What is the cost of your anxiety and stress?
If you are one of the lucky few people asking “is dissociation real?” be glad. Maybe you find yourself asking can dissociation be helped? What is depersonalisation? Are panic attacks really caused by stress? Read on.
According to figures released by MIND: 0.5 - 2% of the general population may have a dissociation disorder. Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in Britain and one adult in six has a common mental health disorder. The weekly prevalence of GAD (general anxiety disorder) is 6.6.
Think. How much of our non-specific medical illnesses does this account for? How much extra energy would you have if you resolved your own level of stress and anxiety? What opportunities are stress, depersonalisation or panic costing you?
Anxiety disorders affect one in four of us each year, it is highly treatable, yet 75% of people with diagnosable mental illnesses will not obtain this rewarding and uplifting assistance. There are three main types of dissociation: daydreaming, amnesia and cutting off after experiencing severe trauma/intense worry.
Dissociation is a form of anxiety caused mainly by intense trauma or stress. The exact cause is unclear when it does not relate to an obvious trauma. When it relates to constant low levels of stress, anxiety builds up and puts a strain on the nervous system without you realising and eventually causes you to dissociate or experience panic attacks. Your body is sending you messages to protect yourself. Panic attacks and dissociation is very real and you have no warning, they take you by surprise.
Problems vary widely with normal functioning as a result of the above, ranging from minimal to significant, from worry to anxiety and to panic attacks (even leading to suicide). It can slow you down which impacts you socially, occupationally and in many other areas which affects the way you think and increases depression.
Do you ask yourself "is counselling truly effective, will I wait and endure these symptoms? After all, time is a great healer, if I wait I’ll recover, I could hold on another week, month or even a year longer maybe 10 years?"
Think of the relation/person you know who experiences anxiety/dissociation/panic, how has their condition affected their life?
If you are happy to use them as your role model I wish you the very best.
If you no longer want to endure anxiety about anxiety, if you want support from someone who both understands and is trustworthy, if you wish to return to pre-anxiety levels of health and composure - counselling is available to guide you and equip you.
No psychotherapy/medication is 100% perfect but therapy can help anxiety-related issues go into complete remission using simple techniques. Some very basic techniques are:
- Accept it will pass, anxiety is a lie so tell yourself: I am safe, I can do this, I am good enough.
- Keep a diary to track your triggers.
- Slow down and simply breathe.
- Most of all love and take care of yourself, be your own number one.
The link between our thoughts, emotions, behaviours and physical response is unseen, the answer to treating anxiety and the resulting behaviour is much simpler than you imagine.
Try breathing: breathe in, hold a peaceful image, smoothly and slowly breathe out, repeat.
The answer to realising anxiety often lies in the simplicity of breathing.