Anxiety has many forms and symptoms, and can affect us all differently. Read our interview with Kerry, BU鈥檚 Student Wellbeing Coordinator, for practical tips on recognising and coping with general anxiety, and where to go if you feel that you - or a friend 鈥� would benefit from extra support.
What is anxiety?
鈥淎nxiety is a way of describing the feelings we have when we鈥檙e tense, worried or afraid. We can all feel anxious at times, and that鈥檚 not always a bad thing - feelings of anxiety can help us to respond to dangers and keep us motivated and alert. But there are occasions when people find it hard to control their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and anxiety begins to affects daily life.鈥�
So, what happens when we feel anxious?
鈥淎nxiety can trigger a flight or fight response, so we are ready to react to danger. The body goes to high alert and releases the hormones adrenalin and cortisol. These cause your heart to beat faster to pump blood to your arms and legs, so they can respond to danger. This is okay when our bodies need to run away or fight a threat, for example, if an aggressive person is shouting at us. However, anxiety can create surplus energy when a worrying thought passes through our minds, but there is no action to take at the time. This can result in physiological responses to anxiety, such as difficulty breathing, feeling hot, dizzy, increased heart rate or digestion problems.鈥�
It is easy to recognise anxiety?
鈥淭here are several forms of anxiety, with the most common being Generalised Anxiety Disorder, which causes people to feel anxious most of the time. Symptoms include feeling that you can鈥檛 stop worrying, worrying about the future, feeling restless and feeling irritable with others."
鈥淭here are a number of other anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and specific phobias, and there are some really good websites out there that explain anxiety conditions and their symptoms, such聽听补苍诲听.鈥�
A large focus at this time of the academic year is on dissertations or assignments and assessments - what can be done to聽help reduce feelings of anxiety?
"Doing something practical can often reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. There are lots of things you can do, and of course聽different things will work for different people, but a few top tips a lot of students I work with find helpful include:
- Writing a 鈥榯o do鈥� list and prioritising tasks using the ABC model:聽Absolutely must be done, Best done today, or Could be done today.
- Setting reminders on your phone or computer for regular study breaks and importantly,聽planning聽what you will do with your break聽鈥� maybe phone a friend for quick catch up, put the laundry on, listen to some music 鈥� things that will give you a chance to re-charge and re-focus!
- Continuing - or introducing - time for gentle exercise, even a 20 minute walk around the campus can help reduce feelings of anxiety.
- Practicing mindfulness - there are loads of resources online if you'd like some guidance, and I'd recommend the .
- Talking to somebody about how you are feeling - just saying how you feel to someone else can relieve some of the pressures you may be feeling."
Who can I talk to?
鈥淚f any students at BU feel they're struggling with stress or anxiety, or in fact with any mental health difficulty, and think it is time to seek some help, the service is there to help.鈥�
There are so many websites, apps and forums 鈥� is there a safe online space you recommend?聽
鈥淵es! All BU students can sign up, for free, to the , an online mental health and wellbeing service offering self-help programmes, resources and peer support. Clinically-trained 鈥榳all guides鈥� are also available 24/7 and it鈥檚 all completely anonymous. This can be a good resource if you're not sure about contacting us, or perhaps while we're processing your registration or between appointments.鈥�
There are a range of support services on campus, which you can , as well as advice about when you should ask for help.
