Anxiety: When your mind isn't nervous but your body is

How do I know that anxiety disorder is real? I can have no mental reaction to a situation, but I still have a physiological response. I don't consider myself someone who gets anxious about social situations because mentally, I'm totally fine with it. The thing is, even when I feel perfectly comfortable, sometimes by body still gets a stress trigger. There is nothing more frustrating.

I've never really heard of anyone else experiencing this problem, which is perhaps why I want to share this. It's not something anyone ever talks about. As a matter of fact, I didn't know that my anxiety could even trigger these purely physiological responses until this past year.

The best example I can give is singing. I love to sing. I'm actually pretty decent at singing, too. In college, I would go to the weekly campus karaoke night with my best friend, and I discovered my body's frustrating response to a situation most people consider stressful. I just wanted to sing. I didn't mind the group of people (it was relatively small, 10-15 people). But as soon as I started to sing, my voice was higher pitched, I couldn't seem to change keys, and I felt hot. I didn't feel nervous one bit, but my body decided I felt that way. As a comparison, when I'm alone, my singing is perfectly normal.

I also encountered the same issue in high school when I was in theatre. Not one bit of nerves, but as soon as I hit the stage, my body betrayed me. I truly wonder if anyone else has experienced this same issue. I cannot explain how irritating it is to feel like your body is out of control in a situation where you feel controlled.

That's a common issue with anxiety: control. We want to be in control of every detail of our lives, so when the unexpected happens, it can be alarming. You know what I'm talking about; people call us perfectionists, say we have OCD. They don't understand that keeping organized means our lives are in control. And being in control can actually help when other situations go a different way than expected.

It can be difficult to give up that control, but we need to realize not every situation needs to fall into our hands. I challenge anyone out there - whether you have anxiety or not - to let go of some of your control. No, I'm not saying you should go jump naked in a public fountain. That's illegal.

I'm saying it's time to embrace the unexpected. You had a project at work that just got changed drastically without your input? Channel that lack of control into creative thinking. You're good at overthinking, aren't you? If you know your body and mind's reaction to stressful situations, it can be helpful to channel those reactions into the situation in a positive way. If you're not completely aware of your reactions yet, then that's my challenge for you. Pay attention to what triggers your anxiety and how you perceive those situations. That not only leads to greater self control, but you may find new ways of dealing with anxiety.

Happy Mental Health Month!

April showers might bring May flowers, but May brings Mental Health Month. Did you know that there's been a Mental Health Month since 1949? That's 68 years of support, and yet, there's still a stigma surrounding mental illness.

In honor of Mental Health Month, I'd like to share some tips and information from Mental Health America:

• Various drugs and medications can alter your mental state, which is doubly dangerous for people with mental illness. However, some argue that medical marijuana is effective at treating certain mental health conditions. As a matter of fact, in the past year medical marijuana usage among those with a mental illness was 11.7% higher that those without a mental illness.
• Mom, don't read this part! Sex and physical connections between consulting adults has been proven to have health benefits - especially when it comes to conditions like depression. It basically has the same effect as exercise, as in it gets all the good chemicals flowing in your brain that may be lacking due to your depression. However, compulsive sex is risky, for both your mental and physical health.
• The internet is a blessing and a curse. We are constantly surrounded by screens, but not having a good balance between time on- and offline can be harmful to your brain. Spending more time online can be a coping mechanism for those with social anxiety issues, but this only leads to further isolation.
• Exercise, but keep it reasonable. Lack of exercise, or even too much, can have negative effects on your mental state. However, exercising without pushing yourself too hard can have many benefits that extend well beyond physical health. (Check out my blog on exercise and mental illness)

For more information about mental health risk factors, visit http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/. They also have toolkits to support mental illness for individuals and organizations. 

How are you celebrating Mental Health Month? If you have no plans and you'd like to support the cause, check local nonprofits and colleges for events in your area. Facebook is also a great place to find events. Be a part of ending the stigma.