Do You Have Anxiety?
We’ve all felt nervous, jittery, or worried on occasion. These feelings are common when people are facing stressful or uncertain situations. Whether it stems from money troubles, a sick family member, or even something positive like a new job, feeling anxious is a normal reaction. However, if worrying or anxiety becomes constant or impedes our ability to get through our daily lives, it can be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
What Does Anxiety Feel Like?
According to the National Institute for Mental Health, common symptoms of anxiety include:
Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
Being crabby or short-tempered
Being easily fatigued
Having difficulty concentrating
Having headaches, body aches, or unexplained pains
Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Causes of Anxiety Disorders
People of all ages experience anxiety disorders, including children and teenagers. Like many medical conditions, there are a combination of individual and external factors that may contribute, although the exact causes are unclear. Anxiety has a hereditary component, meaning that genetics play a role, particularly when anxiety first appears in childhood. The brain’s chemical balance can be altered from severe or persistent stress. Finally, experiencing trauma, whether a one-time event or a prolonged experience, can trigger an anxiety disorder.
When Feeling Anxious Becomes a Problem
Anxiety becomes a problem when worrying gets out of control. Signs of this can include: when a person can’t stop thinking about their fears, is reluctant to try anything new, or becomes unwilling or unable to deviate from a routine. Getting stuck in negative patterns of thinking is a key indicator that more support is needed to manage anxiety.
Ways to Manage or Treat Anxiety
The goals of treatment are to reduce symptoms, increase coping skills, and manage stress. People generally see the most amount of improvement with a combination of strategies including:
Working with a therapist to learn about what triggers anxiety and ways to manage it
Taking medication to lessen frequency and intensity of symptoms
Eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep, exercising, and avoiding caffeine
Trying alternative therapies like meditation, massage, and acupuncture
If you’d like to explore options for managing anxiety, our team at Evolve Counseling & Wellness Center can help. Our personalized process starts with a phone conversation Dr. Bacher to discuss your concerns and the services we provide. Reach out today to get connected.