Strictly Come Dancing Judge Shirley Ballas Opens up About Her Anxiety Woes

Anxiety affects all of us in some way. While many of us know how to cope, some struggle with
it longer. It is important to be vocal about such problems so that those facing a mental health
issue do not feel alone.
Nowadays, more and more celebrities are getting candid about their mental health struggles,
and the latest to join the list is Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas. The dancer has
revealed that anxiety affected her so strongly that she felt incapacitated two years ago. When
she started filming the show last year, she faced some nervousness. She shared that anxiety
destabilizes the mind and in such a situation, it gets difficult to function.
Loss of brother and anxiety
Ballas revealed that she
manages her anxiety by
devoting time to
meditation and
controlled breathing.
She laid stress on the
importance of sharing
about mental health
conditions and even
talked about the loss of
her brother to suicide
in 2003. Apparently,
her brother succumbed
to depression. He was
only 44 when he
committed suicide.
Ballas admitted that perhaps she and her mother could not understand his condition enough
to be able to help.
In 2017, Ballas appeared on the sets of Loose Women and shared her brother’s condition. She
revealed that he had been feeling low for around six weeks and ultimately took his life when
the family was away at the church. Ballas revealed that at that time, her family was not that
communicative. She and her son later established The Ballas Foundation to encourage people
to talk about suicide prevention and spread awareness about mental health resources.
Anxiety is serious mental disorder
One of the most common mental illnesses in the United States, anxiety disorders afflict nearly
40 million adults. Despite the fact that these disorders are treatable, only 36.9 percent of the
affected seek treatment. People struggling with anxiety are six times more likely to be
hospitalized than those who do not have anxiety.

www.anxietydisordertreatmentarizona.com
An anxiety disorder can stem from various risk factors, like genes, brain chemistry, life events
and personality. Some of the strategies that can be adopted to manage anxiety are listed
hereunder:

 Taking time out to relax is immensely helpful. One can devote time to yoga,
meditation, mindfulness techniques or dance to stay calm. One can also try getting a
massage or going for a walk to clear the head. Getting involved in charity or a
volunteering program shifts the focus from worry to kindness.
 Accepting that one cannot control everything can help in assessing the response to a
situation. One should aim for progress, not perfection, to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Acceptance of one’s problem doesn’t come easy, but once it happens, the road to
recovery becomes smoother.
 Eating nutritious meals and doing some a physical activity can also help bring down
the anxiety levels.
 Talking to someone, enjoying books or movies on humor, joining support groups and
keeping a positive attitude can also be helpful in keeping anxiety at bay.
Anxiety is treatable
If anxiety symptoms do not alleviate despite practicing self-care tips, it is important to seek
support from a mental health expert. Untreated anxiety symptoms can lead to further mental
and/or physical problems, complicating the situation.
If you or your loved one is suffering from an anxiety disorder, phobia or panic attack, contact
the Anxiety Disorder Treatment Arizona to get access to the best anxiety treatment in
Arizona. Call at our 24/7 helpline 866-425-9317 for further information.

www.anxietydisordertreatmentarizona.com