Generalised Anxiety Disorder

I'm sorry to hear that you suffer so much from anxiety. The emotion fear is known to make us very alert. It is an emotion that has arisen to deal adequately with danger, in order to increase the chances of survival. Think, for example, of birds that quickly fly away at the sight of a cat.

In humans, this has developed even more complicated. The discomfort of fear makes us prepare for a particular threat and look for ways to reduce the discomfort. Think of defusing a threat or fleeing from it, but worrying is also a strategy that's very common. However, when worrying becomes excessive, it loses its function of problem-solving and fizzles out in a repetitive pattern with no solution. This is often typical of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). There are several things you can do to deal with anxiety symptoms:

• Anxiety causes a lot of physical tension. Therefore try to find a balance by putting sufficient relaxation in front of it. Taking care of yourself sufficiently, exercise, social contact and rest are very important.
• Anxiety is often characterized by assuming the worst (worst case scenario). It can help to reflect on thoughts that make you anxious. For example, ask yourself questions such as "Would I think differently if I felt differently and if so, how?" or "If a problem were to arise, how bad would it be, can I possibly solve it or do I have to actually solve that?"" or "Is there a real threat or is it just the fear that is trying to prepare me for something bad?".
• It can also help to practice mindfulness. This helps the brain to relax and reduce anxiety. Mindfulness does take time and practice to start noticing its effects.
• On www.niceday.app you will find a library where you can find information about anxiety and exercises that can help you deal with it better until you can start treatment with a psychologist. It may help you to read more about fears and do the exercises.

You can also use the NiceDay app independently. Here you can keep track of your thoughts and feelings, and make use of the thought records. Here you can challenge your thoughts and find out what you are actually afraid of, and whether this is really necessary! Click here for more information about downloading the NiceDay app.

All the best!