Anxiety and stress can affect us all in different ways - in some
cases it can even begin to affect our personal life or harm
productivity at work. And so to provide advice for those with
questions on anxiety, we gave you a chance to ask our expert, Dr
Mark Winwood, in our online clinic on Thursday 26 July.
Before the online clinic began, we took to Twitter for an
#axapppchat on anxiety - where many of you expressed that feeling
anxious while travelling on the Tube or flying was a recurrent
issue in your day to day lives. Of course, Dr Winwood was
able to provide expert insight into these issues and much more
within our online clinic - answering questions on everything from
treatments and relaxation techniques to reducing anxiety when
starting a new job.
Dr Mark Winwood is the clinical director for psychological health
at AXA PPP healthcare, and with ten years of experience in his
field he was on hand to answer your questions and concerns. Here's
what he had to say:
1. Jennifer Lane asked: Hi I went through a
very upsetting divorce 7 years ago and started having anxiety
attacks so bad that I hyperventilate. I have not had an attack for
about 6 years until recently. My father has been diagnosed with
terminal cancer and only going to be with us for a few weeks. Two
weeks ago I had a anxiety attack again I hyperventilated. The
prescripted Citalopram. My question is will these attacks keep
occurring throughout my life when something stressful happens? I
thought after 6 years they would not reoccur.
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Jennifer - it sounds to me
as though you might be experiencing panic attacks - and symptoms
such as palpitations and shortness of breath are common in this
type of disorder. There are a number of things you can do to
address these uncomfortable feelings - such as Breathing Retraining
which assists you to change the short gasping breaths you take when
experiencing panic. This technique has been found to be helpful.
Also relaxation training has also been very effective. Panic
attacks can occur in 22% of the general population and is more
frequently seen in women. It seems your panic is also linked to
major events in your life such as the diagnosis of your father's
cancer. The Citalopram should help you with the symptoms but
psychotherapy may be useful to manage your panic in the future
along with the suggestions I have already given you.
2. Sunshine asked: Since losing my daughter 5
years ago at the age of 15 from cancer, I just feel anxious. It
manifests itself in not being able to eat, feeling like I have a
brick in my stomach and generally feeling not settled. My doctor
tried putting me on anti-depressants, but I don't want that. It
comes and goes over the weeks and I can feel fine. Getting back
into work has been difficult as I have lost my confidence. I was my
daughter's main carer for 8 years and just feel a bit rootless and
feel I am drifting through life. Overall I am doing well but now
and then it occurs and reminds me it is still there, it is a
vicious circle.
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Sunshine - anxiety can
often have its roots in a significant life event that has rocked
you. Certainly the loss of daughter must have been devastating for
you. There are many types of treatment for anxiety that do not
involve medication. Talking therapies might be very helpful for you
not only to examine the anxiety but also to support you back to
work and cope with the massive changes you have experienced.
3. 929919: I suffered anxiety some years back
following the death of my father in law and although I have learnt
to manage that over the years mainly through hypnotherapy some of
the knock on effects have stayed with me such as a fear of going
out of my comfort zone or travelling too far on my own and I would
like to know how I can overcome these things as my husband has just
left me after twenty years and as i have allowed him to be my
travelling companion etc over the years I need to start having a
life by myself and I need to do these things for the sake of my
children. I would also like advice on how to deal with feelings of
anxiety in general as obviously him leaving has now triggered that
sense of being overwhelmed again and I am not in a position to
afford hypnotherapy again.
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi. There a number of tips I
can recommend for coping with the anxiety you are experiencing
which do not involve paying for treatment. Firstly - Write down
your worries. Keep a pad and pencil on you, or type on a laptop.
When you experience anxiety, write down your worries. Writing down
is harder work than simply thinking them, so your negative thoughts
are likely to disappear sooner.
