“Hey, Mom, what would happen if we were driving and got into a car crash?” six-year-old Ava Largent said.
This was the reality that Largent, now a freshman, faced from a young age. These concerning questions that constantly drifted through her mind soon became characterized as a symptom of GAD, or generalized anxiety disorder.
However, through all the paranoia and troubles she faced with GAD, she found ways to deal with it, and her anxiety came to an ease.
Anxiety is a major issue for people of all ages. According to Active Minds, one-half of mental health issues begin by age 14. If not by then, 75% begin by age 24.
Even though lots of people experience anxiety, there are still many ways to overcome it or help put it to ease.
Realizing that anxiety is a common, widespread issue that others experience too can be one way to help overcome it or at least calm it down.
“(Anxiety) is a way in which our body adapts to our environment,” University of Indianapolis psychologist Katie Boucher said. “It is thinking about ‘How can I use strategies that work for me to handle that anxiety in the moment?’”
One way to put your anxiety at ease is to be prepared for what is upcoming, whether it be public speaking or being prepared for what the setting is going to be like.
Ever since the lockdown and pandemic, several students have developed social anxiety, so when they try to be their full and active selves, it can be harder than ever.
“With social anxiety, I would try to tell you to get out of your shell, because the more you do it, the more it diminishes,” Largent said.
Another tip to ease anxiety is to think whether the feeling is focused on emotions or the physical environment and experience.
If the anxiety someone is feeling is more their emotions, then they can focus more on positive self-talk, words of affirmation or journaling.
However, if the anxiety is more about the physical setting and experience, thinking about mindfulness and grounding techniques can help. A common grounding technique is the five senses, such as smelling something familiar, feeling your feet on the ground or savoring a food or drink.
While anxiety is a very common issue among people of all ages, there are many ways to overcome it or help put it to ease, such as being prepared and figuring out what type of anxiety one is experiencing.
“Don’t let anxiety define you … ,” Largent said. “As soon as I stopped letting my anxiety define me, I really came out of my shell and I started doing things I love more and more often.”
