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Anxiety helps us meet our deadlines at work and deal with emergencies in life, but when this anxiety emotion is taken to the extreme and arises in situations which don't pose a real threat, then that's when you might have an anxiety disorder. For example, people with generalized anxiety disorder worry excessively and constantly about everything going on in their lives, and they find it very difficult to control this worry. They also have symptoms like restlessness, fear, they find it hard to fall asleep at night, and they can't concentrate on tasks. Now, in spite of whatever kind of anxiety you might be suffering from, there is something that you can do to lower it. It works, and it's simpler than you may think. All too often, we're given medication for mental disorders, but it doesn't always work in the long run. Symptoms often come back, and you're back to where you started. So here's something else to consider: the way you cope or handle things has a direct impact on how much anxiety you're experiencing, and if you tweak the way you're coping, then you can lower your anxiety. In our study at the University of Cambridge, we showed that women living in poor areas have a higher risk for anxiety than women living in richer areas. These results didn't surprise us, but when we looked closer, we found that women living in poor areas, if they had a particular set of coping resources, they didn't have anxiety, while women living in poor areas without these coping resources had anxiety.

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Anxiety helps us meet our deadlines at work / and deal with emergencies in life, / but when this anxiety emotion / is taken to the extreme / and arises in situations which don't pose a real threat, / then that's when you might have an anxiety disorder. // For example, / people with generalized anxiety disorder worry excessively and constantly about everything going on in their lives, / and they find it very difficult to control this worry. // They also have symptoms like restlessness, / fear, / they find it hard to fall asleep at night, / and they can't concentrate on tasks. // Now, / in spite of / whatever kind of anxiety / you might be suffering from, / there is something that you can do / to lower it. // It works, / and it's simpler / than you may think. // All too often, we're given medication for mental disorders, / but it doesn't always work in the long run. // Symptoms often come back, / and you're back to where you started. // So here's something else to consider: / the way you cope / or handle things / has a direct impact on how much anxiety you're experiencing, / and if you tweak the way you're coping, then you / can lower / your anxiety. // In our study at the University of Cambridge, / we showed that women living in poor areas / have a higher risk for anxiety than women living in richer areas. // These results didn't surprise us, / but when we looked closer, / we found that women living in poor areas, / if they had a particular set of coping resources, / they didn't have anxiety, / while women living in poor areas without these coping resources / had anxiety. //

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Other studies showed that people who had faced extreme circumstances, who had faced adversity, been through wars and natural disasters, if they had coping resources, they remained healthy and free of mental disorders, while others, facing the same hardships but without coping skills went on a downward spiral and developed mental disorders. So what are some of these coping resources, and how can we use them to lower our anxiety? And before I dive into what they are, I'd like to point out - and I think this is so interesting - you can develop these coping resources or coping skills on your own through the things that you do; you can take charge of your anxiety and lower it, which I think is so empowering. Today I'll be talking about three coping resources, and the first one is feeling like you're in control of your life. People who feel like they're more in control of their life have better mental health. If you feel like you're lacking in control in life, then research shows that you should engage in experiences that give you greater control. I'll show you what I mean: do you sometimes find that you put off starting something because you just don't feel ready enough? Do you find it hard to make decisions like what to wear, what to eat who to date, which job to take up? Do you tend to waste a lot of time deciding what you might do while nothing gets done? A way to overcome indecision and this lack of control in life, is to do it badly.

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Other studies showed that people who had faced extreme circumstances, / who had faced adversity, / been through wars and natural disasters, / if they had coping resources, / they remained healthy and free of mental disorders, / while others, / facing the same hardships / but without coping skills went on a downward spiral / and developed mental disorders. / So / what are / some of these coping resources, / and how can we use them / to lower our anxiety? // And before I dive into what they are, / I'd like to point out / - and I think this is so interesting / - you / can develop / these coping resources or coping skills / on your own through the things that you do; / you can take charge of your anxiety and lower it, which I think is so empowering. // Today I'll be talking about three coping resources, / and the first one is feeling like you're in control of your life. // People who feel / like they're more in control of their life / have better mental health. // If you feel like you're lacking in control in life, / then research shows that you should engage in experiences that give you greater control. // I'll show you what I mean: / do you sometimes find that you put off starting something because you just don't feel ready enough? / Do you find it hard to make decisions like what to wear, / what to eat, / who to date, / which job to take up? // Do you tend to waste a lot of time / deciding what you might do while nothing gets done? // A way to overcome indecision and this lack of control in life, / is to do it badly. //