What can be useful is to create an anxiety worry period. Choose
one or two 10 minute "worry periods" each day, time you can devote
to anxiety. During your worry period, focus only on negative,
anxious thoughts without trying to correct them. The rest of the
day, however, is to be designated free of anxiety. When anxious
thoughts come into your head during the day, write them down and
"postpone" them to your worry period. This sounds crazy but I have
found it really helps my patients - it gives you permission to
worry.
Accept uncertainty. Unfortunately, worrying about all the things
that could go wrong doesn't make life any more predictable-it only
keeps you from enjoying the good things happening in the present.
Learn to accept uncertainty and not require immediate solutions. I
hope these tips help you
4. Laura Jane asked: I suffer with OCD and have
had several attempts at cbt therapy to some extent it has helped,
watching Lorraine the other day on ITV and seeing the lady who
obsessively washes her hands was like a mirror image of myself
anxiety/ocd effects every aspect of my life and its hard as it's a
silent embarrassing illness, and people that don't suffer or
understand anxiety immediately label you and judge you as someone
who isn't all there which isn't the case! This time last year I
could barely go out the house and if I don't have anti bacterial
hand sanitizer to hand I freak out, I won't use public transport
and won't come in to contact as much as possible with anyone who is
ill/has a virus. Your views would be greatly appreciated.
Dr Mark_Winwood: Laura Jane - it seems that you
are experiencing fears associated with contamination and have
developed rituals to help you to reduce your anxiety over this.
This type of issue usually falls under the umbrella of anxiety
disorders - but there are specific treatments that can help with
this type of issue. The most common one is called ERP or Exposure
Response Prevention - which involves over a period of time working
with a therapist to live with the anxiety of not carrying out your
safety behaviour (your hand sanitizer) - and dealing with the
anxiety - which is hard at first but eventually the anxiety
subsides. This is a common issue and I am seeing more of this.
5. Laura Jane asked: Thank you for your advice
its reassuring to get a better insight into it, i think there is
still an awful lot to be learnt about the condition, and in the
future further treatments/medication will be developed to tackle it
- i think the first step is wanting to get better - i am also
pleased to know i am not alone - although mine is very extreme to
the point where i now work for myself and could never go back
working in an office environment with lots of people i still panic
in small spaces with lots of people and will get the flu jab this
year as winter is a time where there are so many bugs about thanks
for your time and wise words, kind regards, Laura.
6. Miss T asked: I have been with my partner
for 8 years, and for most of the time I have known him, he has
suffered from severe anxiety. He has a stressful job, which he
loves and wouldn't give up for anything, but I feel it is having a
worsening affect on his anxiety levels. His symptoms include
difficulty sleeping, difficulty getting up in the mornings, sleep
paralysis, night terrors, a constant twitch which he says he can't
control, unexplained head pains, panic attacks, lack of motivation
to do anything and low confidence about his physical appearance.
These symptoms occur all day every day. We have a very happy
relationship despite this, however, I feel his anxiety is
preventing us making plans for the future. He went to his GP who
was very unsympathetic, advising him that it was genetic and there
was nothing he could do about it. His next step is to phone the EAP
line, but he doesn't seem convinced that this will help him either.
He feels he has hit a brick wall, and I now think his anxiety is
making him depressed and worsening his symptoms further. I feel
that rather than speaking to a professional, he relies on me solely
for support and I feel like I am his counsellor rather than his
partner. As you can tell, it is quite a complex set of symptoms,
and I'm not sure what help he needs or what I can do to help
him?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Miss T - it seems your
partner is in need of some professional support but relies on you
for this. It is important that you look after yourself and think
about what keeps you well. It is often hard for people to admit
that they need help and support and this often means that they put
this off until it gets so bad there is no alternative. Your partner
is lucky to have someone to care for him but it is time for him to
get the professional help he needs. Most EAP services include
partners in their products so it might be a good idea for you to
call and speak with the counselling team to get some help on
directing him towards the service.
