Anxiety is a normal feeling that everyone experiences at some point in their life. However, when you face frequent bouts of anxiety, though, it can be downright debilitating and interfere with how you function on a daily basis. In fact, anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental issues in the United States today.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (AADA), around 40 million adults experience some sort of anxiety disorder every year in the U.S. Moreover, a survey done by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California found that 43% of California Students experienced a panic or anxiety attack in 2021.
Such alarming figures can be ascribed to bad eating habits, sedentary lifestyles, long working hours, and lack of physical exercise. If you live in California, the best thing you could do is to find a therapist in California who can be your companion in your journey to fight against these issues.
Relationship Anxiety
Relationship anxiety is one of the most common types of anxiety, affecting a majority of couples around the world. It can be triggered by a fear that you’ll lose your better half or fear that they don’t really love you. In addition, this type of anxiety is often due to a lack of trust and/or communication, which can lead to feelings of insecurity and jealousy.
If you are constantly under the fear of your partner cheating or leaving you, then relationship anxiety has got a strong grip on you. In this case, it’s not just the idea of being alone that causes discomfort—it’s also the idea that someone else would want to be with them instead.
How to Deal With It?
The most effective way to manage your relationship anxiety is to find ways to take care of yourself. You can do this by talking with a therapist, doing meditation and exercise, or just having an honest conversation with a friend. In such stressful situations, you should have an outlet for your emotions – whether that be therapy or painting, writing, singing, or playing music.
In addition, you can improve your relationship by communicating honestly with your partner. This is a two-way street, so make sure that you are willing to listen when your partner has something to say.
Career-Related Anxiety
Both students and employees have to deal with some sort of career-related anxiety. This is because a career holds an important place in their life. For the former, it’s a launching pad to the bright future, while for the latter one, it’s a way to build oneself among peers.
You may experience career-related anxiety if you’re feeling overburdened due to the new role or struggling to adjust to the new way of things. Or perhaps you are worried about losing your job or finding another one when you move on from your current position.
Career-related anxiety is common, and it can be caused by stress, change, or conflict at work. This type of anxiety skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people were laid off due to the global economic slowdown.
What’s the Solution?
To effectively manage career anxiety, shift your focus from negative things to the positive things that have happened. If you’re in a job that doesn’t suit you, it’s essential to acknowledge that it’s okay for this not to be your dream job. In fact, there are many people who would love to be in our situation: we have a job! We have a paycheck!
Some ways that may help you deal with career anxiety:
- Take time off.
- Exercise, eat well, and get a good night’s sleep.
- Find someone who can relate to what you’re going through and is willing to listen without judgment or advice-giving.
- Take a vacation or go on an adventure (e.g., go hiking or biking).
- Meditate for 20 minutes every day or take a walk outside at lunchtime instead of checking your phone for the 100th time that hour.
Parenting Anxiety
Parenting anxiety has become prevalent among parents. It’s the constant worry that you’re not doing enough or will be judged for your parenting style. It’s an intense feeling of inadequacy and doubt, even if no one else seems to notice.
Parenting anxiety is also termed as “parental guilt” because it can make you feel like everything you do isn’t good enough—and therefore, something must be wrong with what you’ve done in the past. Parental guilt can also lead to perfectionism: If there’s room for improvement, then there must be something wrong with what you did last year.
How to Cope With It?
If you’re feeling anxious about parenting, counseling can be a great solution. With counseling, you will learn techniques to help you manage your anxiety and cope with stressful situations while also helping your child develop healthy coping skills.
Always remember that you are not alone. There are many others who have gone through the same thing as you, and there are numerous resources available to help you. You are not a bad parent; it’s just that you have not still learned to manage your anxiety.
Summing Up
After reading this blog, I hope you have understood that you are not alone in your anxiety. The first step to dealing with anxiety is to identify the type of anxiety you’re experiencing because it will help you take action toward living a healthier and happier life.
I know how hard it can be to reach out for help when feeling anxious but remember that there are many resources available online and offline. If things get too overwhelming, please reach out to a counselor or therapist about those issues before they become serious enough to warrant medical attention by professionals.