Managing Anxiety While Chasing Your Dreams Training Camp
Anxiety is a normal thing. We all have it. But for some of us, anxiety can increase to a level that prevents us from living our best life. It can be an inhibitor to pursuing our dreams and negatively impact our relationships, our performance at school, work, or on the playing field.
If you struggle with anxiety, you’re not alone. Over 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety, and 44% of high school students suffer from anxiety or depression. Here’s the good news: There are many things we can do that empower us to reduce anxiety and live a more joyful and productive life.
GameChange Managing Anxiety Training Camp Instructor Dr. Jenna Flowers is a licensed therapist who has seen thousands of patients struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, and many other challenges. She has a particular expertise in helping teens.
In the class, Dr. Flowers provided various real-life case studies of anxiety disorders so that students can identify and understand the anxiety they might be experiencing. She explained, “Everyone, when it comes to anxiety, has a certain jag where their own brain gets stuck or hyper focuses on one area.”
Once a person can identify and understand their anxiety, they can begin to apply methods that help reduce and manage the symptoms they are feeling. In the first episode, Dr. Flowers provided an overview of various types of anxiety disorders that people might be experiencing.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
*Persistent and Excessive Worry *Sleep Challenges *Eating Disorders
*Negative or Anxious Thoughts* Sweaty Palms and/or Stomach Aches
Panic Disorder
*Can Feel Like a Heart Attack *Trouble Breathing *Sweaty Palms *Room Feels Small
Social Anxiety
*Worry What Other People Think of You *Fear of Large Crowds *Fear of Going to Social Events
Specific Phobias
*Performance Phobia or Fear of Public Speaking *Fear of Leaving the House
Separation Anxiety
*Fear of Separation from an Attachment Figure
If you are one of the many Americans who struggle with one of the anxiety disorders that Dr. Flowers listed, she urged you to understand and believe that there are various calming methods and treatment plans that can help you. “Staying receptive and open to change is a major goal for reducing your anxiety,” stated Dr. Flowers.
In the episode, Dr. Flowers provided a pair of simple daily tips for reducing anxiety.
Stillness
Dr. Flowers recommended taking a brief time-out several times during the day. Take a seat with your hands gently placed in your lap and palms up. Next, close your eyes and take several deep breaths. Dr. Flowers said, “It’s a very calming still kind of activity that will also help you stay focused.” She explained the science behind the tip. “There’s actual research that shows…it increases oxygenation into your brain.” She added, “That stillness actually helps your mind becomes stronger and concentrate more effectively. It reduces all the noise.”
Effective Journaling
Reflect and write down the positive things that happened during the day and the things you can do to improve where you fell short. However, it is important not to beat yourself up. The idea is not just to vent, but to create a plan that you feel is achievable. Dr. Flowers urged students to read out loud what they wrote down every day. She explained, “The power of reading it out loud kind of creates a personal accountability for yourself, on like, ‘Okay, I’ve just come up with an action plan and I can follow through on this. This is doable for myself.’”