7. 737901: Any tips on how to cope with the
travelling without another adult to stop the anxiety?
AXA PPP healthcare, we also have similar questions from our
twitter followers
8. On Twitter, Sarah asked:I get
stressed working in London, especially at the moment with the
Olympics. Have you got any tips?
9. On Twitter, Caitlin asked: I sometimes get
stressed and anxious while driving, what's the best way to deal
with this?
10. On Twitter, Olivia asked:
After a bad experience I'm terrified of flying. I've flown over 20
times this year, and am still petrified.. Suggestions?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi 737901, Sarah, Caitlin and
Olivia: The best and most portable way to reduce anxiety
is by practicing relaxation techniques. When practiced regularly,
relaxation techniques such as mindfulness meditation, progressive
muscle relaxation, and deep breathing can reduce anxiety symptoms
and increase feelings of relaxation and emotional well-being. I
recommend the following web site: www.getselfhelp.co.uk is a really good resource
to find out more about relaxation training and meditation.
11. From Twitter, Sarirah
asked: In need of tips on how to curb anxiety whilst
travelling on the tube. It's been 3 years but it still stresses me
out every time
12. AXA PPP healthcare, we have
another question from twitter which is very similar, Mark can you
answer both? From reluctanthousedad asked: A
friend of mine is terrified of using the tube due to
claustrophobia. How can I help him?
Dr Mark_Winwood: This is a common problem and
often can be termed as claustrophobia or fear of enclosed spaces.
So in a tube train people have fear of having no escape and being
closed in. It is typically classified as an anxiety disorder and
often results in panic attack, and can be the result of many
situations or stimuli, including elevators crowded to capacity,
windowless rooms, and even tight-necked clothing. What you often
find is that sufferers also experience a fear of how they would be
perceived if their feared event occurred so - how would they cope
if the lift got stuck etc... So in some respects it is a double
anxiety and can be really uncomfortable for people who experience
this. I will go with some treatments for this. The most common
treatment for claustrophobia is cognitive therapy which helps to
challenge the negative thoughts about the situation and replaces
them with more realistic and helpful thoughts i.e. the lift isn't
frightening but it's a really good way of transporting me around
this building.... Exposure therapies are also very useful when
conducted by trained therapists - this can be done in a therapy
room or 'in-vivo' (in a real life situation) this involves, under
close supervision, gradually increasing exposure to the feared
stimulus until the anxiety response reduces.
13. Happy1 asked: I suffered with panic
disorder several years ago and have been having panic attacks this
year. The doctor has put me back on the original medication
and I am starting to feel better however I really do not want to be
on medication. When I had the disorder I received CBT and was off
work for 3 months
14. AXA PPP healthcare, we have
a similar question on Twitter, Hannah Rose asked:
ok, here's a question: What's the next best solution for an anxiety
disorder, after medication? And from Sarah:
Medication aside, what are the best things you can do at home/work
to overcome anxiety or to calm a restless mind?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Happy, Hannah Rose and
Sarah- medication and CBT are 2 of the most common
treatments for panic disorder but there are others. For
example - exposure therapy for panic disorder, you are exposed to
the physical sensations of panic in a safe and controlled
environment, giving you the opportunity to learn healthier ways of
coping. You may be asked to hyperventilate, shake your head from
side to side, or hold your breath. These different exercises cause
sensations similar to the symptoms of panic. With each exposure,
you become less afraid of these internal bodily sensations and feel
a greater sense of control over your panic. Again - you would
require a therapist trained in these techniques to help you. But
there are also a few other tips that anyone with panic might find
useful.
Try and learn about your panic. Simply knowing more about panic
can go a long way towards relieving your distress. So read up on
anxiety, panic disorder, and the fight-or-flight response
experienced during a panic attack. You'll learn that the sensations
and feelings you have when you panic are normal and that you aren't
going crazy. and that the attack will not kill you. Avoid smoking
and caffeine. Smoking and caffeine can provoke panic attacks in
people who are susceptible. As a result, it's wise to avoid
cigarettes, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages. Also be
careful with medications that contain stimulants, such as diet
pills and non-drowsy cold medications.
