Anxiety Canada

Symptoms of excessive and uncontrollable worry in the mind include: - Trouble concentrating or paying attention - Constantly thinking about the future - Lots of What if thoughts (What if I fail?)... - Trouble turning off worries - Imagining the worst-case scenario If you’re experiencing a number of these symptoms, worry may be a problem for you. Learn how MindShift CBT, our free anxiety-relief app, can help you manage excessive worries: https://bit.ly/32KyVbr

Understanding #howtohelp a friend or family member who struggles with anxiety can be challenging. Check out our article for some tips and tricks to ensure your loved ones are feeling supported: https://www.anxietycanada.com//how-friends-and-family-can/

Much of what we know about anxiety comes from research. Are you interested in contributing to new and exciting findings that could help us learn more about anxiety? Visit https://www.anxietycanada.com/research/ to learn how you can participate in a research study.

Canadian pencil-artist, Dan Pietens has taken the world by storm after his remarkable artwork caught the attention of the NHL. Despite his success, Dan candidly admits that he has struggled with anxiety his whole life. Dan shares It wasn’t until a social worker introduced me to CBT that I was able to learn more about myself and take the steps towards managing, harnessing, and coping with it. I practice CBT to this day and am happier than I've ever been. I am not ashamed of ...my mental uniqueness and want others to know that there is happiness out there no matter how hopeless or dark things may seem at times. In an effort to help raise awareness around anxiety, Dan donates some proceeds from his artwork sales to Anxiety Canada. To view Dan’s artwork, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/shop/pietensart/ Thank you Dan, not only for your donations but also for using your voice to raise awareness around anxiety.

Are you subscribed to Visions Journal? The latest issue is specific to COVID-19, highlighting the resiliency of British Columbians. It’s a great resource to feel less alone, find extra support and learn skills to take care of your mental health. Check it out for free: www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/covid-19-vol16 Subscriptions to Visions are free to anyone in British Columbia, Canada. For those outside BC, subscriptions are $25 (Cdn) for four issues. Visions digital subscriptions and back issues are available for free at https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions.

Being #mindful means paying attention to the present moment, exactly as it is. It is really hard to be anxious if you are completely focused on the present moment. For more tips on how to cope with #anxiety, check out our free anxiety app, MindShift CBT: https://buff.ly/2w76G9e

A new year means a new opportunity to #faceyourfears. Dr. Melanie Badali shares that although #anxiety may be bossy, you are the boss!

When asked how did you find your support system and what does it mean to you?, Rosemary, a member of the Anxiety Canada Youth Network shares: I have developed my support system over time, and it is still growing! It is made up of people I know from different walks of life. My support system means everything. It offers me kindness, comfort, and perspective. How did you find your support system and what does it mean to you? Share your answer in the comments below for a chance to be featured!

Nickie Lewis (The Wizards Makery) is a creative Vancouver resident who has dabbled in costume design, theatre and most recently the creation of art installations that focus on nature and sustainability. In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories, Nickie shares that she is solution-oriented, and perceives challenges as something she has control over fixing". However, unlike the challenges of her past, COVID-19 isn’t something she can fix, which has led to her first experience w...ith anxiety. Nickie mentions how she uses art as a coping mechanism, sharing that throughout this pandemic, she has been creating installations using twigs and twine in Robert Burnaby Park. Nickie also touches on her experience raising a son with anxiety and what it has been like helping him navigate back-to-school despite concerns around COVID-19. #OurAnxietyStories is live on all of your favourite podcasting platforms, including Apple #Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Click the link below to listen to Nickie’s story! https://www.anxietycanada.com//season-2-episode-17-nickie/

Remember: most panic attacks last about 2 -10 minutes at most, and will pass. For more tips on how to cope with anxiety, check out our free anxiety app, MindShift CBT: https://bit.ly/32KyVbr

Anxiety Canada is continuously working on providing creative technological solutions to address mild to moderate anxiety symptoms. The MindShift CBT app is designed to do just that! Try the anxiety management app - the only one of its kind in Canada - here: https://bit.ly/2G17lP1

Anastasia Williams is a registered nurse (RN), currently working as a case manager in home and community care. In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories, Anastasia touches on her lived experience with anxiety, emphasizing the lack of awareness and support she encountered growing up. Anastasia recalls being labelled as problematic and attention-seeking, and states that only recently was she able to label the feelings she experienced as anxiety. Anastasia also touches on her ...volunteer role as a mental health educator, which includes teaching a cognitive behavioural therapy course. #OurAnxietyStories is live on all of your favourite podcasting platforms, including Apple #Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Visit https://buff.ly/36pFaU6 to listen to Anastasia’s story!

Vitoria Murakami is a peer educator in BC. In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories, Vitoria shares her experience immigrating to Vancouver from Brazil, emphasizing how attending a new school, living far from loved ones, and having to make new friends led to heightened feelings of #anxiety. Vitoria also touches on the stigma around mental health and how regular #therapy has helped her cope with symptoms of #obsessivecompulsivedisorder (#OCD). #OurAnxietyStories is live on all of your favourite podcasting platforms, including Apple #Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Click the link below to listen to Vitoria’s story!

When we feel symptoms of anxiety, whether physically or mentally, apps such as MindShift CBT can be a lifeline. Learn more about the different types of anxiety and discover strategies to relieve mild to moderate symptoms by downloading it here: https://bit.ly/2G17lP1

#MindShiftMonday: Some people set excessively high standards that are impossible to meet or that can only be met at a great cost. #Perfectionists believe things need to be perfect, are overly critical of making mistakes, and find anything short of perfection as unacceptable. Perfectionism plays a role in fuelling worry and anxiety. If things need to be perfect, there's lots to be worried and #anxious about. If you’re setting unreasonable expectations and being overly hard on yourself, #perfectionism may be an issue. Check out our free app, MindShift CBT, to learn how to tackle perfectionism: https://bit.ly/32KyVbr

#MindShiftMonday: Talking through some of your worries with others can help you get perspective. Hearing how someone else thinks about the same situation can help you get unstuck from thinking traps and develop more balanced throughs (just make sure you’re not feeding your worries by seeking excessive reassurance). For more exercises and tips, check out the free MindShift CBT app: https://buff.ly/2w76G9e

When asked how did you find your support system and what does it mean to you?, Radheika, a member of the Anxiety Youth Network shares: Finding people who understand you can be really difficult. I am glad that I was able to find these people. How did you find your support system and what does it mean to you? Share your answer in the comments below for a chance to be featured!

Do you find yourself excessively checking Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or other social media apps? Has your screen time sky-rocketed during quarantine? Is your work, family, social, or personal life being negatively affected by the over-consumption of social media? Tune in to our webinar, on November 24th, 2020 from 4-5 pm PST, to learn about the impacts of social media with mental health experts. This webinar is in collaboration with students of Prince of Wales se...condary. Topics that will be discussed include the pros and cons of social media, each guest’s personal experience growing up with social media and the effects of social media on anxiety. Everyone is welcome! To register, please visit eventbrite.ca/e/how-social-media-affects-anxiety-an-interge