Jemimah Rodrigues' Honest Take on Anxiety After World Cup win vs Australia: 5 Easy Ways to Manage It

Star Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues played a wonderful innings to help her team reach the finals of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup with a five-wicket win over giants Australia. Overwhelmed with emotions,

the 25-year-old broke down many times during the post-match press conference. Opening up about her mental health struggles, Jemimah revealed that she cried almost daily throughout the tournament, struggling to cope with the pressure and self-doubt. She also revealed suffering from severe anxiety leading up to her maiden World Cup century. Advocating for asking for help, Jemimah said those suffering from severe anxiety should not be afraid. Jemimah has credited her family, friends, and faith for helping her overcome her anxiety and self-doubt. The young cricketer’s mental health revelation has highlighted the importance of support and the challenges that athletes face in high-pressure situations.

What is an anxiety disorder?

An anxiety disorder is a type of mental health condition that makes you respond to certain things and situations with fear and dread. According to experts, there are many physical signs of anxiety as well, which can make you feel unwell. While doctors say it is normal to have some anxiety, as you may feel anxious or nervous if you have to tackle a problem at work or make an important decision, it goes beyond the regular nervousness and slight fear you may feel from time to time. An anxiety disorder happens when:

• Anxiety interferes with your ability to function.
• Your reactions are often out of proportion to situations.
• You are not able to control your responses to situations.

Children, adolescents, and adults can experience anxiety disorders. Studies say women are about twice as likely as men to have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can make it difficult to get through the day. Fortunately, there are several effective treatments for these conditions.

Signs and symptoms of anxiety disorder

Doctors say symptoms of anxiety disorders vary depending on the type. A few psychological symptoms include:

• Feeling panic, fear, dread, and uneasiness
• Feeling on edge or irritable
• Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts
• Difficulty concentrating

Physical symptoms of anxiety disorder include:

• Restlessness and palpitations of the heart
• Breathlessness
• Muscle tension
• Cold or sweaty hands
• Dryness in the mouth
• Nausea
• Numbness in the hands and feet
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Ways to get over anxiety

A few tried-and-tested natural ways to get over anxiety include:

Exercise and workout

Indulging in physical activity like regular exercise can be a powerful stress reliever. According to doctors, going for a walk, jogging, cycling, or even swimming or sweating out at the gym can make you active and anxiety-free.

Eating healthy

A balanced diet is always a game-changer, not just for physical but also for mental health, and helps relieve day-to-day stress. Doctors advocate reaching out for plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nutritious foods.

Meditation

Meditation is among the best ways to have a peaceful and balanced mind, which benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

Laugh more

While humour and laughing may not be able to treat every ailment, they can definitely make you feel better, even if you have to fake a laugh through your grumpiness. Laughter reduces your stress and improves overall health.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBT is the most common type of psychotherapy that manages anxiety disorders. CBT for anxiety teaches you to recognize and identify thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings. You then work on changing your thoughts and your reactions to triggering situations.