What is Anxiety and How Can I get relief?
A racing heartbeat, sweaty palms, feeling like you are going to jump out of your skin, a relentless loop of stressful thoughts and to-do’s running through your mind. If you have felt any of these, you are not alone.
Anxiety is a normal emotion that all people experience from time to time. It is a natural response to stress, and it can be useful in helping us avoid danger and cope with difficult situations. However, when anxiety becomes chronic or excessive, it can wreak havoc on our relationships, jobs, and overall functioning. In this article, we will explore what anxiety is and how it manifests.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, apprehension, or fear about future events or situations. It is a normal human emotion that can help individuals cope with stress, but it can also be a sign of an underlying mental health condition. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States, affecting over 40 million adults.
While it is normal to feel anxious occasionally, people with an anxiety disorder experience anxiety on a persistent basis, even when there is no imminent danger. Anxiety disorders can interfere with daily functioning and may cause physical symptoms such as a racing heartbeat, sweating, and trembling.
How does anxiety cause physical symptoms?
Anxiety can show up as somatic symptoms, which are physical symptoms that have no apparent physical cause. These symptoms can include things like headaches, chest pain, fatigue, muscle tension, and gastrointestinal distress. People with anxiety disorders may experience these symptoms frequently, even when there is no obvious reason to be worried. Somatic symptoms can be distressing and can interfere with daily functioning. They can also lead to unnecessary medical tests and procedures if the individual is not aware that their symptoms are related to their anxiety. Understanding that somatic symptoms can be a manifestation of anxiety is an important step in seeking appropriate treatment for anxiety disorders.
How Do I know If I have Anxiety?
Anxiety can manifest in different ways depending on the individual and the type of anxiety disorder they may have. Below are some of the most common types of anxiety and how they manifest:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by excessive worry and fears about everyday events or activities. Individuals with GAD may worry about things like work, relationships, health, and finances, even when there is no obvious reason to be worried. This excessive worry can cause physical symptoms such as muscle tension, fatigue, headaches, and difficulty sleeping.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by sudden, unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks can be very distressing and can cause physical symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness. People with panic disorder may avoid situations that they fear could trigger a panic attack, such as crowded places or social events.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is characterized by intrusive and unwanted thoughts or obsessions, which can cause significant distress. Individuals with OCD may perform compulsive behaviors or rituals to relieve the anxiety caused by their obsessions. For example, a person with OCD may repeatedly check the locks on their doors and windows to ensure that they are secure, even when they know that they are already locked.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by excessive fear and anxiety about social situations. People with a social anxiety disorder may feel anxious about being judged or evaluated negatively by others. This can lead to avoidance of social situations, difficulty making friends, and difficulty with school or work.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that can occur after a person has experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, war, or assault. Symptoms of PTSD can include intrusive thoughts or memories of the traumatic event, nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event. PTSD can cause significant distress and may interfere with daily functioning.
Phobias
Phobias are intense and irrational fears of specific objects, situations, or activities. Common phobias include fear of heights, spiders, flying, and enclosed spaces. Phobias can cause significant distress and may lead to avoidance of the object or situation, which can interfere with daily functioning.
How to get help with anxiety
It is normal to experience anxiety at times, and it can even be helpful in alerting you to something that is out of balance in your life. However, when anxiety becomes chronic or excessive, it can get in the way of life and relationships. Anxiety doesn’t look the same for everyone, so it is important to talk to a trained mental health professional to understand what you are experiencing and determine a path to relief.
What to expect from your Online Anxiety therapist
Anxiety disorders are treatable with therapy, medication, or a combination of both. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of anxiety, it's important to seek help. Already tried standard talk therapy without results? At Flourish Mindset, we provide specialized treatment to help folx overcome anxiety, when other methods don’t work.
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OUR THERAPISTS at FLOURISH MINDSET will provide you with information about the therapy process and use proven research-backed tools to help you make real progress. We support you every step of the way to help you make lasting progress.
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Are you ready to overcome anxiety, and reclaim your life? If you're ready to take the next step in your healing journey, reach out to one of our anxiety therapists for a free 20 min consultation at Flourish Mindset. To Get started on your journey to relief from anxiety, take the next steps in your treatment with online Anxiety therapy to follow the simple steps below!
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