Are you just nervous? Or are you experiencing real anxiety? What you should do.
We’re all worried and shaken. Feeling sad and scared are normal responses today.
Tragedies, national and personal, can affect us in different ways. Some may worry about a rise in anti-Semitism and are scared to go out to places like Walmart or the gas station. Others may feel that they can’t concentrate at work, in school, or be present with their children because of what is going on.
This type of reaction is normal and can occur at different levels for different people. We need to learn the delicate balance of being affected by what is happening to our brothers and sisters in Israel while still maintaining and continuing our daily roles as best we can.
Are You Experiencing Anxiety?
If the fear and worry are too overwhelming, if it becomes too difficult to control your worrisome thoughts, you may be experiencing anxiety. How do we define anxiety?
Anxiety is excessive worrying and difficulty controlling those thoughts, to the extent that it interferes with work, school, and relationships. People with anxiety often describe their thoughts as “intrusive, ruminating, circular…” They often feel restless, edgy, irritable, and have difficulty with sleep and concentration. Anxiety can also be felt in a physical way, such as feeling sweaty, shaky, muscle tightness, and upset stomach or nausea.
Anxiety can be hard to manage. When anxiety is directly related to a situation like the one we are in, we expect it to decrease with time as the situation, G-d willing, improves. Even during challenging times like this, there are ways to help calm ourselves.
Next: What to Do to Manage
One important measure is to take care of yourself. This includes eating well, staying hydrated, getting sufficient sleep, and exercising. It can also be helpful to talk things over with your spouse or friends. Some people find essential oils like lavender or chamomile helpful when they feel overwhelmed or stressed, especially at bedtime.
Other techniques that can be helpful to ease stress or anxiety include: deep breathing, meditation, guided imagery, mindfulness, or simply doing any calming activity –
coloring/painting, walking, journaling, listening to music, or taking a bath.
If That Doesn’t Work
If these methods are not effective and anxiety is affecting daily life, CBT or other therapy modalities with a qualified and licensed therapist can be very beneficial.
However, if someone is still experiencing severe anxiety and therapy and other techniques are not sufficient, it may be time to consult with a psychiatric provider. There are many medications that are very effective to treat anxiety. A psychiatric provider can recommend specific medications based on the person’s presentation and history, and can monitor the person’s response to medication.
Some Anxiety Is Normal in Extenuating Circumstances
Yes, such a tragedy can and will make people scared and anxious to varying degrees. Depending on how one has been impacted, it is expected that one’s sleep and other daily activities will be hindered. In this situation, it does not mean that medication or therapy is needed. One needs to know themselves, to be able to gauge how they are coping with their situation and to know if and when to seek more help.
May we be zoche to greet Mashiach in Yerushalayim speedily in our days.
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