Learn how to control your breathing. Hyperventilation brings on
many sensations (such as light headedness and tightness of the
chest) that occur during a panic attack. Deep breathing, on the
other hand, can relieve the symptoms of panic. By learning to
control your breathing, you develop a coping skill that you can use
to calm yourself down when you begin to feel panic and finally as I
have said before try and learn relaxation techniques.
15. Hollie asked: Is it usual to suffer from
panic attacks after coming off anti-depressants to deal with
anxiety?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hollie - I am not sure what
medication you were taking for your anxiety but as panic is an
anxiety disorder I am concerned that this medication has not
resolved your issue. It would be worth going back to your
prescribing physician to discuss your symptoms. It may be decided
that another course of treatment (the same or different) may be
helpful.
16. Lobby asked: I suffer from
anxiety and although I am aware of the things that will calm me
down I find it very difficult to recognise that I need to be doing
these things when having an anxiety attack. Do you have any tips on
how I help myself?
Dr Mark_Winwood: If you experience panic
regularly you start to learn a way of responding to it - which
might not always be helpful. As you say you are aware of the coping
strategies that help you so in order to give yourself the space to
carry out these coping mechanisms you might want to try a technique
called STOP S - Stop, T - Take a breath, O - observe what is
happening to you, P - proceed with your chosen intervention. Give
it a go - I suggest people have STOP signs in key places in their
home or work.
17. AXA PPP healthcare, Dr Mark Winwood we have
some similar questions from our twitter followers. Would you give
them similar advice?
On Twitter, Maggy asked: What I would like to
know, how do manage anxiety about things you have no control
over?
On Twitter, Ms Goriami asked: my anxiety is
always over 'what ifs' I'm an over thinking need to learn to switch
off.. but how?
On Twitter, Juliette asked: how can you help
someone who is very anxious?
On Twitter, Jen asked: I'm definitely feel most
anxious when I'm busy - what would the expert recommend to stop my
mind racing?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Yes, I would say similar
advice to that for Lobby. Carry out these coping mechanisms you
might want to try a technique called STOP S - Stop, T - Take a
breath, O - observe what is happening to you, P - proceed with your
chosen intervention. I would also suggest people have STOP signs in
key places in their home or work.
18. Jayne H asked: I've suffered from anxiety
and panic attacks for about 7 years now following the sudden death
of my mum aged 16 - over time I have trained myself to cope with it
myself by developing coping mechanisms and recognising when I'm 'at
risk' of having one, so I can stop it. Doctors have been less than
helpful, offering my CBT which didn't work and medication that has
made me feel worst than I did to start with. 6 months ago out
found out who my Dad was (I had never met him) but also found out
that he had died suddenly. I've been to see my GP who has explained
that I need counselling - however the waiting list is too long. I
can't afford to pay for treatment and charitable waiting lists are
8 months minimum. I do everything I can... eat well, rest,
exercise, and maintain a good routine. I've come to the point where
there is nothing I can do on my own, I don't want to take
medication and I can't get therapy... any other suggestions?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Jayne - well done for
looking after yourself so well. You are doing everything you can to
maintain your wellbeing. There are a number of organisations that
can offer free downloadable resources to help you work through your
anxiety. Try the following web-sites: Mind, Anxiety UK,
www.getselfhelp.co.uk (really good for
relaxation and mindfulness training materials). there is also a
web-site called 'living life to the full' which offers online
CBT therapy which may really help you. Your GP should be able to
give you a list of resources (books on prescription) which are
recognised self-help manuals.
19. Jayne H asked: Hi - my point is that I have
tried everything. Books, self-help, CBT, meditation and workbooks
with a therapist. This issue I need to overcome is too complex for
me to deal on my own, I'm essentially beginning to grieve for
someone I never met - which is causing anxiety and depression.
