Today we are going to talk about anxiety, a very common mental and physical state that, to some degree, affects nearly every person on the planet. To gain a better understanding of this natural part of life, we are going to define anxiety and learn how to recognize the presence of an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress, stimulating feelings of fear, pressure, and tension. These emotions often correlate with physical reactions like increased blood pressure, sensitivity, or perspiration, and, in many ways, they are actually necessary to navigate the world around us. Anxiety allows us to recognize important events, avoid danger, and shift our attention from one thing to another. Your anxiety about an upcoming presentation, for example, might motivate you to work harder in the same way that it keeps you from walking too close to oncoming traffic.
However, there is one key component that separates someone who experiences anxiety from someone with a diagnosable anxiety disorder. Instances of anxiety are typically temporary and revolve around a particular idea, object, or event. Once this stressor passes, the anxiety tends to disappear with it, but this is not the case for individuals with an anxiety disorder. People diagnosed with an anxiety disorder may experience chronic symptoms that interfere with their regular functioning. These symptoms can recur often and tend to stimulate feelings of general discomfort, apprehension, or a lack of control.
If you or a loved one is experiencing severe anxiety, try asking yourself the following questions:
- Can you identify the stressor that is making you feel anxious?
- When this stressor goes away, do you feel your anxiety lessening?
- About how many times a day do you feel anxious?
- Do you find yourself feeling anxious more often than not?
The usual signs of an anxiety disorder are generalization, frequency, and persistence; however, the exact shape of an anxiety disorder can vary depending on the type of disorder an individual has been diagnosed with. We will dive deeper into each of these in different posts, but the most common anxiety disorders are Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The symptoms and stressors of each type can vary, so, if you are struggling with anxiety, it is important to attempt to hone in on where your anxiety comes from.
If you are having trouble locating stressors or managing your anxiety, seek help from a local Spokane health care professional. Reach out to Damaris through her contact page or calling 509-342-6592.
