What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is defined as feelings of discomfort, such as worry or fear, that range from mild to severe. Some examples of anxiety symptoms include:
- feeling nervous or on edge
- increased heart rate
- shortness of breath
- trembling
- sweating
- thinking that something bad is going to happen
Difference between Anxiety and Stress
Although it may seem similar to stress, there is an acute difference between the two. Both anxiety and stress are emotional responses, but stress is usually coupled with an external trigger, which means that the feelings are relieved as the stressor is dismissed. Anxiety, on the other hand, refers more to the persistence of a worry or fear even when there may be no apparent external trigger.
Having to give a presentation or attending an important meeting, for example, may induce these feelings. In situations like these, experiencing anxiety and stress is natural and everyone encounters them in a variety of different settings. While a stressful response would include nervousness building up to the event, anxiety may involve worrying about what people may say, think, or do, the negative ways that one may be perceived, what might go wrong, etc.
Some people find it more difficult than others to relieve their anxiety, as it may be more invasive, thus hindering their daily functioning. Some common anxiety disorders include Phobic disorder, Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and Social anxiety disorder. Contrary to widespread inaccurate and stigmatized views, symptoms of such disorders are not as simplistic as being shy at a social event or color-coding your belongings. These disorders present symptoms that make undertaking and maintaining roles and responsibilities related to work, school, and personal relationships very difficult.
Anxiety at Work
In the workplace, anxiety can create limitations to one’s own professional progress. Perfectionism and procrastination are two of the main ways in which anxiety manifests. Perfectionism involves the need to be or appear perfect and procrastination is the act of delaying a task, often due to a fear of failure. In the organizational context, these may present themselves in several aspects of work. Fear of failure along with constant feelings of dissatisfaction may lead people to treat themselves harshly when they perform below a certain expectation or make small mistakes. Some people may avoid collaborating with colleagues, office parties, staff lunches, and work events due to a fear of being in social situations or public speaking. Anxiety can also directly impact an individual’s ability to meet their deadlines and complete tasks. People may even turn down promotions and refuse assignments if it involves an activity related to their fear such as flying or traveling.
With managing anxiety, it is important to manage it when it is experienced. Identifying the thoughts that come up when feeling anxious is the first step to this. Initially, anxiety may only be apparent when it is felt. Separating thoughts from feelings can prove difficult at first because they may be very quick and automatic. With practice, however, thinking patterns can become clearer. Thoughts may present themselves as words or statements like “what if..” or “I can’t cope” or even as vivid images in one’s mind, both of which can cause high levels of anxiety.
Helpful Hints to Relieve Anxiety
Some questions that help identify thoughts are:
- What does this say about me if this is true?
- What would it mean if ‘x’ were to happen?
- What does this mean about what other people think/feel about me?
- What was going through my mind before I started to feel this way?
After having identified the anxious thoughts, the next step is to attempt to evaluate whether the thought is realistic and in proportion. This is useful because anxious thoughts are usually based on exaggerations and assumptions. Learning to develop alternative ways of thinking about the same situation helps break out of cycles of anxiety.
Some questions that help identify thoughts are:
- What does this say about me if this is true?
- What would it mean if ‘x’ were to happen?
- What does this mean about what other people think/feel about me?
- What was going through my mind before I started to feel this way?
If you are looking for anxiety disorder treatment in Dubai to help you overcome any symptoms of anxiety, the mental health counseling services offered by HRIC Dubai might be helpful to you. Human Relations Institute and Clinics is a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses around the globe.