Until I combat this I will continue to feel anxious, depressed and
lost in it all. Unlike anything I've dealt with before - I don't
understand why I feel the way I feel - which is why I need a
professional to take me through the process.
Dr Mark_Winwood: Jayne - didn't realise that
you had tried many self-help resources. Hopefully others on-line
will find these resources helpful. Seems like you have answered
your own question and therapy with someone who can explore the
meaning behind this loss for you would be the most appropriate
intervention. This type of work is best done by a professional who
has trained in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy rather than the
Cognitive behavioural approaches - and offers more open ended,
explorative support. Therapists that practice in this way can be
found on the UKCP web-site
20. Jayne H asked: Going back to my original
point - the waiting list for treatment on the NHS is 55 weeks and,
being 23 and having no parents to help fund such treatment - I'm
unable to afford this.
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Jayne - there are a number
of 'lowcost/no cost' organisations and training establishments that
might be able to support you. The UKCP
web-site will help you and so will the BACP
web-site.
21. Sandraaaxo asked: Hi Have a question, will
wait around until you can answer, but will post now. I have a range
of possible things that could be wrong with me, from anxiety to
depression; no one can quite pinpoint what it could be. After being
in the NHS waiting list for therapy, I am being told I have to wait
even longer. Following this, I decided I want to get private
insurance so that I wouldn't have to wait any longer. However I
have since found insurance companies don't accept you if it's an
ongoing illness. Can anyone shed some light on this? It's quite
frustrating to be stuck in the middle of the NHS and private
healthcare when neither of them can go anything!
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Sandraaaxo you might find
the following useful to try and address some of your symptoms; www.livinglifetothefull.co.uk
AXA_PPP_healthcare: Hi Sandra: While it's true
that, like other private medical insurance providers, we won't meet
the cost of treatment for pre-existing conditions and some
specified related conditions, you'll still get prompt access to
private eligible treatment for new conditions that arise after you
join.
However, our Moratorium plan could provide cover for treatment of
pre-existing medical conditions and specified related conditions
once you've been a member for at least 2 years.
22. CAJGIRL1 asked: I suffered 7 years ago with
serious anxiety when I started a new job and had to take 10 weeks
off for counselling before returning to my old job , I am due to
change my job again in September how can I ensure the same thin
won't happen again?
23. AXA PPP healthcare, we have a similar
question from Cynthia: On the same topic of
job-related anxiety: how do you deal with looking for a job when
you have anxiety, depression and PTSD?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Cajgirl1 and Cynthia:
Firstly it is normal to experience some anxiety before starting a
new job. Many of the tips I have already posted will also help you
to understand your anxiety process and how best to deal with it.
Prevention of anxiety essentially involves an awareness of life's
stresses and your own ability to cope with them. This can often be
a difficult task in our busy and hectic 21st century. In essence,
you might develop coping mechanisms for all of life's stresses
which may have been taught or explored with you when you had your
last series of counselling sessions. Strategies might include
these:
- Exercise
- Meditation
- Relaxation exercises including deep breathing
- Visualization
- Interpersonal skills in dealing with difficult people in your
new work situation
Prevention also includes diet, regular exercise, rest, and the
basics in terms of preventive health care maintenance. Diet is a
large factor. Caffeine, stimulants, lack of rest, and lack of
exercise all are factors that influence anxiety.
24. CAJGIRL1 asked: Thanks Mark the new job is
as a teacher so notoriously stressful but I'll follow your tips and
try to refreshed over the summer.
25. Jess_watt asked: Anxiety affects my
everyday life but I am retired now so it's easier to control. I
take citalopram. If I try to go on holiday or do anything out of
the ordinary I go to pieces, panic and feel I'll. Any suggestions
would be helpful. Thanks.
