Anxious, panic attacks, depressed.
Now that it has become OK to talk about these words, it feels like we all know someone experiencing them.
Dr Google seems to be aiding people to self-diagnose symptoms of mental health issues and the language that describes them. Social media helps to consolidate what we think we know, as we find others who have come to the same conclusion. We feel connected because we are not the only person experiencing these thoughts and feelings. But is it normal?
As we have learnt from the pandemic, there is a lot of misinformation (false or inaccurate information) and disinformation (information intending to mislead) being spread via social media and the internet. However, sometimes it can give us a good place to start if you feel something is not right. And what is normal?
If something sad happened in your life, such as the passing of a beloved pet, it would be usual to grieve the loss of that pet, which might involve a whole range of emotions. We feel connections with pets, people, and objects, and when these are taken away, we not only feel the physical loss, but the emotional and relational aspects too. It would also be unusual if this feeling persisted for a long period of time and you were unable to return to functioning the way you used to, or in a new re-established way.
Thoughts are just that; thoughts. It is not unusual for a person to have anxious or depressed thoughts. It is unusual when we have these thoughts for long periods of time and they start to interfere with daily functioning. You might be finding it difficult to leave the house, struggling with children who refuse to go to school, you are not sleeping well, or have lost your appetite. Maybe you are avoiding answering the phone or going to appointments, spending long periods of time on your own.
Our thoughts are intertwined with the way we feel. As a human being we have a whole wheel of emotions that describe how we may be feeling. Our body acknowledges these feelings (like that lump in your throat, or butterflies in your stomach) and that in turn, influences how we behave. Each of us comes with a unique background, our own world view based on our lived experiences, and any given situation will be interpreted through this world view. For those with a more positive view of the environment, a major event such as an earthquake, will disrupt their lives but they may find they can pick themselves up and carry on, as they recognise their strengths and opportunities ahead. Maybe they might discover that exercise helps them release their adrenalin, or helping others helps them to cope. For those that have experienced past traumas, or had lack of support, an event like this might cause more than a hiccup in their lives. They may need support to recognise their strengths and find other ways to cope.
So to answer the question; is what I am experiencing normal? Not such a straightforward question. Maybe you are worried that your unhelpful thoughts have persisted for too long and you are not behaving the way you would like. If you are not happy with the way you are responding to situations, you have concerns that you respond in ways that others don’t, or others have noticed the way you respond, maybe it is time to reach out and discuss your responses with a counsellor/therapist, who can talk this through with you and work out solutions.