Mental Health Awareness Week 2023
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) runs from 15—21 May 2023. This year, the focus is on raising awareness of anxiety. Anxiety is a natural human response when we feel that we are under threat. It can be experienced through our thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. We can all feel anxious from time to time — in fact, anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the UK.
In the current “post-pandemic” era, many of us are experiencing regular anxieties — whether that be financial worries due to the current cost of living crisis, or stressful life events and changes. It’s important that we recognise and respond when we feel anxious so that our anxiety doesn’t become overwhelming and lead to further poor mental health. Anxiety can become a mental health problem if it impacts your ability to live your life as fully as you want to, and it is very common to experience anxiety alongside other mental health problems.
For MHAW, we wanted to share some information to help increase the awareness and understanding of anxiety, and the impact it can have on our overall wellbeing, with the collective goal of promoting better mental health. The stigmas still attached to mental health problems can often be a barrier to talking about and seeking further help and support.
The latest research by Mental Health Foundation found that:
60% of UK adults experienced anxiety which interfered with their daily lives
Stigma and shame still play a part in how people deal with their anxiety, with 45% keeping their anxiety secret
The most commonly reported cause of anxiety was finances and being able to afford to pay bills
Read the full anxiety report here.
Anxiety: signs and symptoms
Anxiety feels different for everyone and it can have lots of different effects on our body and mind. Some symptoms can last for a long time, whilst others can come and go. This can impact our day-to-day lives and can make it difficult for us to look after ourselves, maintain relationships, try new things, and enjoy our free time.
Mental signs of anxiety can include:
feeling tense, nervous or unable to relax
having a sense of dread, or fearing the worst
feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down
feeling worried about the future and what might happen
wanting lots of reassurance from other people or worrying that people are angry or upset with you
ruminating and overthinking situations or bad experiences
feeling disassociated and disconnected from your mind, body or world around you
low mood and depression
Physical signs of anxiety can include:
a churning feeling in your stomach
feeling light-headed or dizzy
pins and needles
feeling restless or unable to sit still
faster breathing and heart rate
sweating or hot flushes
sleep problems
nausea (feeling sick)
panic attacks
“You know that feeling when you’re rocking on the back legs of your chair and suddenly for a split second you think you’re about to fall; that feeling in your chest? Imagine that split second feeling being frozen in time and lodged in your chest for hours/days, and imagine with it that sense of dread sticking around too, but sometimes you don’t even know why.”
Coping with anxiety: tips and techniques
Challenge negative thoughts – Identifying the thoughts and worries that fuel our anxiety can help us try to reframe them
Look after your physical health – Exercise is a natural stress-reliever and can improve our mood and mental wellbeing
Try some breathing exercises – Focusing on our breathing can help us feel more in control and relieve tensions in our body
Write it down – Keeping note of what happens when we feel anxious can help us identify any patterns and triggers
Remember to practice self-care – Taking time out for ourselves and the things we enjoy can really boost our wellbeing
Talk to someone! – Talking to someone we trust can help us feel heard, understood, and supported
We’re here to fight for better mental health across Devon. For support. For respect. For you.
For further information, support, guidance, and tips about anxiety, visit the Mind online resource hub here. This week, we will also be sharing more information and advice about mental health and finances, for those of us struggling with anxiety during these uncertain times.