Worried about the New Year? Mzansi, are you finding yourself tired of the endless “New Year, New You” messages? Well, Jozi clinical psychologist Danielle Broadley has some tips to help you feel more prepared and less anxious about this year. She shares her advice for dealing with New Year anxiety and more on this episode of Sisters Without Shame.
There’s no doubt that we have had a tough couple of years. We’ve been lucky enough to live through a global pandemic after all. That doesn’t mean our survival has been without challenges though, says Broadley in this episode.
Climate change, financial worries, all our fears have been exacerbated by Covid-19, leaving us in the grips of an anxiety pandemic.
“The Covid pandemic triggered a 25% increase in the prevalence of both anxiety and depression worldwide. We haven’t had time to process the last two years. It’s almost like ‘okay, lockdowns are over now, get back to life’. It’s not actually fair to put that kind of expectation on ourselves,” she says.
Through her private practice in Johannesburg, Broadley aims to empower her patients with greater insight into who they are and how they can grow as an individual.
Understanding anxiety vs fear
Fear and anxiety often go hand-in-hand, but these terms are not interchangeable, says Broadley.
She explains that fear is an intense biological response to immediate danger, while anxiety is an emotion regarding things we think may happen.
“Anxiety is an emotion characterised by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure,” she says.
“Anxiety is not the same as fear, but they are used interchangeably. Anxiety is considered a future-oriented, long-acting response broadly focused on a diffused threat. Whereas fear is an appropriate present-oriented and short-lived response to a clearly identifiable threat.”
She adds that anxious and frightening emotions can feel the same and be easily confused, but when comparing fear vs anxiety, there are several important differences between the two.
On this episode, Broadley also unpacks the following:
- Practical tips for managing the years stressors; and
- How to overcome your anxiety in the new year.
Listen to the full interview on Sisters Without Shame
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