Anxiety: A Book Review

 Title:  Anxiety: Overcome It and Live without Fear

Author: Sonali Gupta 

Format: Kindle and Paperback

Pages:256

Publisher: Harper Collins India

The book strikes you with its white cover and opens with an insightful foreword by renowned Indian Writer Jerry Pinto who has earlier edited and curated an anthology of mental health stories titled Book of Light. His understanding of this sensitive issue certainly stands out and the foreword in itself seems like an essay on mental health that has been written with elan and poise. When he says, "You have a right to be anxious.We all are.", it sets the tone of the book as a conversation about mental health rather than a preachy sermon.

The author Sonali Gupta is a Mumbai-based clinical psychologist with16 years of experience in the field of mental health. She writes a weekly column for Mumbai Mirror titled 'Terms of Engagement'. She currently runs a private practice in Khar and South Bombay.

On her website she says about the book:

Anxiety is a mental health crisis that has gripped over three crore Indians. In my debut book Anxiety: Overcome It and Live Without Fear, I delve into the condition, using case studies to identify how anxiety can be triggered at work, in relationships, and by social media. I have attempted to share a unique glimpse into this mental health condition in India, especially among Gen Z and millennials. 

Gupta lives up to what is promised by the book successfully and brings the mental health conversation to an Indian context. The book is about routine issues of an average Indian and how that is related to anxiety and also has a lot of tips and methodologies about how to deal with them. Hence the book becomes not just a book but a kind of WORKBOOK with ample DIY activities that help in self-care and self-analysis along with an entire last section dedicated to managing anxiety. The book is interactive with its readers and has columns to write things as you go. This not only makes it fun but also helps the reader to understand his/her own unique issues better.


In an interview with Women's Web the author says:

“The problem with anxiety is that it’s so normalised that people don’t talk about it. Just because something is normalised doesn’t mean it is okay that people have to live through it. It is a problem we need to address it at a systemic level.” 

In the book she speaks about not just anxiety but other related issues like BURNOUT saying:

“Most millennials who start jobs by age twenty-one reach their first burnout when they are about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Their second burnout is generally between age twenty-nine and thirty-years. This is usually the time when most people reach out for help and almost believe in its legitimacy since they now feel that a decade of work has taken a toll on them.” 

The tone is crisp and the material absolutely well-researched and supported with loved experiences and professional observations. 

Definitely a must-read for any Indian who has any interest in understanding mental health better.

This post is part of #Bookchatter  and #CauseAChatter with Blogchatter.

5 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH #CauseAChatter

1. You can just snap out of Depression or Anxiety.

FACT - Not that is not true. The human mind is a complex neurological organ and in addition, there are hormones, physical health factors and outside factors like relationship and socio-economic stress that can lead to a mental health crisis. It is not something one can snap out off one morning suddenly. a survivor might feel absolutely helpless while the mind is almost on auto-pilot through depression or anxiety. Survivors need support and assistance and more importantly care and compassion.

2. Mental health conditions aren't real.

FACT- The human brain is an organ, so it can dysfunction just like our lungs or our heart can. If a person is under extreme or prolonged psychological stress they can reach a mental health crisis, similarly just like so many physical illnesses and pain mental health issues can have completely inexplicable origins but they are real and painful.

3. Mentally ill people are dangerous and violent.

The commonest perception attached to those surviving a mental health issue is that they can harm themself or attack someone for no reason. People begin to believe it is unsafe to be around them. The fact is that some patients might feel threatened and might attack in self-defense or sometimes might get violent but all survivors are not violent.

4.Mental illness is a sign of weakness in character. 

This is one accusation often thrown at people who face a mental health crisis. people tell the survivor that those with strong will power can overcome depression, combat phobia, fight anxiety. However, this is untrue and often people also fall into addiction like alcohol, nicotine and other substance of abuse. A mental health situation is certainly out of the scope of merely a strong will power, however, it can assist in the recovery process.

5. The symptoms of mental health conditions are all emotion-related.

Mental health conditions are not just emotional. It's usually a mixture of both emotional and physical discomfort. Depression or anxiety manifests in a lot of physical discomforts, including aches and pains, sleeping too much or too little, and extreme lethargy. 

