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Child Item

Anxiety.

freshpopcorn

I find mental health an interesting topic. They are various things people can do to improve their mental health and between word of mouth and the internet/etc and professional help. They are various things out there for people.
One thing I find interesting is Anxiety.
It's a term I've heard a lot about in the past few years. I'm late twenties now and I don't think it was really around when I was at school. Now young kids are talking about having anxiety issues and parents saying there kid has an anxiety disorder/etc.(I'd often question these being properly diagnosed)
I would have being considered to to be a shy child but teachers always encouraged me. Encouraged me to read allowed/do plays/etc and I feel it really benefited me. Now I fully understand this wouldn't work for everybody but I have noticed kids/teenagers back out of things due to anxiety issues now.
Could this have an effect on their future?

Now I fully understand anxiety can be crippling for people and they need support but I think it's important we get the right balance between every day worries and major anxiety issues and try and help people with these issues.

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One eyed Jack

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Could this have an effect on their future?

I’d imagine so, although whether it has a positive or negative effect is anyone’s guess really.

Candyshell

A lot of the time people don't actually have anxiety issues, they think because they get anxiety they have an issue. People are supposed to feel anxious at times, it's a normal emotion, there is something wrong if you don't feel anxiety occasionally.

Avoiding emotions such as anxiety is the real problem, I think that can actually cause depression and other problems. Being addicted to pleasure can cause problems too.

If you want to be happy seek out anxiety inducing situations occasionally.

PandaPoo

One of my friends suffers really badly with anxiety, it's really impacted her life. She's on meds now and they seem to take the edge off.

I get bouts of it like everyone. I had it a few weeks ago, nothing troubling me at all but Jesus it was bad. I could barely function, my head wasn't right, physically I was practically shaking, nauseous, getting pains, sinking feeling in my heart. I can't imagine what that's like almost constantly

Edit- I spent 8 years on anti depressants and only came off them about 4 months ago. So I guess I'm just feeling stuff now. Never had an issue with anxiety before

RobbingBandit

Getting medication or support through the hse is a nightmare added to any preexisting medical conditions or subsequent underlying conditions and youre ducked with a capital F not to mention the waiting lists to get on to the waiting list.

ChikiChiki

From experience and what I see, I think anxiety is sharply on the rise. Life is a bit more complex these days, people are putting a lot of pressure on themselves to meet societal expectations as opposed to simpler times.

In the workplace, many nowadays provide staff with laptops and phones resulting in them being "always on" and feeling they need to meet unrealistic deadlines set out by their employer. Another thing on the increase is lack of job security with many roles now being temp fixed term contracts instead of salaried positions like in times gone by.

I could go on but I feel there is a so much in modern day life that can trigger anxiety as opposed to past times.

Here's an alarming survey published recently: http://www.thejournal.ie/mental-health-workplace-survey-4080568-Jun2018/

I recently jacked in corporate life in favour of a job that I don't bring my work home, provides satisfaction and a sense of achievement of a job well done at the end of each day. There's a lot to be said for that.

freshpopcorn

Yes I'd agree about modern day life causing axiently for young people.
Even outside work the pressure to look good all the time is another issue people face.

The Student

We seem to have become over materialist and rather than saying no to people we don't want to upset people. This then results in people not having the ability to accept failure.

I am in my late forties and growing up I always remembered playing sport, which if you were good enough you got picked for the team if you were not you were not picked. Some teams I got picked for some I did not. If you won you got a medal if you did not win you did not get a medal.

Nowadays it seems to be that everybody gets a medal for competing. People don't seem to be able to cope with failure now which leads to anxiety. Failure is a part of life and learning to deal with failure is also a part of life.

I know I might sound old but some of the youth of today and the twentysomethings don't appear to have the ability to accept failure and accept that you can't be good at everything which in my view adds to their feelings of anxiety.

People don't appear to be living as the unique individuals we all are rather they feel they need to aspire to unrealistic expectations with the perfect body, perfect hair etc.

If we learn to accept ourselves and who we are then I feel anxiety levels would decrease.

FurBabyMomma

I am someone who suffers from chronic anxiety and insomnia, both stemming from childhood. I have spent years of my adult life and an absolute fortune trying to resolve them. I relied on the mental health services from the State for a bit in my 20s and they are a disaster, so I'm lucky to have been in a position to pay towards my own care.

Something I realised recently is that mental health and coping skills to deal with the everyday pressures of life were not something that was ever addressed within my family or through education. I imagine if these issues were taken seriously in young children and teenagers, there would be a lot less adults with chronic anxiety as adults, constantly trying to undo the habits of a lifetime. It's so difficult to escape when you literally have no experience of feeling any other way.

