Anxiety - Mental Health Awareness Campaign

Anxiety

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN Information you need to know to stay healthy and prevent anxiety.

01 About us

ABOUT US SolaVieve is a progressive health and technology company focused on empowering people from all around the world to live consciously, healthily, and enthusiastically. Our international team of experienced researchers, practitioners, and creators work closely to bring you high-quality, extensively researched content that can expand your knowledge about different aspects of holistic, preventive, and integrative health. You can be confident that you are making sound decisions about your health based on facts, studies, and scientific research, as our number one priority is to consistently provide scientifically proven content.

SolaVieve, in partnership with the World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS), has created this mental health awareness campaign, which aims to increase public visibility and increase awareness of preventative interventions in mental health.

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02 Risk Factors

RISK FACTORS Find out what factors can increase your chances of developing an anxiety disorder.

03 Risk Factors

There are different types of anxiety disorders.

Here are some of the common types of anxiety disorders.

Generalized anxiety disorder: the feeling of excessive worry about daily activities is how this disorder is described. The symptoms can vary among people, but usually include the overthinking of plans, the perception of situations as threatening or difficult even when they aren’t, and the inability to relax or concentrate. Often these mental symptoms come with other physical symptoms, such as fatigue, sleeping disorders, excessive sweating, and irritability.

Panic disorder: this is an anxiety disorder where a person suffers from sudden attacks of panic or fear for no apparent reason.

These panic attacks include several mental and physical symptoms such as chest pain, nausea, sweating, racing heartbeat, dizziness, and shortness of breath.

Phobia-related disorders: this is a type of anxiety that involves an irrational fear about specific situations, activities, animals, or objects. There are many types of common phobias, such as agoraphobia (fear of public spaces), acrophobia (fear of heights), claustrophobia (fear of closed-in spaces), and arachnophobia (fear of spiders). Even though there are numerous different phobias, the symptoms are the same, such as an immediate feeling of fear, a sense of loss of control of a situation, nausea, and dizziness.

Risk factors for each type of disorder can vary.

The proportion of people suffering from anxiety disorders in 2015 was estimated to be 3.6% globally.

As with depression, anxiety disorders are more common among females than males (4.6% compared to 2.6% globally).

04 Risk Factors

I faced exposure to stressful and negative environmental events in early childhood.

Am I at a greater risk of developing an anxiety disorder?

Exposure to stressful and negative life or environmental events is a risk factor for anxiety.

However, although exposure to stressful events during early childhood - when the brain is still developing - is a risk factor, anxiety disorders can be observed throughout life, and prevalence rates do not vary substantially between age groups.

Are there general risk factors for all types of anxiety disorders?

Risk Factors

Even though mental wellbeing and mental disorder diagnosis are not straightforward sciences, there are some general risks, for example: Traits of temperamental shyness or behavioral inhibition in childhood; Exposure to stressful and negative life or environmental events in early childhood or adulthood; History of anxiety or other mental illnesses in biological relatives.

Other physical health factors can trigger or aggravate anxiety symptoms.

Some of these factors include thyroid problems, heart arrhythmias, and excessive consumption of caffeine or other substances/medications. A physical health examination can help detect a possible anxiety disorder.

05 Symptoms

SYMPTOMS Find out what symptoms to look out for.

06 Symptoms

Not all anxiety is bad.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. Anxiety is considered normal in certain situations, such as when an individual is faced with work problems, has to make an important decision, or prepares to sit an exam, among other daily tasks.

When does anxiety become a problem?

It becomes a problem if there is no current external threat involved. Anxiety usually refers to a persistent feeling of apprehension that doesn't go away, interfering with how you live your life.

07 Symptoms

I am feeling stressed and worried. Do I have an anxiety disorder?

Not necessarily. If this feeling is recurring and doesn’t go away, even if there is no current external threat, then you might be experiencing anxiety.

Can I be dealing with stress and anxiety at the same time?

Your body can be affected by stress and anxiety at the same time - and both can have an impact on your mind and body. If this is the case, you may be experiencing symptoms such as: Excessive worry Uneasiness Tension Headaches Body pain High blood pressure Lack of sleep

08 Healthy Lifestyle Choices

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES Hands-on! Tips to apply to your daily life to prevent anxiety and achieve mental wellbeing.