This #MentalHealthAwareness post is in collaboration with Blogchatter's Blogging with a Purpose . If you are a blogger and want to join your voice for a cause close to your heart, do look up.

ANXIETY #MentalHealth #MyFriendAlexa

Image Courtesy: IMPACT magazine

Holding onto the last straw 

as they say

with my sweaty shaking hands

trying to calm the pacing breath

the shivering in my spine

I step out 

with a rebel body and mind

mine yet not mine

I am not your "normal"

but equal

if the scale to measure

is not blind to mental health

and we are all partly functional !

****************

You can read a factual post about Anxiety HERE

I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa.

J - Just Myths #AtoZ #MentalHealthAwareness

Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increase the burden: It is easier to say "My tooth is aching" than to say "My heart is broken".

Challenging irrational beliefs about mental health is as much a part of raising awareness about mental illnesses as talking about disorders, syndromes and treatment plans.

Here are a few common myths people have about mental health/illness that prove to hurdle in the recovery of most survivors.

"People with Mental Illness are at fault because they don’t have enough willpower to change"

Most caretakers, families and friends of survivors and general public believe that those who struggle with depression can just will away their symptoms but are too lazy and unmotivated to do so. Blaming someone for struggling with  a mental health issue is like telling a cancer survivor she is dying because she doesn’t want to live badly enough. Mental or not, illnesses can come without just cause. People sometimes exacerbate this by judging the mentally ill as melodramatic or too stubborn to change.

This isn’t true.

"People with Mental Illness are dangerous and violent"

Often people believe that mental health survivors can physically harm themselves or others, which is true only in some cases and not all. Most media reports disproportionately on cases where people with mental health conditions commit violent acts and almost demonises them. The film industry and TV industry often depicts villains as psychotic.

However in reality people with Mental Illness are more likely to be victims. Mentally ill people are actually more likely to be victims of violence, according to a study published in the American Journal of Mental Health.

"People who look or act happy/normal aren’t  mentally ill"

People who don’t understand mental illness look at several suicide or mental breakdown victims and think, “Everything seems to be going great for him. How could he be depressed?”

Actually most mentally ill people don’t act or look a certain way and often are also successful, wealthy and active and yet some issue afflicts their mind and thought process. Remember people with mental illness are not “crazy.”

"Having a positive attitude can cure depression"

Depression is not something that somebody can just will away. Often, people have this misconception that if a person is depressed they need to just “be positive” or try their best to “shake it off”. Depression is not simply a feeling of sadness, but a serious medical condition that affects the biological functioning of the body. Cognitive therapy and medications can help address the underlying symptoms and causes of depression.

"People with a mental illness lack intelligence"

Intelligence has nothing to do with mental illnesses or brain disorders. Just like general population many people with mental disorders are brilliant, creative, productive people and some are not brilliant or creative. Certain mental illnesses may make it difficult for people to remember facts or get along with other people, making it seem like they are cognitively challenged. Overall, the level of intelligence among people with mental illness likely parallels the patterns seen in any healthy population.

DISCLAIMER: All the information being provided her has been sourced from the internet and books and some also via personal experiences. It has no medical authentication per se so suggestions if followed must be done in consultation with a trained mental health professional.

References:

https://cmha.ca/documents/myths-about-mental-illness

http://canwetalk.ca/about-mental-illness/myths-about-mental-illness/

This post is a part of April Blogging from A To Z Challenge

You can find all my posts here.

H - High Functioning Mental Illness #MentalHealthAwareness

I am fighting a mental battle — one no is able to see. My mind is a battlefield. Every day, while I am able to appear as normal as everyone else, my anxiety and depression are trying as hard as they can to tear me down. High-functioning mental illness?

High-functioning depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety are increasingly being recognized as a real issue. But because of the stigma still attached to mental health issues, and sometimes the thinking that it isn’t really that bad, many with high-functioning mental health disorders keep their sadness to themselves. No one knows there is something wrong, sometimes not until it is too late.

