Anxiety and Social Media

Here you can listen to an interview about anxiety related to social media usage.

What is anxiety?

Here you can listen to an interview all about anxiety, what it is, and what you can do about it.

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 3.6% of the world's population has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In a recent study of 21 countries, over 10% of those who responded had experienced some form of a traumatic event, including exposure to war, witnessing or experiencing interpersonal violence, accidents, or trauma to a loved one. In addition, PTSD may develop following neglect or abuse (sexual, emotional, or physical) either in early life or more recently.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is classed as a form of anxiety disorder. It can affect a person's life in complex and complicated ways. The symptoms can often be quite debilitating and interfere with everyday functioning. Symptoms may include frightening flashbacks, nightmares, mood swings, increased fearfulness related to being outside or travelling, difficulty sleeping, and irritability. If you have PTSD, then you might also often feel pretty isolated.

PTSD can develop many years after a traumatic event, leading to noticeable changes in thoughts, feelings and behaviour. If you think that you may have PTSD, then a visit to your GP may be a good idea. Your GP can let you know if your symptoms indicate PTSD, and they will be happy to advise you regarding the available treatment options. These will usually include some form of talking therapy, medication or EMDR therapy (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) in which a therapist will use a simple eye movement technique that can help reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories.

If you wish to discuss your symptoms, or concerns regarding PTSD, then I offer a Zoom Consultation in which we can explore together what is on your mind and discuss the best course of action for you.

Am I Suffering With Anxiety?

Feelings of nervousness, worry, or fear typically characterise anxiety. It is a normal part of everyday life for most people, and in fact, it can sometimes help to increase a person's performance under pressure and keep us safe in potentially dangerous situations. Usually, anxious feelings subside after a while, and we can feel more relaxed again. These fluctuations in our state of nervous arousal are very normal. However, when anxiety does not subside and begins to get in the way of our everyday functioning, then it can become more of a problem.

High levels of anxiety are also associated with panic attacks. This is when your body has an exaggerated response to stress, fear, or excitement. Panic attacks can feel scary, and the physical sensations often include an increased heart rate, sweating, nausea, chest pains, and difficulty breathing. Panic attacks typically last 5 to 20 minutes, although they may feel much longer.

If you are suffering from anxiety, you can always speak to your G.P. about your concerns. Your G.P. will listen to your description of what you have been experiencing and recommend a course of treatment. This may include talking therapy, self-help interventions, or medication. Counselling and psychotherapy can help to get to the root of the problem and will often begin to relieve some of the problematic symptoms of anxiety.

Some useful sources of further support and guidance include Mind.org.uk, Anxiety U.K., and the NHS website.