What is anxiety?   

Anxiety is a natural response to stress that can be beneficial in certain circumstances. It can warn us to impending threats and assist us in planning and paying attention. Anxiety disorders, however, are marked by excessive fear or anxiety, as opposed to normal emotions of apprehension. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses, afflicting about one-third of all adults at some point in their lives.

Don’t panic just yet … anxiety is curable, and there are a variety of effective treatments. The numbers of individuals who receive treatment are able to live regular and meaningful lives. If you find yourself trying to consistently avoid circumstances because it triggers or intensify your symptoms, then know you are not alone. Job performance, academic work, and personal relationships all become impacted in your body’s search to make reason and normality out of these trigger points.

Let’s try to break this down further, anxiety generally can be seen as acting out of proportion to the situation, symptoms and feelings are starting to seriously impact your general daily life and you find it is interfering with your ability to perform normally.

So what are the main symptoms of anxiety?

Almost everyone experiences anxiety at some point. If your feelings of anxiety and dread become incapacitating over time, you should absolutely seek help. Anxiety disorders come in a variety of forms; however the following are the most prevalent symptoms:

·      Heart rate rises and breathing becomes strained.

·      Higher muscle tension.

·      A feeling of tightness in the chest

·      Unfounded and rising concerns, as well as restlessness

·      Obsessing over trivial matters might lead to compulsive behaviour.

·      Restlessness

·      Trouble Concentrating

·      Difficulty Falling Asleep

Which common factors contribute to anxiety?

Family history: People with a family history of mental health concerns are more likely to struggle with anxiety. OCD, for example, can be passed down across generations.

Life traumatic events: Anxiety symptoms might be triggered by employment stress, the death of a loved one, or difficult relationships.

Physical health issues: Thyroid abnormalities, asthma, diabetes, and heart disease are all examples of illnesses that really can create anxiety. Anxiety disorders can manifest itself in people who are depressed. Someone who has been depressed for a long time, for example, can begin to perform poorly at work. This could contribute to employment stress, which can subsequently lead to anxiety.

Drug dependency: When the effects of drugs, alcohol, and other substances wear off, those who are heavy users experience anxiety difficulties (as withdrawal symptoms).

Personality factors: Other factors like personality traits anxiety-related concerns might also arise in persons who have specific personality qualities, such as perfectionists or people who like to be in charge.

Is it normal to have anxiety returning to the workplace after being locked down for COVID?

For many people, the COVID-19 outbreak has been extremely draining, drastically altering their daily lives. All members of society, including employers and employees, should play a part in protecting themselves and each other and preventing the disease from spreading further.

Many Psychologists, Psychiatrists and post-COVID researchers have examined ‘return to work anxiety,' and have compiled guidance and information for those who are anxious about returning to work as certain restrictions begin to lessen following the coronavirus lockdown.

Be generous to yourself

It's normal to be unsure and worried. Everyone has gone through a difficult period.  Many of us have had to adjust to a new normal that has included spending the majority of our time at home, and the prospect of returning to work might cause anxiety since our brain has been alerted to a new possible risk in front of us. So be generous to yourself and accept that it's natural to experience this way. You'll need to get back into a new rhythm, which can take a little time to adapt to. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, keep stuff basic at beginning. Change is hard for us as humans, so you aren't alone in feeling stressed about returning to work after the lockdown.

Acquire positive coping strategies

When you get really worried, your breathing may increase, causing your heart beat faster and leaving you getting dizzy, disoriented, and much more apprehensive than before. Learning a few breathing methods that allow you to focus on your breath during these periods will help you relax, focus, and relax your muscles and mind.

Another anxiety strategy is to try positive self-talk. This might allow you to move over any unpleasant or nervous thoughts you might have about the returning to work. Consider the negative things you tell yourself and make sure your self-talk are the polar opposite of those. The following are a few to consider:

I am capable of accomplishing this because I am strong and can persevere in the face of adversity.

It's alright to feel this way; it won't break me.

Interact with other employees with social distancing protocols

When people are concerned, it is usually about unknowns or uncertainties. Many people returning to work are concerned about contracting coronavirus or transmitting it to their family and friends if they become infected at work. Many firms are currently doing risk assessments and taking concrete efforts to ensure that their workplaces are safe. Inform yourself, find out what your workplace is doing to protect you to help ease some tensions.

Sustain healthy everyday routine

When everything seems to be changing all the time, try to have a decent routine and a constructive structure to your day. Scheduling moments of happiness and appreciating the wonderful things in our lives can always be beneficial to our mental wellbeing as well as a pleasant break from our worries.