Understanding Anxiety and How to Handle It
February 7, 2022
Contrary to popular belief, anxiety does not simply mean experiencing nervousness from time to time. Rather, those with anxiety feel a persisting sense of doubt and unease that evolves in their minds. Over time, it can disrupt relationships with friends and family. No one wants to be around the guy who is always on edge. But anxiety is beyond anyone’s control. In some, it is ever present; in others, it is activated by specific triggers. For the most part, however, it is completely random and unpredictable and presents itself in a multitude of symptoms. “For me, it comes [from] overthinking”, says a YULA student who prefers to remain anonymous. “My every thought passes through a million checks and filters before it leaves my lips. Many times, I completely freeze. It disrupts my conversations.”
The biggest challenge in battling anxiety work for them to cope with anxiety. With that is the stigma that comes with it. According to research by Hanlon and Swords, “adolescents express a range of negative responses towards descriptions of anxious peers including a belief that they are ‘weak,’ that they are personally responsible for their symptoms, and are deserving of blame.” Many people feel ashamed of seeking outside help and instead internalize their struggles. Studies show that this isolating behavior only leads to more severe symptoms that further develop if left untreated.
Despite the stigma, many effective treatments do exist. Most popular is psychotherapy, a collaborative process in which one works with a therapist. But for many, no third party is needed. Research suggests that the mesolimbic, mesocortical, and nigrostriatal dopaminergic systems are involved in managing anxiety and its symptoms. That means the brain’s release of dopamine, commonly referred to as the “happiness drug,” plays a role in curbing feelings of anxiety. Exercise, a good diet, and enjoyable activities promote the release and reception of dopamine in the brain, which can distract from anxiety in the short term. But anxiety is not curable. So while the methods outlined above may be helpful, they only temporarily bandaid what is a lifelong struggle for many. Not everyone is the same, so each person must find the methods that best work for them to cope with anxiety. With that in mind, the importance of respecting others’ struggles cannot be stressed enough. You never know what’s going on in one’s mind. You never know what they could be going through. (This article was originally written for the YULA Psychology Club)
