MENTAL HEALTH AND ANXIETY

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: april 2023 :: RMTnews 20 The union is supporting Mental Health Awareness Week between May 15 to 21 next month organised by the Mental Health Foundation on the theme of 'anxiety'. Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem. Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food. THE EFFECTS OF ANXIETY ON YOUR BODY CAN INCLUDE: • a churning feeling in your stomach • feeling light-headed or dizzy • pins and needles • feeling restless or unable to sit still • headaches, backache or other aches and pains • faster breathing • a fast, thumping or irregular heartbeat • sweating or hot flushes • sleep problems • grinding your teeth, especially at night • nausea (feeling sick) • needing the toilet more or less often • changes in your sex drive • having panic attacks. THE EFFECTS OF ANXIETY ON YOUR MIND INCLUDING: • feeling tense, nervous or unable to relax • having a sense of dread, or fearing the worst • feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down • feeling like other people can see you're anxious and are looking at you • feeling like you can't stop worrying, or that bad things will happen if you stop worrying • worrying about anxiety itself, for example worrying about when panic attacks might happen • wanting lots of reassurance from other people or worrying that people are angry or upset with you • worrying that you're losing touch with reality MENTAL HEALTH AND ANXIETY RMT is taking part in Mental Health Awareness Week next month and the theme is anxiety