Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotional state often causing feelings of uneasiness, worry, fear, or nervousness, and physical symptoms like increased heart rate, muscle tension, and restlessness.

Tips & Links

• Some people experience extreme or chronic anxiety that can be a mental illness that requires treatment and care. While some people experience situations that make them feel anxious and uncomfortable. This can be a very normal reaction and the feelings usually go away after the event is over.
• Be aware that for seniors, feelings of anxiety can come from loss of loved ones, social isolation, confusion, memory loss, and changes in your health status.
• Treatments might include medications, meditation, and cognitive behavioural therapy.
• Learn more about anxiety from the Ministry of Health & Addictions in BC.
• Think about ways you want to decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation. You can find suggestions at Healthlink BC.
• If you are worried about yourself or someone you care for, you can complete an online screening test to see how you are doing from ‘Here to Help” BC Partners for Mental Health.
• If you have these feelings, it is helpful to share with others and seek out opportunities for active living, social connections, exercising, and doing the things you enjoy.
• Look into recreation and senior centres in your neighbourhood to see if they offer day programs for seniors.
• Learn about the importance of making  social connections in BC.
• Choose a professional to help you with your emotional health. Most offer a 15-minute consult for free. You can read their biographies on Counselling BC to choose a clinical counsellor, psychologist, art therapist, or psychotherapist who can help.
• Learn about and make a safety plan if you are deaf or hard of hearing to get help as you need it.
• Thinking about death or suicide is a serious symptom of extreme anxiety. If you or someone you care about talks about feeling helpless or is showing warning signs of suicide, find help right away. Call the BC Crisis Line at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or call 911.

Tools – Handouts & Videos