On June 10 is Action Anxiety Day

May 23, 2024

June 10, 2024,

June 10 is Action Anxiety Day, a national awareness and education day lead by Anxiety Canada to help people learn about anxiety, reduce stigma, raise awareness, dispel common anxiety myths, and underscore the importance of prioritizing mental health.

Everyone experiences anxiety sometimes, but when it gets overwhelming there are resources to help you cope.

Anxiety refers to feelings of nervousness, fear, or worry. Everyone experiences anxiety sometimes. Some research indicates that a certain amount of anxiety can even be helpful.

But sometimes the systems underlying our anxiety responses get dysregulated and impact a person’s ability to cope.

For example, recurring anxious thoughts and behaviors can have a big impact on your work life, school life, hobbies, or relationships.

While anxiety can feel overwhelming at times, there are many ways to cope. With the right tools, you can manage your anxiety and start feeling less anxious.

There are several tools available through Anxiety Canada to help those who struggle with persistent anxiety cope. The Canadian Mental Health Association also offers Bounceback, a free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Find out if you meet the criteria.

Resources

• Bounceback
• How To” guides for caregivers, parents and educators
• Podcast: #OurAnxietyStories
• MindShift CBT Groups
• Anxiety APP
• CMHA NS Brochure
• Video Library & Caretoons
• Limited time offer with TELUS Health MyCare

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders involve excessive fear, anxiety, or worries that interfere with your well-being and ability to function. For example, recurring anxious thoughts and behaviors can have a big impact on your work life, school life, hobbies, or relationships.

Anxiety disorders are defined by the situations or objects that cause your anxiety. Some anxiety disorders have different symptoms and types of negative thoughts associated with them.

Types of anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The focus of your anxiety isn’t on one thing but several things when you have GAD. This could include health, social interactions, or work. These worries appear on more days than not for at least 6 months.
• Panic disorder. This disorder involves recurrent and unexpected panic attacks. Panic disorder can lead to worry or stress about future panic attacks. It’s important to note that having panic attacks doesn’t always mean you have panic disorder.
• Agoraphobia. This condition involves an intense fear of a situation that might be difficult to escape from. This might include open spaces, enclosed spaces, or public transport. For some people, these fears make it difficult to leave the house.
• Social anxiety disorder. Previously known as social phobia, this is an intense fear of social situations or performing in front of others. The anxieties are linked with a fear of negative judgement from others, and a fear of showing signs of anxiety or embarrassment in public.
• Specific phobias. Also known as simple phobias, this involves an intense fear of a certain object or situation. The fear is out of proportion with the actual danger posed. Common phobias people have involve animals, heights, flying, and injections.
• Separation anxiety disorder. This condition involves intense anxiety about being separated from people you feel close to. This can affect both children and adults.

READ: 10 Types of Therapy for Anxiety and How They Work

Sources: Anxiety Canada, Harvard Medical School, NAMI