What is Anxiety?
People go through a number of different emotions day in and day out. After a good night’s sleep, you could wake up feeling energized, happy, and eager to start your day.
But as the day goes on, you may have spilled coffee on yourself, ripped your favorite jeans, and got stuck in traffic, making you late for work. Before lunch even hits, you may experience feelings of shame, embarrassment, anger, and rage.
Your emotions depend on events and interactions that take place during your day. Another type of emotion that a lot of people face in their day-to-day lives is anxiety. If you’re not that familiar with anxiety, don’t worry, we’re here to help dive deeper into this emotion.
Let’s learn more about what exactly anxiety is and what you can do about it.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is the feeling of fear or uneasiness. Anxiety is a normal reaction and emotion that almost everyone experiences in their lifetime. When anxiety is left untreated, an anxiety disorder can develop, which can creep into someone’s daily life and routine and cause a mix of challenges and signs and symptoms to develop.
The Cause
The exact cause of anxiety is unknown. That being said, there are several factors believed to cause anxiety. These are some of the most well-known causes of anxiety:
Brain biology
Brain chemistry
Environment
Genetics
Stress
There are also risk factors for anxiety disorders. These are some of the most common risk factors for someone to develop an anxiety disorder:
Family history of mental disorders or anxiety
Life changes
Personality
Physical health conditions
Traumatic event
The Signs and Symptoms
Anxiety can bring on a lot of signs and symptoms. These are some of the most common signs and symptoms of anxiety:
Aches and pains
Avoiding certain places, people, and activities
Difficulty sleeping
Digestive issues
Dizziness
Fatigue
Hyperventilation
Increased heart rate
Lack of concentration
Nervous
Panic
Restless
Shaking or trembling
Sweating
Tense
Unable to control worries
Treatment Options
Some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety may be more difficult to spot compared to others. If you feel that your anxiety isn’t going away, it’s important to reach out to your healthcare provider to try to figure out what’s going on. Your healthcare provider will work with you to learn more about the signs and symptoms you’re struggling with, go over your medical history, and run tests to figure out if anxiety is the culprit.
Anxiety is both a normal emotion and a common disorder that many people deal with. Just because anxiety may be common doesn’t mean it’s something that you have to live with. There are many different types of treatment options for anxiety disorders, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective. It can help you learn strategies for both reducing your anxiety itself and building your confidence in your ability to cope with it. Additional options include medication, support groups, and relaxation strategies like exercise and meditation. The right treatment option for you will be dependent on your medical history, signs and symptoms, and overall goals of treatment.
Next Steps
If you or someone you love suspect that you’re struggling with anxiety, it’s important to reach out for additional support. While anxiety is a common and normal human emotion, if the feelings of anxiety last for longer than two weeks, it could be a sign that there’s an anxiety disorder happening instead of just dealing with general feelings of anxiety. Don’t delay in getting the help you need and deserve. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you better manage your anxiety.
Read about our Anxiety Therapy in Washington DC and VA.