topic Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad in Anxiety

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

NMTB — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 19:03:08 GMT

I have just seen the Ad relating to Anxiety by Beyond Blue. Sadly, I find the closing statement in the Ad very disappointing. I was so surprised by it I thought I had misheard and had to check it on youtube to make sure I had heard correctly.

The Ad and its concept are fine but the closing is just wrong – indeed it runs counter to information about anxiety and anxiety disorders provided by Beyond Blue on its website, facebook page etc. Here is a link to the Ad for those who have not seen it:

The Ad ends as follows “Is it you or your anxiety talking” – fine, we all know that feeling but then : “Visit Beyond Blue to start a life beyond anxiety”

Coming from a specialist mental health organisation that is a terribly ignorant statement and it sends the wrong message idea to that part of the community who know nothing of anxiety.

1) Anxiety is natural, normal and vital to survival – that is just stating the obvious.

2) Where anxiety is present at a level or in a form that is debilitating or amounts to a disorder its amenability to treatment is highly variable. Some people may find after a few sessions with a psychologist they have the tools to deal with it adequately. On the other extreme some people, myself included, might suffer severe anxiety and engage in a lifelong struggle trying every measure through trends in psychology, developments in medication (on and off label) in psychiatry etc.

By all means encourage people to recognize/come forward if they are having the troubling thoughts illustrated in the Ad, but even hinting at a life “beyond anxiety” is misleading and does not fit with BB’s fine reputation – at least in my view.

[Mod note: we have embedded the ad directly into this post so it can be viewed easily]

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

JessF — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 22:53:42 GMT

Hello NMTB, I agree with you that anxiety is a natural part of life. I see the idea of being 'beyond anxiety' is being in a place where it doesn't consume your life entirely, not eliminating it's presence in your life.

I think that is a very hopeful message, particularly for those who currently can't see a way out. Of course some of us will suffer more than others, and will have a different pathway and time frame to moving 'beyond', but it isn't a competition and I don't think it is misleading to say that getting 'beyond anxiety' is possible for everyone.

What would you say to people instead?

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

NMTB — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 23:22:25 GMT

I would simply leave that slogan, which is what is (possibly someone from an Ad company's thought bubble) out. The Ad and its message are fine up until that silly tag-line. Many may think I am nit picking here. However, in my view that sort of thing feeds the perception I have encountered amongst some in the community that anxiety is just "the worrier" who can get over it.

I wish they just had have left it out.

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

MsPurple — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:50:05 GMT

HI NMTB.

Sorry you are disappointing with the commercial. I myself interpreted it like Jess. That you can 'beyond anxiety'is when it doesn't consume your life. I do agree with you. Anxiety is a natural part of life. We get anxious about a big presentation or sky diving. I think many people don't know what anxiety is so this commercial was trying to educate others what anxiety can look like for some people (not all). I myself found it helpful, but also not perfect. I think it is good to talk about these things because we need to understand it is different for everyone

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

Quercus — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 09:52:46 GMT

Hi NMTB,

I'm glad you posted and spoke up.

I do feel there is a fine line to walk with any health promotion. Getting the balance right between getting people to pay attention and alientating people is a difficult job. I agree the 'slogan' is not my cup of tea either.

Perhaps this is a little off topic but I think it's important...

Do you know you are able to give input into the work BB does?

There is a reference group anyone with experience of mental illness can join. It's called blue Voices.

On the bV forum you can join activities, give feedback and answer surveys etc which guides beyondblue in their work (including the most recent ad you mention).

I wanted to mention this because you (and anyone else reading) is welcome to join. Writing here is great and your message most definately will get noticed. However if you want to have more of a say and guide what would work for you bV is the best way to get involved.

Nat

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

blondguy — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 11:46:23 GMT

Hi NMTB

Thankyou for your input re the Beyond Blue videoclip. If we didnt have input from members like yourself it would be very difficult to grow and develop the Website on an ongoing basis

Just a note NMTB...A new Members input/thoughts are just as highly valued as a long term member/Champion:-)

Just my take on this NMTB...I wasted 13 years of my life thinking I could 'self heal' and my anxiety symptoms exacerbated so I see 'Beyond Anxiety' as 'life after chronic anxiety' of this confusing and awful set of symptoms

The video feed is only trying to mention that there is hope and the awful anxiety feelings do reduce over time

Great thread NMTP 🙂

my kindest

Paul

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

NMTB — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 11:50:51 GMT

Thanks for the info Quercus! I have registered with bV as a direct result.

Cheers.