PS: Given I'm older than you FPC, I can assure you that anxiety did exist when you were in school. Me and others like me just wouldn't have had the vocabulary or knowledge to explain what was going on behind the scenes.

Hande hoche!

Bootlegger wrote: »

Seems to be a women's problem.

You're thinking of hysteria.

FurBabyMomma

Bootlegger wrote: »

Seems to be a women's problem.

Yup. Explains why suicide rates among males are so high...

recyclops

The Student wrote: »

We seem to have become over materialist and rather than saying no to people we don't want to upset people. This then results in people not having the ability to accept failure.

I am in my late forties and growing up I always remembered playing sport, which if you were good enough you got picked for the team if you were not you were not picked. Some teams I got picked for some I did not. If you won you got a medal if you did not win you did not get a medal.

Nowadays it seems to be that everybody gets a medal for competing. People don't seem to be able to cope with failure now which leads to anxiety. Failure is a part of life and learning to deal with failure is also a part of life.

I know I might sound old but some of the youth of today and the twentysomethings don't appear to have the ability to accept failure and accept that you can't be good at everything which in my view adds to their feelings of anxiety.

People don't appear to be living as the unique individuals we all are rather they feel they need to aspire to unrealistic expectations with the perfect body, perfect hair etc.

If we learn to accept ourselves and who we are then I feel anxiety levels would decrease.

This firmly hits the nail on the head, we are moving to a society with a low responsibility level.

I've friends who work in secondary schools and they are worried with how lenient they need to be with students in class and then discussing how poor students are in class with parents as they almost refuse to accept their kid is not perfect

myshirt

When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is smile. To get it over with.

freshpopcorn

recyclops wrote: »

This firmly hits the nail on the head, we are moving to a society with a low responsibility level.

I've friends who work in secondary schools and they are worried with how lenient they need to be with students in class and then discussing how poor students are in class with parents as they almost refuse to accept their kid is not perfect

When I was in school I generally tried my best but I knew my capabilities.
I went to school with one lad who was sort of wrapped up and encouraged to apply for college courses that he'd never get enough points for.

FurBabyMomma

I agree with a lot of what The Student has said when it comes to fear of failure. In my experience, fear of failure has brought me to the point of fear of even trying. And I'm an 80s kid, so didn't even have to deal with the 'medals for all' and 'instaglam' culture that kids have to navigate now.

PlaneSpeeking

I've GAD - Generalised Anxiety Disorder. SSRIs are needed in times of extreme stress (when my dad got sick; times when work is bad etc) but generally speaking I lucked out if that is all Ill have to endure mentally.

What boils my p**s is seeing people say "I have anxiety" when you mean "worried or concerned".

It leads to people not taking the condition seriously and believe me there are 90% eo have my condition (and others) and are way worse off.

[Deleted User]

I've always experienced periods of anxiety about things that most people seem to breeze through. And the important part though is the seem to. We assume that others are fine with things because we can't see inside their heads compared to our own experiences.

When I was younger, I got depressed a lot, had insomnia, and anxiety issues. I went to a variety of pschologists about them, got assigned a variety of drugs/treatments, and none of them 'cured' the problems. If anything, while my issues would subside for a few weeks or so, they'd come back twice as bad as before, which meant getting stronger treatments later.

Now in my 40s I'm stress free. Very little anxiety. I get bouts of depression about twice a year where I cut out all external stimulus for a day or so, and I'm fine. No drugs, no treatments.

The important part is to realise that you have control over your mental/emotional state. That caring too much about what other people think is destructive. That it's good to be selfish. That it's vitally important to limit access to social media, or articles about other peoples problems. Meditation also worked wonders although I haven't felt the need for it in years now. Resolving my problems with anxiety/depression, was a journey of learning, and trying different things for myself. I did them. They weren't assigned to me, and so, I had control over what was happening.

Now in terms of anxiety and modern society, I feel that people encourage anxiety and depression in themselves/others. All of these "conditions" that have been identified in recent decades provide an excuse to not deal with the emotional state. I have X problem, it's recognised as a problem, and I'm waiting for my doctor to "fix" me. And when the doctors fail, it worsens the state because somehow the majority of others are getting better but I'm not. My state is worse. etc etc.

When you give importance/focus to a problem like anxiety, you give it energy to grow. It's as simple as that. There's is far too much pandering to emotional problems, and actual encouragement to develop problems. It's utterly bizarre, and it's going to become far more commonplace as Psychology gains more influence, and the connection with Pharmaceutical companies grows.... Mental health is big money.

Dealing with anxiety or depression requires commitment, discipline, and the actual desire to improve. People want the quick fix. The magic pill to remove all negativity. I've seen nothing and I haven't heard of anyone solving their problems in such a manner. Anyone I know (and I'm part of various support groups) have managed to deal with their issues through meditation, physical exercise, visualisation techniques, positive anchoring, mirror affirmations, etc. And it took time to do. No drugs. No medicine.

