Rebecca, an engineer at a tech company, is so anxious about making a mistake that she takes three times as long as her peers to submit her work, delaying the team’s project.
Theo, a sales manager, is so fearful of flying that he decides not to take a promotion that would require more air travel.
Linda, a consultant, feels sick to her stomach every day when she opens her phone. She’s consumed by politics and constantly checking social media, where she’s bombarded by an onslaught of negative news. After some missed deadlines at work, her clients are beginning to wonder about her commitment to their needs.
Anxiety can come from anywhere
“An almost infinite number of things could trigger anxiousness, from early childhood experiences and traumas to attachment styles and unhealthy relationships,” says Dr. Julie Smith, a clinical psychologist. “It could be chronic stress and burnout, or even unresolved grief. Life is full of challenges that make us more vulnerable to feeling anxious more of the time.”
Anxiety can take a significant toll on individuals, relationships, teams, and organizations.
Anxiety is on the rise, but few are getting support
Unfortunately, in uncertain times, anxiousness is on the rise. In 2024, 43% of US adults said they felt more anxious than they did the previous year, up from 37% in 2023 and 32% in 2022, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s annual mental health survey. They’re feeling especially anxious about keeping themselves and their families safe (68%), their health (63%), expenses and paying bills (63%), climate change (57%), and the impact of emerging technology on daily lives (46%).
Unfortunately, less than a quarter of adults experiencing anxiety have sought mental health support. The shortage of mental health providers, stigma, and difficulty knowing how to find care could be some of the barriers they face.
Calm Health program by Dr. Julie Smith supports employees struggling with anxiety
To help fill the gaps, Calm has launched an Anxiety Survival Guide program in the Calm Health app. Developed and narrated by clinical psychologist Dr. Julie Smith (“Dr. Julie”), the goal of the 10-session program is to help people gain a better understanding of what anxiety is, improve their relationship with it, and learn strategies to help them cope better with it in the long term.
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The 10 sessions in Anxiety Survival Guide in Calm Health:
How Do I Know if It’s Anxiety or Stress?
Dr. Julie helps listeners distinguish between stress and anxiety but emphasizes the importance of focusing less on labels and more on describing the sensations they feel.
Why Do I Feel Anxious?
Dr. Julie guides listeners to check in on exactly what they’re feeling and what that feeling can tell them about their unmet needs. She encourages them to think of anxiety as a messenger rather than a villain.
Make This Anxiety Disappear! (or Maybe Not)
Anxiety is an alarm system that’s meant to feel uncomfortable, Dr. Julie explains. But sometimes that system can go awry, suggesting a threat in a nonthreatening situation. Because anxiety plays an important role in keeping us safe, it’s important to not try to get rid of it but instead learn how to manage it.
Guided Practice for Relating with Anxiety
In a short, guided practice, Dr. Julie helps listeners learn how to accept their anxious thoughts and feelings and let them be, rather than attempt to quash them.
Guided Practice to Quickly Calm the Mind
Dr. Julie walks listeners through a breathing exercise that could bring down the intensity of anxiety and quickly calm the mind.
When You Lay Awake at Night Worrying
Our brains aren’t wired to let us sleep when we don’t feel safe, Dr. Julie explains. She provides tips for letting go of worries at bedtime.
What You Do That Makes Anxiety Worse
Listeners learn about behaviors that alleviate anxiety in the short term but actually make things worse.
Two Ways Anxiety Shows Up in Relationships
A person struggling with anxiety can fall back on certain relationship behaviors that work in the short term but backfire in the long run. Dr. Julie helps listeners become aware of when they’re turning to reassurance seeking and rescuing.
How to Start Taking Your Life Back
Trying to return to anxiety-provoking situations rather than avoid them altogether can feel overwhelming. Dr. Julie encourages listeners to expose themselves to one challenging but manageable scenario at a time and gradually work their way up to more difficult ones.
How to Cope with Anxiety
To help listeners live a full life rather than make choices based on fear, Dr. Julie asks them to reflect on their values, think about where anxiety is holding them back from living in line with them, and focus on these areas first.
About Dr. Julie Smith
Dr. Julie Smith is a clinical psychologist and online educator with more than a decade of experience empowering clients through the worst times in their lives. With extensive training in a range of psychological therapies, she works to provide accessible, top-quality mental health education online. Dr. Julie is chartered by the British Psychological Society and registered with the Health Care Professions Council.
About Calm Health
Calm Health is a mental health solution offering evidence-based programs and resources designed to foster the connection between mental and physical health conditions. Based on mental health screenings and self-reported goals and interests, users receive personalized plans with programs developed by psychologists.
For more information on proactively supporting employee mental health and well-being, check out our pricing or connect with a Calm specialist today.