09 Healthy Lifestyle Choices

What are some important environmental factors I should keep in mind to secure my mental health and avoid anxiety?

Mental health promotion involves actions that improve psychological wellbeing and that create an environment that supports mental health.

It is essential to keep the following principles in mind when talking about mental health: Security Freedom Cultural rights Socio-economic needs Think about how you can secure those aspects for yourself and for others.

Meditation and other relaxation techniques are not only a good option to help relieve mild anxiety; they can also be of great help in more serious cases.

Mindfulness meditation is a well-known therapeutic strategy for anxiety disorders, and recent research found it may have beneficial effects on anxiety symptoms.

Yoga is also known to effectively reduce anxiety symptoms and have a positive effect on treatment.

10 Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Here are some self-help and coping mechanisms for dealing with anxiety.

Good sleeping patterns: aim for both quality and quantity of sleep! Ideally, a person should have regular sleeping hours and aim for seven to nine hours of sleep daily.

Healthy eating: eat regularly and focus on whole and nutrient-dense foods. Avoid high sugar and high-fat foods, as they can lead to blood-sugar spikes and drops, which, in turn, can cause nervousness and irritability.

Alcohol abstinence: alcohol disrupts the balance of chemicals and neurotransmitters in the brain, which can worsen anxiety, or lead to new anxiety symptoms.

Alcohol use disorder can exacerbate an existing anxiety disorder, or may lead to new anxiety symptoms.

At the same time, a pre-existing anxiety disorder can contribute to an alcohol use disorder.

Regular exercise: 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week, at a moderate intensity, can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms.

Relaxation and breathing techniques: relaxation techniques can play a crucial role in helping people to cope with anxiety and deal with its symptoms. There are many types of relaxation techniques that help minimize anxiety symptoms, varying from deep breathing and meditation to yoga and tai chi.

11 Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Can anxiety be treated?

Anxiety disorders are generally treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both. There are many ways to treat anxiety, and people can work with their doctor to choose the treatment that is best suited to them.

Can psychotherapy help me?

Psychotherapy is a general term used for a variety of treatment techniques that aim to help a person identify and change troubling emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Also known as “talk therapy,” it can help people with anxiety disorders and should be tailored to their specific needs.

For more information about healthy lifestyle choices for anxiety read our General Information Brochure.

12 When to ask for help

WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP When to seek help and when to talk with someone you trust.

13 When to ask for help

Mental health conditions can have a substantial effect on all areas of life.

School tasks, work performance, relationships with family and f riends, and the ability to participate in the community can all be affected by anxiety and other mental health conditions. Boosting your mental health can help you to perform better in all areas of life.

What should I do if anxiety symptoms don’t go away?

Anxiety can be a long-term condition, but you don’t have to deal with it alone. If your symptoms are recurring and feel unmanageable or overwhelming, or if you are having a hard time coping, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional.

I feel anxious about talking to a professional.

Are there any other options?

Lots of people with anxiety benefit from sharing their struggles and achievements with people they trust and who they know won’t judge them, such as: Members of self-help and support groups Trusted friends or family members Communities on internet chat rooms (remember to keep forum guidelines in mind and to double-check any advice received with a professional)

14 When to ask for help

Sources de Manincor, M., Bensoussan, A., Smith, C. A., Barr, K., Schweickle, M., Donoghoe, L.-L., Bourchier, S., & Fahey, P. (2016). Individualized Yoga For Reducing Depression And Anxiety, And Improving Well-Being: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Depression and Anxiety, 33(9), 816–828.

Hoge, E. A., Bui, E., Marques, L., Metcalf, C. A., Morris, L. K., Robinaugh, D. J., Worthington, J. J., Pollack, M. H., & Simon, N. M. (2013). Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation for generalized anxiety disorder: effects on anxiety and stress reactivity. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74(8). https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.12m08083 Mayo Clinic. (2017, October 13). Generalized anxiety disorder. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20360803 Mayo Clinic. (2016, October 19). Specific phobias. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/specific-phobias/symptoms-causes/syc-20355156 Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved September 28, 2021, from https://www.mhanational.org/mental-health-america-homepage National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). I’m so stressed out. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/health/publications/so-stressed-out-fact-sheet/20-mh-8125-imsostressedou t.pdf National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Anxiety Disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders World Health Organization. (n.d.). Depression. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health