ANXIETY
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes is can motivate you and help you perform under pressure. However if fears, worries and panic attacks start to get in the way of living a normal life then you may be suffering from anxiety disorder.
Normally, anxiety is a reaction to stress when facing challenging situations in life such as making important decisions or preparing for an exam or for an important job interview.
Anxiety can be very unpleasant and felt both at a physical and emotional level.
It triggers our fight or flight response our normal biological reaction to fear.
We have all experienced some anxiety in our lives at some level especially if it could have a big impact on our life, for example when:
- starting a new job
- attending an interview
- sitting an exam
- moving home
- deciding to get married or divorce
- going to hospital
- being diagnosed with an illness
- having a baby
Is Something Worrying You?
In such circumstances you might have some worries and might have difficulty in sleeping or concentrate. However the feelings of worry should stop after a short time or when the situation has passed.
Because anxiety is a normal human experience, it’s sometimes hard to detect when it’s becoming a mental health issue. If your feelings of anxiety are very strong, or last for a long time, it is a good indication that you may need professional help.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety issue, but general symptoms include:
- Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness.
- Problems sleeping.
- An inability to be still and calm.
- Feeling of losing control or going crazy.
- Heart palpitations or chest pain.
- Feeling like you’re going to pass out.
- Trouble breathing or choking sensation.
- Hyperventilation.
- Hot flashes or chills.
- Dry mouth.
- Trembling or shaking.
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
- Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are not just a temporary worry. If you experience severe fear or persistent worries in situations where most people would not feel threatened then you may want to seek help.
Anxiety disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , social anxiety disorder, specific phobias such as claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) agoraphobia (fear of public places and open spaces), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder.
At Therapy 121 we can support you to overcome anxiety and help you get your life back.