[Deleted User]

myshirt wrote: »

When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is smile..

Ditto. I also jump out of bed immediately so that I'm enthusiastic for the day. I don't allow myself to lay in bed since it's counter-productive. I also change my habits every morning, so I'm not stuck in a routine. I try to spice up my mornings with something new or fun, so that I have some positive energy right from the beginning.

But the smile in the morning is incredibly important. I also thank "the universe" for something before I sleep and after I wake up.

It all contributes to a better state

What Username Guidelines

I find the worst part is how self-fulfilling it is.

Feel anxious, but I "shouldnt" – I have a good job, married, with a kid, and happy with where I live. But anxious I'm doing it wrong, don't deserve it, or I'll lose it all. Feel like a fraud. I shouldn't have these things. Worry that I shouldnt be feeling that way. Worry that I worry that I shouldnt be feeling that way. Repeat.

Mix in the stupid everyday stuff. Early for work every day because I cant sleep. Worry there'll be traffic. Worry I'll get a puncture. Or some random delay. Rush home from work. Tired. So tired. Into bed at 10, brain starts its engines til 1 or 2am. Repeat.

Can't enjoy anything because I'm so desperate for it to be over. No idea why, just feel this need to get things done, like I'm on edge 24/7. Take a lot of inspiration from my wife and kid who would happily sit on a beach and just look at the sea. I'd look, think "ok thats done, whats next?" I would love to be able to allow myself to do that. But it's like I just can't, feel guilty I guess.

However - if anyone was to see my filtered life, i.e. my social media life, aka "the highlights reel", they wouldn't see any of this at all. Just wish I could bring that highlights reel to the forefront of my mind, and appreciate it more.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Deleted User wrote: »

Ditto. I also jump out of bed immediately so that I'm enthusiastic for the day. I don't allow myself to lay in bed since it's counter-productive. I also change my habits every morning, so I'm not stuck in a routine. I try to spice up my mornings with something new or fun, so that I have some positive energy right from the beginning.

But the smile in the morning is incredibly important. I also thank "the universe" for something before I sleep and after I wake up. It all contributes to a better state

myshirt wrote: »

When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is smile. To get it over with.

I think leaving out the last line of the original quote altered its meaning. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think myshirt smiling in the morning is for the same reason as you smile in the morning.

[Deleted User]

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I think leaving out the last line of the original quote altered its meaning. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think myshirt smiling in the morning is for the same reason as you smile in the morning.

I know. That's why I removed it. No need to promote negativity.

Hammer89

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Could this have an effect on their future?

I used to have terrible anxiety when I was 17 or 18, but it wasn't such a phenomenon back then. I'm only talking back in 2006 by the way, not the 80s, but I am confident that my past anxiety could save mine or someone else's life one day.

Reason being, I used to obsess over cancer and I had most of them at one stage or the other. I mean, I didn't really have them, but an official diagnosis wouldn't have made me any more sure than I already was. The mind is a funny thing.

I wasn't a hypochondriac, though I guess it was a similar thing. Anywho, I have retained a lot of information about the stuff that I have read. I have retained the symptoms, the incidence and the prognosis of various cancers. I don't take pride in that, because it's unusual for a fella of my age to know so much morbid stuff, but on the plus side I think all this information could come in handy at some point in the future.

I won't ignore something that others might feel is a trivial and insignificant complaint if they noticed it in/on themselves. I might hear alarm bells quicker than someone with less comprehensive knowledge of this sh*te, and timing is key to survival with quite a lot of illnesses.

It's such a horrible, horrible experience to be an 18-year-old and genuinely believe that you have lung cancer, but every episode - and there were a lot of them - will be so worth it if my time spent on WebMD helps prolong a life somewhere down the line.

PlaneSpeeking

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

I find the worst part is how self-fulfilling it is.

Feel anxious, but I "shouldnt" – I have a good job, married, with a kid, and happy with where I live. But anxious I'm doing it wrong, don't deserve it, or I'll lose it all. Feel like a fraud. I shouldn't have these things. Worry that I shouldnt be feeling that way. Worry that I worry that I shouldnt be feeling that way. Repeat.

Mix in the stupid everyday stuff. Early for work every day because I cant sleep. Worry there'll be traffic. Worry I'll get a puncture. Or some random delay. Rush home from work. Tired. So tired. Into bed at 10, brain starts its engines til 1 or 2am. Repeat.

Can't enjoy anything because I'm so desperate for it to be over. No idea why, just feel this need to get things done, like I'm on edge 24/7. Take a lot of inspiration from my wife and kid who would happily sit on a beach and just look at the sea. I'd look, think "ok thats done, whats next?" I would love to be able to allow myself to do that. But it's like I just can't, feel guilty I guess.

