In today's world, and especially here in the west, the word anxiety carries a lot of weight in different social contexts and we can probably conclude that the word is misused often.
What Anxiety Is, And How to Deal With It
People commonly confuse stress for anxiety and sometimes even discuss “anxiety” as an identifiable trait of who they are. In other words, you may hear someone describing their experience of anxiety as “my anxiety…”, where they carry it like a badge of sorts. Nonetheless, anxiety as a topic is something that is not always understood.
What Causes Anxiety?
There are several different kinds of anxiety disorders, each with its own set of symptoms. If you feel anxious, talk to your therapist or doctor about what might be causing it. It is sometimes hard to pinpoint the exact issues, and they are different for everyone.
What Are Some Common Signs of Anxiety?
One of the most common signs of anxiety is feeling nervous, worried, or afraid. Other signs include restlessness, muscle tension, sweating, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and difficulty concentrating.
How Can I Cope with My Anxiety?
If you feel anxious, try to identify what's causing it. Are you having trouble sleeping? Feeling stressed at work? Having relationship issues? Identifying the source of your anxiety will help you figure out how to deal with it.
What Is an Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety disorders are common, affecting more than 40 million adults in the U.S. and Canada. According to the National Institutes of Health, people who suffer from anxiety disorders often experience symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, trouble concentrating, muscle tension, sleep disturbances, and stomach upset.
Anxiety disorders include panic attacks, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and others. Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive worry, fear, or nervousness that interferes with daily life.
Are you wondering what anxiety is and if you might be struggling with symptoms of anxiety?
If after reading this blog you feel that you might be, we at Wilston Therapy can help. We are a team of professional and friendly psychotherapists that love working with a variety of people.