Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 #ToHelpMyAnxiety

"Anxiety disorders are?a type of mental health condition. Anxiety makes it difficult to get through your day. Symptoms include feelings of nervousness, panic and fear as well as sweating and a rapid heartbeat. Treatments include medications and cognitive behavioral therapy. “ Cleveland Clinic (2023)

Most people have felt anxiety at some point?in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about a presentation, an interview, an exam, or having a medical test.

At such times feeling anxious can be perfectly normal.

If you find it hard to control your worries anxiety becomes more constant and can then affect daily lives.

Anxiety is the main symptom of several conditions, including:

• panic disorder
• phobias,?such as?agoraphobia?or?claustrophobia
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• social anxiety disorder (social phobia)

National Health Service, UK (2023)

Anxiety can also be present when we focus on a future that is not aligned with what we want or our values. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems encountered.

? 60% of employees are experiencing anxiety.

? 67% of employees aged 16-24 are experiencing anxiety.

? 65% of females are experiencing anxiety.

? Only 10% of employees are seeking mental health support

Champion Health (2023)

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Anxiety in Teams & Organisations

Energy is contagious – both positive and not so. In teams we can take on the mood of others, you will be able to relate to this statement. If there are experiences of anxious present, it can spread and grow in intensity affecting the wider system too. This projection comes collective worry which in turn can affects performance and impact. Anxiety shows up as conflict, poor motivation and lower productivity. Compassion is needed from the entire system of course and it is important to note that research shows we are sadly more likely to absorb negativity from others that positivity – it’s called the negative bias. (Psychom.net, 2018)

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Coaching & Anxiety

Coaching, (whether that’s individual, team or group) can enable realignment and a focus on the present moment - psychology refers to this as manifestation - using thoughts, feelings, experiences, beliefs and values to enable something to emerge in our physical reality. The coach enables the coachee(s) to shift their focus, create desired results (skills, knowledge and behaviours) and to take action.

Coaching creates a safe space for people to have an open conversation to support people in their journey towards delivering results.

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CoachME & Anxiety

The CoachME Model and tools support a psychologically safe space for identifying strengths and development areas in a person’s, team’s, organisation’s, community… system, whilst being aware of the field they operate, whilst uncovering cultural and other nuances, as well as setbacks and dependencies to grow resilience. Systems have knowledge within them and this is revealed through self and community awareness. Anxiety is just one thing that coaching can uncover along with its source. Together we then explore ways to reduce anxiety, and ways to sustain that process.

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Mental Health Awareness Week

15th – 21st May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The focus for 2023 is anxiety. We are supporting this important focus on increase collective awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on ways to identify, reduce and avoid anxiety.