World Mental Health Day - What's Challenging You Today?

Welcome back to The Widget - thanks for being here.

Today:


World Mental Health Day - 10th October

Why your thoughts aren't the main worry problem

A technique to manage high anxiety        

World Mental Health Day

'How are you?' It's a question we often hear. If you're anything like me, you might respond with, 'I'm fine - how are you?' before moving on to other business.?

Yet, according to mental health research, many of us are anything but.?

According to the World Health Organisation, one in eight people globally experienced a mental health disorder before the pandemic. Where that figure might be now, we don't know. But a decline in those numbers appears unlikely.?

The causes of mental health issues are many and varied. Yet it seems plausible that the rapid acceleration of modern living has simply left many people behind. While our expectations of life increase, our ability to meet basic emotional needs - community, attention, safety, etc. - appear ever more strained.?

In a nutshell, we navigate a modern world with ancient tools, so struggle to keep up and navigate.?

I came across a piece of advice recently:?

Treat everyone you meet as if they have an emergency in their life because you'd be right over half the time.?

Whether accurate or not, I took this to heart. So I decided to change my 'How are you?' to 'What's challenging you today?' The difference in response - and opening for meaningful conversation - has been remarkable. Highly recommended for better conversations.?

Why your thoughts aren't the problem?

Recently speaking to a high-achieving man, he described his days as blighted by anxiety attacks.?

Describing 'a sudden rush of panic and fear', his life had been reduced in the face of these overwhelming episodes.?

Everyday situations had come to represent uncertain events because he couldn't predict his response:

• speaking with colleagues,?
• standing in line at the supermarket,??
• unexpected phone calls?

He'd receive some prior support focusing on cognitive techniques to manage: Recognising and replacing thoughts, writing exercises and positive affirmations … to name a few.?

But they hadn't worked for him, leading to further distress. Was there something wrong with him?

Your emotions precede thinking

I've encountered this situation many times. I first explain that anxiety/ panic is an emotion-led experience.?

Emotional experience (primary) guides our thinking patterns (secondary), i.e. Your thinking is downstream from your emotions.

As a result, cognitive techniques - in the first instance - have reduced room to alleviate symptoms of mental distress.?

A technique to manage high anxiety?

That being said, cognitive behavioural techniques to regain control over anxiety can be helpful when combined with emotionally calming methods.

By reducing emotional arousal, your capacity for helpful thinking re-expands. As the levels of distress reduce, your ability to regain control of your experience expands. So the initial priority is to re-establish a modicum of calm.?

Here's a video I've made. It outlines one method - the AWARE technique - you (or someone you know) can use to regain calm and control over high anxiety if and when it strikes.?

I've just started a YouTube channel, so all subscriptions are welcomed with explosions of joy. Here it is. Please share.

Until the next Widget, thanks for reading.?

P.S. Feel free to contact me any time if you need help with something. If nothing else, I'll be happy to hold a listening space on your behalf.?

-------------------------

I help Courageous Professionals build deep internal stability following traumatic life events.

If you, or someone you know, needs help - don't go it alone.

Get in touch.

Best wishes, Dominic