Written by Tracy Shirvill
Today I had the privilege to speak with the members of Penrith Local Area Marketing & Network Group on anxiety and self-care for small business owners. It isn’t easy to talk about anxiety, partly because everything to know about anxiety has already been said! But there is also so much to know about anxiety that it’s impossible to cover it all in a short discussion. Here are some of the points that I shared with the group:
Anxiety is a normal function that we all experience.
I like to describe anxiety as a built-in safety mechanism. It gives us heightened alertness, keeps us awake, and tells us when there is danger. This of course isn’t helpful when the danger is actually a deadline and not a tiger. If you are experiencing anxiety you are not alone.
It’s important to be aware of our anxiety levels and get support early.
Often by the time someone is asking for help they are already pretty distressed. They might be sleeping too much or very little, eating too much or not enough. They are struggling to focus, snapping at people, and their thoughts are a tangled web. Not treating anxiety can lead to further health issues. From panic attacks, or agoraphobia, to hair loss, weight gain or loss, and even an increase in the risk of cardiac arrest in severe cases.
It’s not always just anxiety.
For some people who come to counselling for anxiety the process is simple. There is a temporary stress causing low to moderate anxiety. We can use some CBT, create a self-care plan and they will be fine. In my experience those people are the exception. There can be many issues underlying anxiety. Unexpressed grief, hormonal imbalances, trauma, relationship issues, or other health issues. The pressures of the pandemic, bushfires, and floods are still creating havoc on our nervous systems. Looking at what is underneath anxiety and getting the support needed for those issues will ultimately help to relieve the pressure.
Stress is inevitable.
There will always be something making life difficult. Money comes and goes; we aren’t always going to get along with our family and friends. If you are a business owner, you will always be concerned about the success of your business no matter how successful it becomes. Just like with our physical health, prevention is better than cure. Simple, long term strategies can help you build resilience so that when these stressful times happen, you will find them easier to navigate.
Self-care is key.
There is so much out there about self-care. But I really want to encourage everyone to add some play into their lives. If you have read my previous article on self-care, then you already know that I’m a Lego fan. But it can really be anything. Have a water fight or build forts with your kids. Do it even if you don’t have kids! Play can incorporate so many areas of self-care all in one activity – exercise, making memories, connecting with others. You really can’t go wrong.
With the weekend just around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about how you can be playful.