26. AXA PPP healthcare: we have a similar
question from Twitter, Cyn asked: how do you control anxiety while
looking for jobs, filling in applications, having successful
interviews
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Jess Watt and Cyn- I have
already given a few tips that hopefully will help you here are a
few more:
- Break the habit for some people, anxiety is a pattern of
behaviour - they become anxious about everything and anything.
They've learnt it from their childhood, sometimes as a result of
parenting. The first thing to do is realise that you are the sort
of person who gets anxious and be open to make changes. Dealing
with anxiety can be about dealing with your lifestyle.
- Apply some logic If you are a very anxious person it's easy to
take a single fact and build into a whole frightening scenario. As
soon as you start feeling anxious about something, remember what
the facts are and that you've probably worried about it a lot
before, unnecessarily. If you have set this process up, what you
need to do is to try to set up another process, which is more
rational.
- Are you eating well? When adrenaline builds up it turns on the
worry centres in the brain. Sometimes simple things can contribute,
such as hunger or a particular diet: try and reduce alcohol and
caffeine
- Remember breathing is really important - try relaxation and
breathing techniques - diaphragmatic breathing is helpful - put
your hand on your stomach and breath in and out to the count of
10.
- Stay in the moment and be 'mindful' of what is happening to
you. These techniques can be downloaded from www.getselfhelp.co.uk.
27. Happy1 asked: I have social anxiety
and to ease the symptoms I use alcohol which in turn makes me worse
the following days - does anyone else have a similar issue?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Hi Happy - use of alcohol is a
common way to reduce the uncomfortable feelings of anxiety in
social situations. Unfortunately - it has depressant side-effects
and also effects your sleep considerably. It is therefore not at
all unusual to feel worse in the following days. Anxiety is a
common feature of symptoms of depression and also sllep deprivation
exacerbates the feelings of anxiety and our percieved ability to
cope with lifes stessors.
28. Cynthia asked: How do you feel when you
fear leaving the house or going to certain places where you have
been victim of racist and sexist attacks? I mean, how do you deal
when you fear leaving the house
Dr Mark_Winwood: Fear of leaving the house is
sometimes known as agoraphobia - People develop anxiety when
thinking about being in a situation out of their comfort zone. They
fear feeling trapped in a situation where they judge it would be
difficult or embarrassing for them to leave the situation. People
avoid those situations which bring them anxiety or panic. It is the
fear of the anxiety that leads to the agoraphobia. There are a
number of treatments for people with agoraphobia the most common
being Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. There are other things that can
be helpful. When it is time to go out think of the following
statements:
- I'm going to be all right. My feelings are not always rational.
I'm just going to relax, calm down, and everything will be all
right.
- Anxiety is not dangerous -- it's just uncomfortable. I am fine;
I'll just continue with what I'm doing or find something more
active to do.
- Right now I have some feelings I don't like. They are really
just feelings, however, because they are disappearing. I will be
fine.
- Right now I have feelings I don't like. They will be over with
soon and I'll be fine. For now, I am going to focus on doing
something else around me.
- That picture (image) in my head is not a healthy or rational
picture. Instead, I'm going to focus on something healthy like
_________________________.
- I've stopped my negative thoughts before and I'm going to do it
again now.
- So I feel a little anxiety now, SO WHAT? It's not like it's the
first time. I am going to take some nice deep breaths and keep on
going. This will help me continue to get better."
29. AXA PPP healthcare, a
question from Twitter, Krista asked: what can we
all do to relieve feelings of anxiety apart from reach for things
that are bad for us like cigarettes and chocs?
Dr Mark_Winwood: You're right to avoid smoking
and caffeine. Smoking and caffeine can provoke panic attacks in
people who are susceptible. As a result, it's wise to avoid
cigarettes, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages. I would
suggest a coping mechanism you might want to try, its a technique
called STOP S - Stop, T - Take a breath, O - observe what is
happening to you, P - proceed with your chosen intervention.
