Happiful August 2020

THE ROLLERCOASTER
Everyone experiences anxiety
in some shape or form. It’s a
natural response to something
scary, like speaking in front of
a crowd or taking an important
test. But because those
feelings are brief, and linked
to a specific cause, sometimes
people can’t understand
how intense it can be to live
in a constant state of fear. Try
explaining this heightened state
of anxiety by reminding people
about how it feels at the highest
point of a rollercoaster. Now ask
them to remember that intense
wave of fear that comes just
before they tip over the edge. It’s a
stomach-churning sensation that
lasts mere seconds, but for people
with
chronic
anxiety, it
can linger
for days, or even weeks. This is
particularly helpful if people
around you say that anxiety is
‘all in your head’, and they aren’t
aware of the various physical
symptoms.
THE
BROKEN
LIFT
Having an anxiety attack
can make you feel like you’re
trapped, even when you’re
in a wide-open space, or
have the freedom to move
around. Compare this to
being in a broken lift. The
doors are closed, and you’re
stuck in a confined space.
You worry that you might
die there. You know logically
that help is coming, and
that eventually the doors
will open, but until then you
have to wait it out nervously
in a confined space with no
daylight or fresh air. Use this
metaphor, and those close
to you might even feel better
equipped to
comfort you
when you’re
having an
anxiety attack.
Because anxious thoughts can
appear to be very excitable or
use nervous energy, you have
to learn to focus your thoughts,
and to calm the mind down
THE EXCITED PUPPY
Positive psychology
practitioner Ruth Cooper-
Dickson says that many of her
clients use a puppy metaphor
to explain how anxiety makes
it difficult to concentrate.
Imagine a puppy bounding
around with endless amounts
of energy. They never do as
they’re told, and they get easily
distracted when something
new catches their attention.
“Because anxious thoughts can
appear to be very excitable
or use nervous energy,” says
Ruth, “you have to learn to
focus your thoughts, and to
calm the mind down using
puppy tricks.” In the
context of anxiety, this
means drawing on tools
like cognitive behaviour
therapy (CBT)
to retrain your
thinking
patterns.
Fiona Thomas is a freelance writer and author. Her new ebook
‘Out of Office’ is out now, with print copies available from
1 October. Visit fionalikestoblog.com for more.
August 2020 • happiful.com • 19