Based on the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ report 2008, we have outlined five things you can do to help your mental health.
Category: Anxiety
Body image and mental health
Body image is the way we feel about how we look. Most of us experience dissatisfaction with how we see our body at different points in our life.
Very few people are 100% confident about their appearance at all times. However, if the way we feel about our body starts to impact what we do in a negative way, we need to address this.
Difficulty with body image affects people of any gender. In today’s society, there’s a focus on physical appearance and the ‘perfect body’ and social media can emphasise this.
Scrolling through Instagram and making comparisons between ourselves and what we see is very common. This can distort our sense of body image, creating unrealistic expectations of how we should look.
Ask Jigsaw: Anxiety before sleeping
Hi, I just wanted to know if it was normal to have anxiety before sleeping at night as multiple times during the past few weeks I’ve been feeling anxious going to bed and I’m not quite sure what is causing it.
-gracex06
Hi gracex06,
Feeling anxious before sleeping at night is common and you are not alone experiencing this. Often when we are feeling stressed these feelings can surface at night making it difficult to sleep. This can be frustrating especially if you are unsure where this anxiety is coming from.
Worrying about the future
The future and how we feel about it can make us feel overwhelmed. Either by the amount of choice, or lack of it.
Being worried about the future is not uncommon. Some people have a very clear map of what road they hope to take. Others are less certain.
Few could have predicted the pandemic and how that has affected our immediate future.
When thinking about the future, we may experience a range of emotions including confusion, frustration, anger or sadness.
What you’ll find in this article
Ask Jigsaw: I have anxiety
I’ve had panic attacks since I was about 11 years old and my mom takes no notice and I have lots of anxiety going about my daily life I’m almost positive I have anxiety but because of how anxious I am I’m afraid to bring it up with my mom.
– Justwondering
Hi Justwondering,
Anxiety is a natural emotion that we all experience from time to time. While it can feel uncomfortable, it’s also useful in alerting us to danger. Although we can’t get rid of anxiety completely, we can learn ways to manage it.
Difficult relationship with food
There are many things which can affect our relationship with food. As we get older, our tastes can change and our appetite can vary depending on our energy needs.
However, sometimes our relationship with food can become difficult or strained. We may start to feel self-conscious eating in front of others, begin to calorie count or restrict food.
In this article, you will find:
- Why would someone restrict food?
- When to be concerned
- How limiting food may affect your thinking
- Changing the focus on your body
Why would someone restrict food?
There are many reasons for this. It can be a way to feel more in control when things around us feel outside of our control. It can be a way to cope with feelings of stress or anxiety.
Sometimes we can have difficulties with how we see ourselves, or don’t like how we look. This might make us try to change how we eat.
We may try to change our behaviour or our bodies, or attempt to ‘control’ our shape or our weight.
Ask Jigsaw: Feeling anxious going to bed
Hi,
I just wanted to know if it was normal to have anxiety before sleeping at night as multiple times during the past few weeks I’ve been feeling anxious going to bed and I’m not quite sure what is causing it.
– gracex06
Hi gracex06,
Feeling anxious before sleeping at night is common and you are not alone experiencing this. Often when we are feeling stressed these feelings can surface at night making it difficult to sleep. This can be frustrating especially if you are unsure where this anxiety is coming from.
Patience in a time of uncertainty
When life throws curve balls, we may find ourselves becoming impatient, wanting life to return to the way it was. We might want things to progress more quickly, or at least know what’s going to happen next.
There are times when our lives can take unexpected turns.
You or a family member may lose your job, illness might challenge your expectations of yourself or something you were looking forward to doesn’t work out the way you anticipated.
Unusual circumstances can cause feelings of impatience and stress to increase. You may find yourself overthinking things, feeling easily irritated by others, or less like yourself. Everyday problems can seem harder to solve.
Ask Jigsaw: I feel like everyone hates me
I am always down and sad. I’m 13 and I’m a girl I feel like everyone hates me and I’m alone. I have a few friends but I’ve been sad because I lost my very close friends and it’s hurting. I feel like I have anxiety but I don’t know. I’m really a mess and I need someone to talk to. I’m crying a lot and sad. I feel like nobody understands thank you for taking ur time
-Bb
Hi Bb,
Feeling down can make us feel fed up, teary, lonely and worried. It can also change how we view situations. We can think that people dislike us or that we aren’t good enough, even though these thoughts aren’t true. This can be exhausting and it’s important to mind yourself when feeling this way.
Ask Jigsaw: Struggling to talk to people
Hello I am struggling to talk to many people such as aunts and uncles, grandparents, teachers, strangers etc. This causes me a lot of stress and makes me feel bad about myself. It’s very hard for me especially with COVID-19 because I can’t go see a physiologist about it. My mam found this website for me and I think it will really help with this. Thank you.
-Someone
Hi Someone,
Speaking to certain people can be difficult for a number of reasons. It certainly doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you.
Talking to people we might not see often, or a person in authority like a teacher, is different to speaking to someone close. It’s natural to be a little worried that we might say the wrong thing, or not know what to say at all.