As we approach Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2023, it’s imperative to shine a light on a pervasive issue that touches many lives yet often remains shrouded in silence: anxiety. With anxiety disorders now recognised as the foremost mental health condition globally, co-existing frequently with stress and depression, the impact on individuals—and by extension, workplaces—is profound and far-reaching.
Understanding Anxiety in the Workplace
Anxiety manifests across a spectrum within the workforce. For some, it’s a background hum of unease, a persistent whisper of impending outcomes, yet they navigate their days with what’s termed as ‘high-functioning anxiety.’ Others may find their anxiety spikes in specific scenarios, such as public speaking, escalating with career advancement and the increasing pressures that accompany it.
These experiences, from sleepless nights to a debilitating cycle of worry affecting personal and professional life, underscore the diverse ways anxiety can infiltrate the workplace. More acute forms of anxiety may lead to obsessive-compulsive behaviours or severe panic attacks, significantly impacting an individual’s quality of life and work performance. Certain professions, like law enforcement, expose employees to traumatic events, potentially leading to PTSD, which affects decision-making, emotional regulation, and long-term health.
The Common Thread Among Anxiety Disorders
Despite the various expressions of anxiety, the core issue remains constant: the onslaught of repetitive, anxious thoughts. Many individuals have lived under the shadow of anxiety for so long, the origins of their distress have faded, leaving only the relentless cycle of worry and fear.
The path to overcoming anxiety isn’t through acceptance or resignation but through education and understanding. Empowering employees with knowledge about their experiences, the biological underpinnings of anxiety, and the nature of thought itself can transform how they view and manage their mental health.
Elevating Employee Support During Mental Health Awareness Month
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month and its focus on anxiety, we offer tailored employee webinars that delve into the science of anxiety and introduce effective techniques for managing it, including subtractive psychology and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Tapping. Our goal is to light the way to a more positive mental health journey, offering hope and practical tools for those affected.
The feedback from our ‘Anxiety is not the Enemy’ webinar highlights the profound impact of providing a supportive and informative space for employees to explore and understand their anxiety. Attendees have expressed appreciation for the insights gained, the practical strategies learned, and the overall positive influence on their mental and emotional well-being.
🌟 Sara has a way of making you not feel guilty to have feelings and it is refreshing. I have learned so much about myself and my thinking, where it came from and how to change unhealthy thinking into a different more positive view. This class was wonderful.
🌟 I found the training to be engaging and worthwhile! I walked away with a couple sustainable and realistic tips.
🌟This is an excellent presenter. DOC should entertain more of her trainings. The fact that we were able to do some tapping in this session was great. I plan on doing more of this as I saw a dramatic improvement of the areas where I hold stress or anxiety.
🌟 I don’t believe I have ever attended any training that held an impact more than Ms. Maude’s presentations in all my years
🌟 Sara is just a wealth of non judgmental knowledge. I cannot express how much I look forward to the classes as they not only allow me to learn but to come out of the class more relaxed and focused.
As we move towards Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s seize the opportunity to foster a more compassionate, informed, and supportive workplace culture. Explore our diverse range of training packages designed specifically for this important time, and join us in making a lasting difference in the lives of your employees.
Sara Maude, a seasoned Solution Focused Psychotherapist, Transformational Coach, Hypnotherapist, and EFT Practitioner, brings over a decade of mental health expertise to global organisations. She specialises in workplace wellbeing training, employee health and wellbeing programs and mental health training for managers. Sara’s proficiency also extends to wellbeing consultancy and wellbeing strategy, contributing significantly to the enhancement of employee wellbeing in the workplace.