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

NMTB — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 12:09:57 GMT

Hey blondguy,

Thanks for the welcoming response. I do understand where you are coming from. Although I have suffered from anxiety disorders since childhood (worried but ill-equipped primary school teachers giving me counselling sessions at lunch time as to why i would run out of class holding back vomit without any apparent physical cause), I also suffered a very dark period between ages 40-50 where I didn't so much "live" as "exist".

Although we see the Ad differently I welcome discussion and different perspectives and am happy to see that reflected here.

Cheers.

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

blondguy — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 12:54:21 GMT

Hi NMTB

You have made an excellent point about feeling like we are 'existing' Its a crappy (dark) feeling to have...I hear you loud and clear there

That would have been awful in primary school (understatement of the century)....just when we are trying to have friends and fit in.....not to mention learning!

I just re read your opening post and you mentioned "On the other extreme some people, myself included, might suffer severe anxiety and engage in a lifelong struggle trying every measure through trends in psychology, developments in medication (on and off label) in psychiatry etc".......Thats an excellent comment NMTB as this is my 35th year with anxiety/depression. putting that into context with the 'Beyond Anxiety' I feel your pain (and frustration) Can I ask if the BB video clip makes anxiety feel like a 'minor' health issue to you? (no response required unless you wish to of course)

Thankyou NMTB for being a part of the Beyond Blue forum family 🙂

my kind thoughts

Paul

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

NMTB — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 14:21:34 GMT

Fair Question (I don't know whether to address you as Paul or blondguy!),

No, I understand that Ads like these are aimed at a mainstream audience and must therefore reach people who may be experiencing anxiety but have no concept of what it is. The difficulty I can't get past (obviously) is the slogan of "beyond anxiety". I won't repeat concerns I have already enunciated. The clip doesn't, to me, belittle anxiety - the slogan misrepresents it as a health issue. We know it is complicated, varies from person to person and cannot be encapsulated in any glib hash tag or tag line. It seems to me 99% of the Ad says reach out if these thoughts are causing you trouble - brilliant, that is the message, say no more. Because if you reach out the goal is then to assess your particular issues, background, needs, treatment options etc to help you manage your anxiety. These things can't be, and shouldn't be attempted to be, captured in a two word phrase.

Sorry Paul/blondguy, when in discussion the lawyer in me surfaces and I can argue my point more forcefully than is intended, please understand it is only a mode of expression, I am not trying to impose my view.

As an aside, have you heard of the book My Age of Anxiety by Scott Stossel (2013). It is a standout and the only book in my large book collection on the subject of Anxiety (I have had many, they are in recycling heaven). It is not self help. It does not offer solutions. He is a former editor of The Atlantic who is a gifted researcher and writer ... and a lifelong severe anxiety sufferer. He details his own story, the history of identification of the illness and the history of scientific and psychological approaches to it. It is available as an Audiobook if you are interested.

Cheers.

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

Quercus — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 15:12:38 GMT

Hi NMTB (and a wave to Paul)...

I'm glad you decided to join bV. The more people providing input the better in my view.

Although I do understand and agree with what you wrote about tag lines I can also see why the approach was taken given the popularity of social media. BB would be foolish not to use any means whatsoever to spread the word.

I suppose my question is what would you use as an alternative hash tag? Or is social media inappropriate for mental health discussions?

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

blondguy — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 16:43:52 GMT

Hi NMTB....(and thankyou Quercus for your TLC and mentioning Blue Voices!)

When I was made redundant I only chose 'blondguy' as a handle to talk to other members as my depression (and anxiety) was spiking and was trying to reach out here and blondguy was my sixth or 7th attempt at joining the forums so that is what I am stuck with

You can address me however you wish to..Paul is my christian name and please feel free to use it 🙂

I find any reference material a huge help as there is never enough information available (for me anyway)

NMTB mentioned "My Age of Anxiety by Scott Stossel (2013)"as a helpful reference where understanding anxiety is concerned...Being available on audio format is a bonus too

I will have a look as I can always learn from someone else's experience with anxiety and thankyou NMTB. Its off topic... can I ask if that is your gorgeous K9 person in your profile pic?

You are not imposing your view at all...especially where long term anxiety is concerned and thankyou so much

I hope today is good to you!

my kind thoughts

Paul

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

NMTB — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:28:51 GMT

Hey Quercus,

Social media is invaluable in getting the message out, I have no objection there. As to an alternative hashtag well, there are more creative minds than mine, but just off the top of my head #talkanxiety would be a suggestion. It is in line with the message of the Ad and what, I imagine, BB aims to get people to do via the campaign.

Cheers.

#thisisanxiety

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

NMTB — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 19:04:28 GMT

Hey Paul,

Yes that is my Lab "Phoenix". When the house is empty or all except me are asleep, he is my constant companion. As I type this he is asleep on his bed not 10 feet away from me. If things close in on me and I have to have a cry his head and paw are on my lap. I hasten to add that the photo was taken when it was dinner time according to him when his head also arrives on my lap!

