In honour of Mental Health Week, we have decided to promote the mental and physical well-being services we provide for our employees and highlight the importance of managing your mental health.

Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from anxiety, a common and frequently crippling condition. It can take many different forms, from low-grade anxiety to full-blown panic episodes, and can significantly lower a person’s quality of life. There are several things you can do if you’re one of the many people who suffer from anxiety to help control your symptoms.

Common anxiety symptoms:

• Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
• Having trouble sleeping
• Having difficulty controlling worry
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

How to manage anxiety

Practise mindfulness

Focusing on the present moment and accepting your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without judgment are key components of the mindfulness approach. This can make you more conscious of your anxiety triggers and improve your ability to control them. You can practice mindfulness through a variety of activities, including yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.

Get plenty of sleep

Getting enough sleep is crucial for overall mental health and can significantly impact anxiety levels. To increase the quality of your sleep, aim for at least 7-8 hours each night and create a reliable sleep schedule.

Exercise regularly

Exercise has been shown to be an effective way to reduce anxiety. Endorphins, feel-good brain chemicals that can improve mood and lower stress, are released as a result of this. On most days of the week, try to get in at least 30 minutes of moderate activity.

Connect with others

Having social support is crucial for coping with anxiety. You can feel less alone and get the emotional support you need to deal with anxiety by getting in touch with friends, family, or a support group.

At Wise, we provide all colleagues access to health and wellbeing services where they can use a wide range of support services through an app on their phone, including access to mental health support, Remote GP and an employee assistance programme.

We understand there is still more to be done to support mental health, which is why we’re continually asking for feedback on how we can support employees better.