What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. It is a natural and often helpful emotional response to stress, and can arise in various situations, such as before a big event or a challenging task. Anxiety can be short-lived and relatively mild, or it can become more persistent and intense, which may interfere with daily life.
Physical Symptoms:
- Heart palpitations or a racing heart
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sweating
- Shaking or trembling
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Muscle tension or headaches
- Dry mouth or difficulty swallowing
Emotional and Psychological Symptoms:
- Excessive worry or fear, often about things that may or may not happen
- Restlessness or feeling “on edge”
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- A sense of impending doom or fear of losing control
Cognitive Symptoms:
- Racing thoughts or constant rumination about worst-case scenarios
- Difficulty thinking clearly or focusing
- Perception that things are out of your control
Anxiety Types:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)- Chronic and excessive worry about everyday situations, often without any specific trigger.
Panic Disorder- Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks that cause a sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, chest pain, sweating, and a sense of losing control.
Social Anxiety Disorder- Intense fear of social situations, particularly situations where one may be judged or scrutinized by others.
Phobias- An irrational, intense fear of specific objects, situations, or activities, such as heights, spiders, or flying.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)- Recurrent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)- Anxiety symptoms that develop after a person has experienced a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, war, or serious accident.
Anxiety causes:
- Genetics- A family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions can increase the likelihood of developing anxiety.
- Brain chemistry- An imbalance of neurotransmitters or other chemicals in the brain may contribute to anxiety.
- Environmental stressors- Life events such as trauma, major life changes, financial stress, or chronic illness can trigger or exacerbate anxiety.
- Personality- People with certain personality traits, such as being more sensitive to stress or having a tendency to worry, may be more prone to anxiety.
Managing anxiety:
- Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness
- Exercise to release tension and improve mood
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help reframe negative thought patterns and behaviors
- Medication: In some cases, doctors may prescribe anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants to help manage symptoms.
- Social support: Talking to friends, family, or a therapist can provide emotional relief and practical coping strategies.
Statistics:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1400861/percentage-of-individuals-reporting-symptoms-of-stress-depression-anxiety-by-age-group-worldwide/ Shows a graph with different age groups and what perecentage are affected by stress, anxiety and depression.
In this graph you can see in 2022 the group with the highest percentage is ages 18-24.
With this in mind I can create a character based around this age range.
TED Talk:
In this TED talk it is discussed how to calm your anxiety.
In this video it states:
- Breathwork- Allows neurochemicals to spread throughout your body
- Movement- Going for a walk, dancing etc.
How is this research helpful?
From all this research I can begin to come up with ideas and mechanics for my games. To give that essential experience I want players to feel I need to understand Anxiety fully. From knowing different types of anxiety to anxiety management I can come up with a narrative and an overall idea of how the game will work.
References:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350895
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder-gad