He is truly a priceless companion.

Cheers.

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

blondguy — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 19:51:43 GMT

Hey NMTB

Priceless companion is spot on.....Phoenix has that same look saying 'love me!' like my rescue dog has 🙂

Your post (and Phoenix) have just made my day! I also have the same relationship with 'Prince' as he knows when I am in a dark place....I will have to put Prince's 'mugshot' on here....Phoenix and Prince have the same facial expression....seriously. Prince is part of my life (thumbs up!)

Really good to chat with you NMTB. I hope you will be around in a couple of days when Im back online

Thanks again for making my day!

my kindest always

Paul

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

Sophie_M — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 21:35:00 GMT

Hi NMTB (and others reading)

Thanks for the discussion in this thread - it's really great to see the campaign getting people talking about how anxiety is perceived, and how that might impact on help-seeking as it's one of the key discussions we're trying to prompt.

Thank you Quercus for highlighting Blue Voices, and to NMTB for joining up as a result. With all our resources and campaigns, we use Blue Voices to 'take the pulse' of people with lived experience of anxiety, depression and suicidality to shape what we do. So please get involved and sign up if you haven't already done so.

On the tag line, the 'beyond anxiety' tag is from an earlier phase of the campaign. For this latest round, we have updated it to 'know when anxiety is talking'.

NMTB's point about stigma is a very important one. Two in three people experiencing anxiety believe that others may see it as a personal weakness.

But while there are still some negative and misinformed attitudes about anxiety out there, overall the perception of stigma by people experiencing anxiety and the actual attitudes are much different. This is from a survey of the general public we conducted in the lead-up to this campaign:

* 90% believe anxiety is a real medical illness
* 86% do not consider it a weakness
* 86% do not believe anxiety is something you can just 'snap out of'

We're hoping that by revealing these figures, people experiencing anxiety will understand that what they're thinking isn't necessarily what others are thinking, and come forward to seek help.

Please keep this discussion going. It would be great to hear from others how they've come to learn when their anxiety is talking, and how you've learned to manage your way through.

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

geoff — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 22:41:15 GMT

Hello NMTB, and thanks for posting your comment.

I'm pleased that 'beyond anxiety' has been replaced by ''know when anxiety is talking' because with the former there are different forms of anxiety, just like we can't say 'beyond depression' because this involves so much and it's not so easy to leave these illnesses behind us.

There are three forms of anxiety and each one can affect us at different stages of the day, week or so.

Instinctive anxiety, which is based on threats or dangers to us, traumatic anxiety, situations that remind of us of the original trauma and cognitive anxiety which is from the anticipation of events that haven't happened yet, or an unease in our minds.

We may not think of them like this, but one anxiety may lead onto another one at different periods of us struggling through it, so 'beyond anxiety' means that we still have to constantly learn something every day.

We have relapses in depression, and as you know I've had a few, the same applies to anxiety and every situation is different, there can't be one standard rule for one anxiety or one type of depression.

You may feel better in one situation but it doesn't mean you're comfortable in all of them, that's impossible when you have mental illness.

I will continue as I have to go.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

Bush_resident — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 00:27:56 GMT

I would love to see an add Put together after speaking to,and getting to know people with depression. A quiet add with someone speaking direct to Those at home with problems. No text book comments. Simply letting people know that they are not alone. No comments at all that say (we know what your going through) as Those with depression will hear that and switch off in their mind.

I guess it should be a simple add with a simple message of honesty,from a someone Who owns what they say, and only talk using the term of i when speaking.

I could go on and on about how the add would progress as a series,but thats enough.

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

Quercus — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 07:08:17 GMT

Hi everyone,

Glad to hear "know when anxiety is talking" is being used. I like this one. It reminds me of how I was taught to try recognise what was happening and what I was feeling and why. Once I stop and analyse it becomes easier to see if my depression or anxiety is talking.

Geoff I hope you write more I found your post really helpful.

And Bush resident... I like the sound of people's experiences speaking for themselves. What puts me off many ads about any health issues is they feel unrealistic to me and I switch off. I think personal interviews are effective.

Disappointment with Beyond Blue's "Anxiety" Ad

Sophie_M — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 21:18:10 GMT

Thanks everyone for your further comments.

If you haven't already, please have a look at our Anxiety campaign page, on there you will find three short videos that are interviews with Blue Voices members talking about their experiences with anxiety and the reactions of those close to them. These are being used as part of the anxiety campaign.

As Bush resident points out, real people's personal experiences are an important part of what we do, and opportunities to be featured in videos like these are an example of the kinds of activities we promote to our Blue Voices members.