Living With Anxiety & Phobia
Living with anxiety and phobias is not easy. It can impact every facet of your life, from leaving the house, to eating, going to work, sharing ideas, and talking to people. Anxiety and phobias are often the butt of a joke in TV shows and movies, which adds a layer of stigma to an already challenging condition. Anxiety can impact appetite and body weight, sleep patterns, and social relationships. People who live with anxiety and phobia are doing the best they can. Nobody chooses to be anxious or scared.
Treatment for anxiety and phobia ranges massively depending on the person, the doctor, and access to healthcare. Therapy is typically the first line of treatment in anxiety and phobia. It helps patients to address any potential triggers through graduated exposure therapy, or it can be used to gradually change thought patterns in response to anxious thoughts. Antidepressants and other medications can be a useful tool for some people, helping them balance their brain chemistry, alongside therapy.
Below, I have shared some of my own videos on living with anxiety and phobia. I live with anxiety and emetophobia (phobia of vomiting), which has lead to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. There are also some general resources below. Nothing shared is meant to be used as a diagnostic tool or medical advice.
Surprise! I Have Anxiety [CC]
It came as no shock to anybody online when I “came out” as living with anxiety. This video was filmed years prior to my diagnosis of OCD, so you might notice some overlap of key symptoms. I talk about my life with anxiety, how it affects me on a daily basis, and how I move forward despite it.
I Have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
While anxiety and OCD are two separate disorders, in my lived experience there is a lot of overlap between the two. My OCD stems from the anxiety I experience alongside phobias, and my OCD patterns are focused on avoiding my phobias. For me, anxiety and OCD go hand in hand 99% of the time. This is not the case for everyone.
Useful Websites
Samaritans UK
Samaritans provides useful resources for those living with mental health conditions, including anxiety. They offer a free support line for anyone to use, whether diagnosed, in a mental health crisis, or supporting someone they love.
NHS Overview (Phobia)
If you’re living with a phobia in the UK, you can access support via the NHS. They have multiple treatment pathways that can be tailored to each person. It’s important to share your mental health concerns with a GP.
Mind: Anxiety
Mind is a prominent mental health charity in the UK, offering support for a wide variety of mental health conditions. This overview contains video resources, and offers further information on different aspects of anxiety and phobia.
Max Fisher RSci 