Date post: | 05-Aug-2015 |
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Health & Medicine |
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ANXIETY & STRESS:
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!
The Occupational Therapy Centerat Jefferson in Second Life
Garden of Healthy Aging
• Anxiety is the way people react to stress and prepare for events (ADAA, 2013; Mayo Clinic, 2012)
• A certain amount of anxiety is natural; people have worries, fears, and feelings of discomfort when facing situations in their lives
• Anxiety can go beyond this normal amount and make it difficult to function in everyday life (NIMH, 2012)
What is Anxiety?
•Anxiety may appear as feelings of intense worry or dread, even about something small•Some common physical signs of anxiety are “butterflies” in the stomach, increased heart rate, and sweating (Mayo Clinic, 2012)
• There are anxiety disorders that have specific triggers or symptoms, but people experience anxiety on an everyday basis
• The things that cause anxiety are unique to a person, as well as the ways that a person copes with anxiety• Some common coping strategies include medication and therapy for persistent anxiety (ADAA, 2013; Mayo Clinic, 2012)
• People often find ways to distract themselves to cope with anxiety, such as through exercise, breathing, and support from friends and family
SENSE OF CONTROL
• Feel comfort in having ability to manipulate, control, change, or maintain stability • Examples of situations where this
is not possible:• Public transportation (train stations,
airplanes)• Caring for a family member with an
illness or disability • Certain social settings, such as
classrooms or restaurants
SOURCES OF STRESS
• Sudden changes in scheduling, delays, cancellations• Needing to rely on others • Feeling cut off from others (lack of communication)• Dealing with familial or other relationship issues that are beyond my ability to control (illness)
ANXIETY
• Sources of stress become anxiety when the stress continues over time and interferes with daily functioning
MANAGING RESPONSIBILITIES
AND TIME
Finding the time to do everything you want and need to do can become stressful.
Organizing time well is a hard skill to learn
WHY CAN JUGGLING EVERYTHING BECOME STRESSFUL?
Many responsibilities to schedule into the day, like:
• Schoolwork • Work• Caring for kids and pets• Cleaning and cooking• Leisure activities like sports• Socializing and friends• Appointments
But only 24 hours to fit everything in!
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO YOU FEEL YOU STRUGGLE TO FIND TIME FOR EVERYDAY?
What responsibilities do you have to balance?
ANXIETY’S EFFECT ON HEALTHY LIVING
• It can be easy to grab quick but unhealthy food while rushing to do other things• Exercising often gets put on the bottom of
the to-do list• Staying up late to get things done is a
resort for some• But all of these options negatively affect
the body and its ability to function productively
ANXIETY’S EFFECT ON PRODUCTIVITY
• If the task is difficult or important it can sometimes cause anxiety.
• Procrastination, or putting things off until later, can result from this anxiety.
• Procrastinating can decrease the number of productive hours in the day, leading to more anxiety and stress!
LEARNING TO BALANCE YOUR TIME
• Plan and prioritize each day• Skip the things that aren’t necessary• Delegate, or get help from others• Reduce distractions• Take care of your body!• Take breaks when needed• Keep a time journal
Mayo Clinic, 2013
WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO YOU DO TO MANAGE YOUR TIME OR TO PREVENT PROCRASTINATION?
WHAT DO I DO?
• Use my planner!• Write a list of the things that need to get done
that day• Number those things from most to least
important• Work on something for about an hour, take a
break, then move on to something else for an hour• Run and do yoga to release the anxiety that the
more stressful things can cause!• Keep working and switching between different to-
do’s to stay interested and motivated.
LET’S TRY IT TOGETHER!
Reflect on your day so far, or even write down what you did hour by hour.• How much time was productive? Necessary?• Did you waste any time?• Are there imbalances between the things you focus your time on?
Now schedule the rest of you night hour by hour.
Don’t get frustrated if you get off-track, just adjust it and keep trying.