Many of us know what it is like to feel anxious: nervousness, restlessness, feeling tense, or a sense of danger, panic, or dread. Anxiety disorders, however, differ in that “they may cause people to feel excessively frightened, distressed, or uneasy during situations in which most other people would not experience these same feelings" (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2012). The following resources give more information on Anxiety--what it is, signs and symptoms, causes, and available treatments:
RESOURCES
How to Help Someone with Anxiety. Through the lens of Mental Health First Aid, check out these tips about how to recognize anxiety and help someone who may be experiencing it.
Stress and Anxiety on Campus. Attending and graduating from college is one of the most important journeys most people experience in their lifetime. It can be a gateway to future success and happiness – but it can also be the cause of great anxiety and mental stress. This site offers tips on how to get help with this stress and anxiety.
Mental Health Resource Center. The JED Foundation is the nation’s leading non-profit organization that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for young adults. The Mental Health Resource Center offers many resources for learning more about mental health and how to have a conversation with a friend.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America. The ADAA is an international nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, and research.
The Anxiety Coaches Podcast. Regular people who happen to have suffered from stress, anxiety, and PTSD and now coach others. This podcast series helps you overcome stress and anxiety while living a healthy lifestyle.
The Power of Vulnerability. Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.
Listening to Shame. Shame and fear of vulnerability is an unspoken epidemic, the secret behind many forms of broken behavior. Brené Brown explores what can happen when people confront their shame head-on.
APPS
Apps can be helpful to help develop skillsets to navigate anxiety but not treat it. On-campus and off-campus resources are also available to help support you with any concerns you may have in this area.
Anxiety Coach, A comprehensive self-help tool for reducing a wide variety of fears and worries. Helps you make a list of feared activities and then guides you through mastering them. Free on iTunes.
Breathe: Calm Aura and Sleep. Breathing consciously can be a wonderful tool to help you relax, reduce stress and anxiety, sleep better, and live a mindful life. Take a couple of minutes a day for yourself and you'll notice that life really does come in pretty colors. $0.99 on Android and iTunes.
Buddhify is here to help you bring more calm, clarity and kindness to all parts of your life. Whether you're looking to reduce stress and anxiety, or get a better night's sleep, Buddhify has easy-to-follow guided meditations to bring mindfulness to all parts of your life with exercises for whatever you're doing and wherever you are. $2.99 on Android and $4.99 on iTunes.
Headspace is meditation made simple. Guided meditations suitable for all levels from Headspace. Meditation can help improve your focus, exercise mindful awareness, relieve anxiety and reduce stress. Free onAndroid and iTunes.
Sanvello. Whether you manage an ongoing condition like anxiety or depression, have acute stress or anxiety related to an event like coronavirus, or simply want to improve your mental well-being, Sanvello is rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and gives you the help, support, and resources you need to feel more in control and happier over time. Free for students or employees with a gonzaga.edu email address via Android and iTunes.