good day, a solution can present itself, especially if we are able to share our explorations and mental gymnastics with others.
Anxiety can be friend or foe
Anxiety is worrying taken to a much higher level, so think 'Olympic standard' as opposed to 'County standard' in a sport of your choosing. Again, feeling slightly anxious can be like rocket fuel before a big meeting, a presentation, appraisal, or interview.The right amount of rocket fuel released at the right time can get you to the moon and back. However, too much you may well end up on another plant altogether.
When I was backstage at the Colston Hall in Bristol about to do my TEDx Talk on anxiety to around 2,000 attendees, I was anxious, but it served a rocket fuel and did not throw me off course. This was because I used my simple strategies to stay calm, focused and enjoy the experience.
Others were pacing the corridors, feeling sick, and unable to speak or hear, all of which is to be expected. They all did fantastically once on the stage, but who wants to go through that to fulfil a dream, or to seal a great deal or piece of work?
What happens when we are overly anxious?
On the inside
Our body and brain are in constant dialogue to keep us alive and that is their main focus, thank goodness. Our body is always trying to maintain optimum health, despite all we do to subvert this.Our brain is trying to utilise its incredibly complex areas and systems to keep us functioning in accordance with the current situation and it draws upon external and internal information to do this.
If we are doing a presentation or making an important phone call, we need our brain to feel calm, clear and focused upon the moment. Only then can it access the most intelligent area of our brain, the pre-frontal cortex, which will do a great job for us.
On the outside
If we are overly anxious, we may think we hide it really well. Indeed, many of us truly do, especially if it isn't happening all of the time.The best way to know what it looks like in you is to ask those who know you really well; despite what you might choose to believe, you will display your anxiety in a range of ways those closest to you are all too familiar with.
Here is a list of 'possibles':
- Struggle to make a decision
- Frown and have a tight expression on your face
- Go back and forth seemingly for no reason
- Get stressed at the slightest suggestion or comment
- Are snappy and distracted
- Agree and comply straight away to whatever anyone else wants
- Talk a great deal, quite loudly but without listening
- Are very still
- Very animated and erratic
- Jumpy
- Tense body and face
- Digestion and bowel problems
- Headaches and migraines
Otherwise, it is more than time to take your anxiety seriously for your health's sake, both mental and physical, your productivity and performance in your work life and your relationships. Here is why:
What anxiety does when it is 'let loose'
If our body or brain senses we are under threat it reacts quickly. On the inside we have our very valuable, yet under-valued, 'gut instinct' which mostly we override.It picks up on changes in those around us, in the environment and is our 'sixth sense'. Just watch a herd of any animals, if one senses danger they freeze and the ripple from this goes through the whole herd and then they fight or flight.
Information also comes in through our five senses. If we are not anxious it takes a longer route through our brain, which is still very fast, but there is an assessment of the information before any hormones are released into our system.
But if we are overly stressed, worried or anxious the information comes in and goes straight to our alarm system in our brain, the amygdala, and action- reaction hormones are pumped into our system. For a moment we freeze then flick into fight or flight becoming strong urges which we may act on, but mostly have learned not to.
Therein lays the stress for our systems which are desperate to lash out or flee but in the middle of a meeting, a presentation, a negotiation or a conversation with a client that wouldn't work out too well!
For the next phase, think of the phrase 'playing possum'. Our body and brain shut off to save us from stress and anxiety. We can experience this like a falling away on the inside and numbness. It can feel quite pleasant whilst also a bit scary as it is hard to come back into the moment and can mean losing the thread of what is going on.
All of this happens fast and on a state of high alert our heart beats rapidly, our breathing is shallow, our mouth dry, we feel hot, our vision is blurry and our hearing muted, our muscles are tense.
We struggle to think or speak clearly and become overly aware of sensory stimulation from sounds, smells, visual information, touches and tastes. It's exhausting and comes with shoulder, neck, and back pain all as additional 'free gifts' along with some other hidden extras!
What's to be done?
Pay full attention to becoming less anxious as it is possible, but takes commitment to become more aware of it and manage it on a daily basis. As the saying goes for dogs, so it goes for anxiety: 'Addressing anxiety is not just for Christmas, it's for life'.If that sounds a bit depressing, be reassured that many, many people suffer with anxiety with no awareness and without the ability and resources to address it.
It turns out the most effective things are those which first tune us into our body and help it to settle it, and then our brain has a chance:
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Mindful breathing
- Other ancient Eastern practices
I use all of these, the body based stuff every day, journaling, and I have a coach who keeps me on track and helps me tap into my greatness. When I do this, anxiety rarely gets a look in. If I get cocky, forgetful or 'too busy', then anxiety bites me firmly and squarely on my backside until I listen and act!
To comment on this article, ensure you're logged in or signed up to UKBF.