However - if anyone was to see my filtered life, i.e. my social media life, aka "the highlights reel", they wouldn't see any of this at all. Just wish I could bring that highlights reel to the forefront of my mind, and appreciate it more.

That's hit on a lot of the reasons why only my best friend and one or two others know about my GAD.

I'm not ashamed of having it but if I post on social media that I'm so happy my team has won, or I won 30 quid on the lotto - there's bound to be someone going "you don't seem depressed" .

Life is too short for those who don't/won't understand.

What Username Guidelines

PlaneSpeeking wrote: »

That's hit on a lot of the reasons why only my best friend and one or two others know about my GAD.

I'm not ashamed of having it but if I post on social media that I'm so happy my team has won, or I won 30 quid on the lotto - there's bound to be someone going "you don't seem depressed" .

Life is too short for those who don't/won't understand.

Sure you've no reason to be depressed! :rolleyes:

PlaneSpeeking

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

Sure you've no reason to be depressed! :rolleyes:

I remember telling someone the late Duke of Westminster was on antidepressants.

"But he has billions ??!"

Yeah. Still wants to kill himself.

Lack of understanding of mental health conditions is the biggest barrier to be faced sometimes.

northgirl

Deleted User wrote: »

Now in my 40s I'm stress free. Very little anxiety. I get bouts of depression about twice a year where I cut out all external stimulus for a day or so, and I'm fine. No drugs, no treatments.

The important part is to realise that you have control over your mental/emotional state. That caring too much about what other people think is destructive. That it's good to be selfish. That it's vitally important to limit access to social media, or articles about other peoples problems. Meditation also worked wonders although I haven't felt the need for it in years now. Resolving my problems with anxiety/depression, was a journey of learning, and trying different things for myself. I did them. They weren't assigned to me, and so, I had control over what was happening.

Now in terms of anxiety and modern society, I feel that people encourage anxiety and depression in themselves/others. All of these "conditions" that have been identified in recent decades provide an excuse to not deal with the emotional state. I have X problem, it's recognised as a problem, and I'm waiting for my doctor to "fix" me. And when the doctors fail, it worsens the state because somehow the majority of others are getting better but I'm not. My state is worse. etc etc.

When you give importance/focus to a problem like anxiety, you give it energy to grow. It's as simple as that. There's is far too much pandering to emotional problems, and actual encouragement to develop problems. It's utterly bizarre, and it's going to become far more commonplace as Psychology gains more influence, and the connection with Pharmaceutical companies grows.... Mental health is big money.

Dealing with anxiety or depression requires commitment, discipline, and the actual desire to improve. People want the quick fix. The magic pill to remove all negativity. I've seen nothing and I haven't heard of anyone solving their problems in such a manner. Anyone I know (and I'm part of various support groups) have managed to deal with their issues through meditation, physical exercise, visualisation techniques, positive anchoring, mirror affirmations, etc. And it took time to do. No drugs. No medicine.

You're an expert on the matter clearly? I "encourage anxiety/depression" in myself??? Well f**k it I better stop that so. What an incredibly disgusting post.

[Deleted User]

northgirl wrote: »

You're an expert on the matter clearly? I "encourage anxiety/depression" in myself??? Well f**k it I better stop that so. What an incredibly disgusting post.

I'm an expert on my life, and the effect of depression/anxiety on it. I found ways of dealing with it that didn't involve western medicine.

I'm not telling you to do the same. You're going out of your way to become offended. :rolleyes:

northgirl

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm an expert on my life, and the effect of depression/anxiety on it. I found ways of dealing with it that didn't involve western medicine.

I'm not telling you to do the same. Going out of your way to become offended. :rolleyes:

No, not in the slightest going out of my way to respond to irresponsible and in appropriate posts.

Good luck with your life. You're going to need it.

[Deleted User]

northgirl wrote: »

No, not in the slightest going out of my way to respond to irresponsible and in appropriate posts.

Good luck with your life. You're going to need it.

Not really. Your negativity is nothing to me. It's just a shame that you need to project such on to others, rather than trying to suggest something different and positive for them to do.

northgirl

Deleted User wrote: »

Not really. Your negativity is nothing to me. It's just a shame that you need to project such on to others, rather than trying to suggest something different and positive for them to do.

Not negative. Just realistic and don't tell people what my made up "facts" are.

Lollipops23

I finally started taking Sertraline recently for the anxiety that I've been struggling with for years.

I tried counselling on and off this whole time and it never worked for me. Honestly, I should have gone down this route years ago. It's not perfect, but attacks are waaaay less frequent and in general I'm able to function better as a human.