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Fitness & Health

04th Sep 2015

Why anxiety is a little bit like North Korea and 6 other thoughts that might help somebody suffering with it

There's a lot to discuss

Carl Kinsella

There’s something on our mind.

Young men in Ireland are often preoccupied with keeping their bodies healthy by playing sports, hitting the gym and staying fit. Yet the stark reality is that, statistically speaking, the biggest threat to your life as a young Irish man is you.

Whole galaxies of thought can pass through your brain at any given time, and it’s impossible to pretend that all of those thoughts are good. So sometimes, it’s important to pause, reflect on how you are feeling and think about your anxieties and how best to deal with them.

When you write about anxiety, you lay a trap for yourself. If what you write is too personal, it won’t be much use to anybody else. Make what you say too broad, on the other hand, and you run the risk of sounding like a ‘be grand’-merchant. This list comprises nothing but thoughts that have helped the author cope with acute anxiety. They might work for you, they might not. If nothing else, hopefully they will help you to think and talk about your own anxieties.

We are neither experts of the medical nor psychiatric variety here at JOE, but we are happy to facilitate the discussion on mental health in Ireland. Your experiences of anxiety, stress or depression may vary widely from what we describe below and you are welcome to share your views on the issue.

1) Anxiety is like a drunk guy looking for a fight

Have you ever been on a night out and somebody has started on you for spilling his drink even though you definitely didn’t? Arguing with your own anxiety is a lot like trying to convince that guy that he spilled his own drink. You’re never going to convince him and you could end up getting hurt. Your anxiety isn’t trying to reason with you, it’s just trying to scare you.

Once anxiety has laid its cards on the table, it can help simply to accept it and see what happens when you carry on regardless.

fry anxiety

2) Anxiety is also a little bit like North Korea

Do you remember the first time you heard North Korea talking about wanting to blow up the US? It probably scared you. Now when you hear the latest threats from Kim Jong-un, you’re more likely to say ‘Yeah alright mate’ and move on with your day. Anxiety is an old, mangy dog and new tricks aren’t its thing. The more anxieties you overcome, the easier it will be to overcome future anxiety.

It can be comforting to think of real world examples of things that scared you in the past that don’t scare you anymore. Anxiety works much the same way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdsIy12-6z8

3) Anxiety disorders are incredibly common

St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services say that 1 in 9 people will suffer a primary anxiety disorder within their lifetime. 1 in 9 doesn’t seem like a lot until you realise that it’s half a million Irish people.

Even if it seems like nobody around you is suffering, remember that you are getting a very limited view of how they feel. If you are suffering, you aren’t even close to alone.

ross and chandler

4) Don’t trust your anxiety

A helpful motto to have when faced with anxiety of any kind is ‘Yeah, but you would say that.’ If there’s an anxious voice in your head trying to convince you that you should feel bad for any reason, remember that anxious voice is there to do that and that alone. Anxiety will never tell you you’re smart, or cool, or handsome.

It’s a salesman trying to sell you the worst version of yourself so you stay on your guard. It needs to convince that you are a weak and useless and constantly under threat. You are none of those things.

zooey cool

Thanks, Zooey.

5) Anxiety is a real problem

There are still people in this world who think of mental health issues as something that young people or attention seekers substitute for real problems. We can only assume that people who feel this way have simply never seen depression or psychosis close up. Severe bouts of anxiety can swallow your life whole and spit you out through weeks and weeks where you think you’ll never be happy again. Sometimes it really doesn’t matter what you have going for you if the wires in your brain are short-circuiting.

Ever been told, “it’s all in your head?” Next time you hear that, remind yourself that your head is pretty integral to everything you.

head rickshaw

6) Anxiety isn’t funny like in the movies

Think about Michael Cera’s character in Superbad. He’s an anxious wreck throughout the film even though the girl he fancies likes him back, he’s going to the college he wants and he’s a healthy, wealthy, young white male. We see him at face value and everything about his life is funny. If the movie took place inside that character’s head it would be an endless cycle of screaming and a constant feeling of boiling heat in the pit of his stomach. Anxiety isn’t that kind of funny, quirky awkwardness on the outside, it’s the pain and fear and confusion between the walls of somebody’s skull.

michael cera

7) Comfort is cool

Have you ever played any kind of team sport? Once they’re on the pitch, young men look for any excuse to touch each other. Patting on the back after a shot skewed wide, high-fiving at every substitution and jumping all over one another when a goal is scored. Humans naturally seek physical comfort and hugs are proven to boost oxytocin immediately which helps to fight feelings of loneliness, anxiety and anger. Hugging somebody who wants to be hugged is like an espresso for their mental health and your own, and it doesn’t cost a penny.

guy love

If you need to talk to someone about how you feel, call Samaritans at 1850 60 90 90, Pieta House at 01 6010000, or go to see your GP, a friend or a family member.