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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ja nu ar y 17 ,2 01 9 | 12 1.80% 8 MONTHS 2.80% 8 MONTHS 4.80% 8 MONTHS *Conditions apply. FirstOntario's 24-month Escalator GIC* Market-leading rates and flexibility make it a smart way to save. Let's do this together. Call or visit your local branch or learn more at FirstOntario.com/Escalator 1-800-616-8878FirstOntario.com Contact@FirstOntario.com WATCH YOUR RATE RISE & YOUR MONEY GROW! 1540 Cornwall Rd. Suite 205,Oakville • 905-844-0464 • oakvillefamilylawyer.ca Protectyour estate by ensuringyour Willsand PoWers ofattorneyare uPto date! Free ½ hour consultation and reduced rates for packages. Pounding heart, sweaty palms, churning stomach, racing thoughts - all pretty well-known symptoms of something we've likely all experienced: anxiety. Think of writing an exam, going on a first date or hav- ing a job interview. And even though anxiety is a very normal emotion, it can also be part of a mental health problem. So, how can you tell the difference between what is just typical, manageable anxiety and what could be a more serious concern that may need attention? Think of these three I's: Incidence How often is the anxiety happening and how long is it lasting? For example, if you feel anxious before a job interview but then the anxiety goes away after- wards, that's likely a typi- cal emotional response. But, if the anxiety occurs often and doesn't seem to have a clear cause - or doesn't ease off once you've dealt with what you think may be the cause - that could be a sign of concern. Intensity How powerful is the anxiety? Are you feeling just a bit nervous, or is it so bad that you feel over- whelmed or helpless? While unpleasant at the time, typical anxiety is usually manageable, and we can get through it with- out it overpowering our other feelings. Anxiety that may be part of a men- tal health problem, howev- er, can be all-consuming and eclipse our other thoughts and emotions. Impact How is your anxiety af- fecting your day-to-day life? Are you still able to go to work or school, keep up with relationships and do your usual activities, or is the anxiety interfering with what you would like to do? While typical anxiety might impact us for a short while, we can usually ride it out with no major disrup- tion to our routine. Prob- lematic anxiety, however, can make it difficult for us to meet the demands of dai- ly life in the way we usually would. So, what to do if the in- cidence, intensity and im- pact of anxiety is concern- ing? Talking to your family doctor or primary health- care provider is a great start. You could also con- nect with a counsellor. Great options are work- place employee assistance programs or the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch's free walk-in counselling that is available four days a week throughout Halton. Visit www.halton.cmha.ca for details. And take the time to think about your anxiety levels and check in with your own thoughts and feelings. Mental health matters. Melanie McGregor is the communications and advancement specialist at the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch, which provides mental health/ addiction community sup- port and education. Visit www.halton.cmha.ca for more information and follow @cmhahalton on Twitter. OPINION ANXIETY IS NORMAL, BUT IT MAY AFFECT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH VISIT DOCTOR IF YOU'RE CONCERNED, WRITES MCGREGOR MELANIE MCGREGOR Column