When a person has high-functioning depression or anxiety, they may seem to have it all together, perhaps even more than most, on the outside, but are severely sad on the inside. 

People who suffer from it generally go about their lives as more or less “normal” so are often perceived as better off than they actually are, even by loved ones and themselves.

As is witnessed increasingly in the cases of so many celebrity suicides, the victims have been living active and successful lives but a nagging mental illness has depleted them internally.

With popular TV series like 13 Reasons Why and others mental illness has become a lifestyle fad of sorts also with the new generation to flaunt a mental health condition as a lifestyle fad, most often it is a high functioning condition they do not address properly.

Most people think they know what mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression look like. Anti-depressant and anti-anxiety ads along with pop culture portrayals often paint a picture of someone who has withdrawn from life, including favorite activities and friends, has trouble sleeping, and is constantly crying. While those are some signs, depression and anxiety take on many forms.

“Severe mental illness comes with so much stigma. But we are all around you. We live, we move, we have our being. Invisibly. Painfully. Oh-so-lonely. But we keep going. You don’t know how much we struggle. And chances are, unless we open up to you, you never will.” writes an American mom here on her website.

A few misconceptions about High Functioning Mental Illness

It is generally believed that a dishevelled appearance isn’t a symptom of depression. However, people have come to expect that those who struggle with their mental health will have a difficult time functioning in society. This assumption hurts people who have high-functioning depression or another mental illness.

Another misconception is that people with mental health challenges are unable to function in society. This is not true. It is possible for someone to maintain a socially acceptable lifestyle while having suicidal thoughts or experiencing anxiety.

People believe that successful people cannot have a mental health issue though mental illnesses do not discriminate by how successful someone is. Every smile can hide a lot of internal struggles.

DISCLAIMER: All the information being provided her has been sourced from the internet and books and some also via personal experiences. It has no medical authentication per se so suggestions if followed must be done in consultation with a trained mental health professional.

References:

https://themighty.com/2017/01/living-with-high-functioning-mental-illness/

https://projecthelping.org/mental-health-resources/

https://themighty.com/topic/high-functioning-depression/

This post is a part of April Blogging from A To Z Challenge

You can find all my posts here.

G - Generalised Anxiety Disorder #MentalHealthAwareness

I was worried all the time and felt nervous. My family told me that there were no signs of problems, but I still felt upset. I dreaded going to work because I couldn’t keep my mind focused. I was having trouble falling asleep at night and was irritated at my family all the time. Generalised Anxiety Disorder?

All of us feel anxious from time to time, especially due to everyday stress. However, excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that are difficult to control and interfere with day-to-day activities may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder.


It's possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child or an adult. Generalized anxiety disorder has symptoms that are similar to panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, but they're all different conditions.


Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms can vary. They may include:


· Persistent worrying or anxiety about a number of areas that are out of proportion to the impact of the events


· Overthinking plans and solutions to all possible worst-case outcomes


· Perceiving situations and events as threatening, even when they aren't


· Difficulty handling uncertainty


· Indecisiveness and fear of making the wrong decision


· Inability to set aside or let go of a worry


· Inability to relax, feeling restless, and feeling keyed up or on edge


· Difficulty concentrating, or the feeling that your mind "goes blank"


Physical signs and symptoms may include:


· Fatigue


· Trouble sleeping


· Muscle tension or muscle aches


· Trembling, feeling twitchy


· Nervousness or being easily startled


· Sweating


· Nausea, diarrhoea or irritable bowel syndrome




· Irritability

Symptoms in children and teenagers :


Children and teenagers may have similar worries to adults, but also may have excessive worries about:

· Performance at school or sporting events

· Family members' safety

· Being on time (punctuality)

· Earthquakes, nuclear war or other catastrophic events


A child or teen with excessive worry may:

· Feel overly anxious to fit in

· Be a perfectionist

· Redo tasks because they aren't perfect the first time

· Spend excessive time doing homework

· Lack confidence

· Strive for approval

· Require a lot of reassurance about performance

· Have frequent stomach-aches or other physical complaints

· Avoid going to school or avoid social situations










Having generalized anxiety disorder can be disabling. It can:

· Impair your ability to perform tasks quickly and efficiently because you have trouble concentrating
· Take your time and focus from other activities
· Sap your energy
· Increase your risk of depression



Generalized anxiety disorder can also lead to or worsen other physical health conditions, such as:

· Digestive or bowel problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome or ulcers
· Headaches and migraines
· Chronic pain and illness
· Sleep problems and insomnia
· Heart-health issues


When their anxiety level is mild to moderate or with treatment, people with GAD can function socially, have full and meaningful lives, and be gainfully employed. Many with GAD may avoid situations because they have the disorder or they may not take advantage of opportunities due to their worry (social situations, travel, promotions, etc). Some people can have difficulty carrying out the simplest daily activities when their anxiety is severe.


Click here to read another post written about ANXIETY for this challenge.



DISCLAIMER: All the information being provided her has been sourced from the internet and books and some also via personal experiences. It has no medical authentication per se so suggestions if followed must be done in consultation with a trained mental health professional.




References:


https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml

https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad



This post is a part of April Blogging from A To Z Challenge

You can find all my posts here.

A - Anxiety #AtoZ #MentalHealthAwareness

"She is constantly worried about herself, her child, the world, the weather something or the other. She is restless always and never at ease, off late she fidgets a lot with her hair or clothes or keys. Anxiety?"

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 13 globally suffers from anxiety. The WHO reports that anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders worldwide.

Anxiety can be normal and often healthy emotion and in certain stressful situations like a major life event, public speaking or taking an exam. But as a mental ailment it consists of extreme feelings that might interfere with daily living and this consistent experiencing of disproportionate levels of anxiety is termed as a medical disorder. Anxiety disorders form a category of mental health diagnoses that lead to excessive nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worry.

Anxiety disorders are the most common and pervasive mental disorders.

The term "anxiety disorder" pertains to specific psychiatric disorders that involve one or several of these types:-

• ·         Extreme fear or worry
• ·         Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• ·         Panic disorder and panic attacks
• ·         Social anxiety disorder
• ·         Phobias

Some common symptoms include:

• ·         Intense, excessive and persistent worry
• ·         Fear about everyday situations
• ·         Fast heart rate
• ·         Rapid breathing
• ·         Sweating
• ·         Fatigue

At initial stages when anxiety begins to grow one can do some self-treatment like physical activity or exercise, a balanced healthy diet, regular sleep and relaxation exercises that may reduce anxious behavior. Joining a support group may also help.

But one must seek expert medical help if this behavior is affecting one’s ability to build and/or maintain relationships, is leading to alcohol or other substance abuse, one is constantly feeling sad and slowed down.

Emergency help must be sought in cases of suicidal thoughts and your daily activities are being impaired by it.

A new kind of anxiety disorder has lately been identified as Social media anxiety disorder. According to the experts, almost 20% of people with social media accounts cannot stay away without checking them for more than three hours. Just being away from their Facebook or Twitter account for a few minutes can cause severe anxiety.

Other common symptoms are:

• ·         Overwhelming need to share things with others via social media
• ·         Interrupting real life conversations to check social media accounts
• ·         Lying to others about how much time they spend on social media
• ·         Withdrawal from friends and family
• ·         Trying to stop or reduce your use of social media more than once before without being successful
• ·         Loss of interest in other activities
• ·         Neglecting work and life to be on Facebook or Twitter
• ·         Experiencing withdrawal symptoms access to social media is withdrawn
• ·         Spending over six hours per day on social networking

Anxiety is one of the most common forms of mental health challenges. It can affect your overall health and quality of living. Research suggests that those suffering from an anxiety disorder run a higher risk of experiencing physical health problems like hypertension too.

DISCLAIMER: All the information being provided her has been sourced from the internet and books and some also via personal experiences. It has no medical authentication per se so suggestions if followed must be done in consultation with a trained mental health professional.

For further information you can look up:

https://www.anxiety.org/

This post is a part of April Blogging from A To Z Challenge.

You can find all my posts here.