30. AXA PPP healthcare, from Twitter,
Lily asked: Can anxiety cause cancer?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Lily, there isn't any evidence
to suggest anxiety causes cancer.
31. AXA PPP healthcare, we have a question from
our blog Inger: panic attacks are more frequent -
once or twice a fortnight - how do I manage them? They often start
in the night *the second* I wake up. The same if I doze off in the
day. Any "new" tips? Have tried "everything".
Dr Mark_Winwood: There are a number of things
you can do to address these uncomfortable feelings - such as
Breathing Retraining which assists you to change the short gasping
breaths you take when experiencing panic. This technique has been
found to be helpful. Also relaxation training has also been very
effective. The Citalopram should help you with the symptoms but
psychotherapy may be useful to manage your panic in the future
along with the suggestions I have already given you.
32. AXA PPP healthcare, from Twitter,
Rebecca asked: Why is anxiety such a taboo subject
in our society?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Interesting question, mainly
because it's not a visible as other conditions. We're trying to
change the perceptions and talk about it more by running these live
chats.
33. AXA PPP healthcare, from Twitter,
Bekah asked: is anxiety hereditary?
Dr Mark_Winwood: There isn't any evidence to
suggest it's hereditary. Experts refer to type A and type B
personalities. Type A personalities tend to be competitive, hard
working and controlling whereas type B personalities are more easy
going and relaxed. On the whole type A personalities are more
likely to suffer from stress.
Many other personality traits make an individual either more or
less prone to stress. For instance, some people are able to see the
positive aspects of almost any situation whereas others can only
see the negative and are therefore more liable to be stressed by
even the most minor setbacks in life. You can find out more in our
Stress Centre.
34. AXA PPP healthcare: from
Twitter, Olivia asked: Any suggestions for
insomnia? Not the clichéd 'thoughts racing through your head', more
a general sense of unease/ unrest
Dr Mark_Winwood: Our guides may help you.
35. AXA PPP healthcare: from
Twitter, Holly asked: Any tips on trying to deal
with using food to reduce anxiety? And being able to separate the
two?
Dr Mark_Winwood: Diet is a large factor.
Caffeine, stimulants, lack of rest, and lack of exercise all are
factors that influence anxiety.
36. AXA PPP healthcare: from Twitter,
Stacey asked: sometimes when I am anxious I get
bad stomach pains is there anything I can do about this?
Dr Mark_Winwood: I would suggest you visit your
GP to discuss the pains, to confirm any underline issues.
37. AXA PPP healthcare: from
Twitter, reluctanthousedad asked: Often peer
pressure to do certain things can lead to anxiety. What's the
advice on dealing with this?
Dr Mark_Winwood: I would suggest trying
contacting the following organisations, as they offer free
information online which may help
British Association of Counselling and
Psychotherapy
Website: www.bacp.co.uk
MIND
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Stress Management Society
Website: www.stress.org.uk
38. AXA PPP healthcare: from Twitter,
Anni asked: I feel more anxious in the heat. Is
there a co-relation, and if yes what can I do?
Dr Mark_Winwood: There isn't any research to
suggest a relationship between the two, it maybe that you prefer
colder temperatures in general.
39. AXA PPP healthcare: from Twitter,
Maggy asked: What are the major health issues
related to anxiety, (apart from lack of sleep!)
Dr Mark_Winwood: There are health issues
related to stress and anxiety. Relaxing and dealing with anxiety
helps people to: reduce worry and anxiety, improve sleep and
relieve some of the physical symptoms caused by stress such as
headaches, stomach pains, diarrhoea and constipation. Read more in
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40. AXA PPP healthcare:
from Twitter, Hannah asked: I want to know about
natural alternatives to drugs that actually work. Yet to come
across any as yet
Dr Mark_Winwood: I would suggest using some of
the techniques I have mentioned earlier, there are natural remedies
available, and however I don't know which ones actually work.