Anxiety is a completely normal human emotion. It falls in the spectrum with other feelings like happiness, sadness, anger, jealousy, etc. Anxiety is your brain's way of alerting you of any potential threats or dangers.
There's a pretty good chance that you've experienced anxiety before. Maybe when you were in school taking a test you felt a little uneasy. Or maybe an important presentation at work made you feel a little nervous before it was your turn to present. There's a good chance you may have felt some type of anxiety after having to make a tough decision for your life as well.
Anxiety every now and then is perfectly normal. Anxiety disorders, on the other hand, can cause an overwhelming amount of anxiety.
Let's dive into the causes and symptoms of anxiety.
Causes
The cause of anxiety disorders after thorough research is still pretty unknown. This is due to multiple factors instead of just one, main source. That being said, researchers believe a lot of factors are at play in the potential to develop anxiety disorders. Here are a few of the causes of anxiety:
Brain Chemistry
Chronic Health Condition
Environment
Genetics
Low Self-Esteem
Medical Conditions
Mental Health Disorder
Negative Life Events
Sexual Abuse
Shyness as a child
Substance Abuse
Trauma
Symptoms
The main symptom of anxiety is worry or fear about a certain situation. Depending on the type of anxiety order you may have, you could show different symptoms and signs. Here are a few of the common symptoms associated with anxiety:
Avoidance
Dizziness
Dry mouth
Fear
Heart palpitations
Hyperventilation
Inability to stay and remain calm
Lack of concentration
Nausea
Panic
Rumination
Sleeping problems
Shortness of breath
Tense Muscles
Uneasiness
Types
There are many different types of anxiety disorders. Here are a few of the different anxiety disorders that an individual suffering from anxiety could experience:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is a type of anxiety disorder where an individual has excessive and unrealistic worries with little to no reason.
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder happens when someone can experience a sudden and intense fear or a panic attack.
Phobias
This type of anxiety disorder is when an individual experiences an intense fear of a specific situation or object. This could include fearing things like flying, heights, snakes, storms, needles, and more.
Separation Anxiety
This type of anxiety is typically associated with small children or even animals, but anyone can feel a little anxious or nervous when a loved one leaves them. This type of anxiety will cause an individual to constantly worry and fear something bad will happen to their loved one.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is tied to social situations. Someone suffering from this type of anxiety may feel worried, embarrassed, and judged when involved in any type of social setting. Even if an individual is with friends, family, or other trusted and supported individuals, they may still feel self-conscious.
Treatment
Remember, anxiety is a completely normal human emotion. Everyone experiences this from time to time. When the anxiety you're dealing with is affecting your life, it may be time to reach out for help and support.
It's important to know that you're not alone in how you're feeling, and there are people available to help you.
Therapy is a great way to help you learn about your emotions and associated behaviors. A therapist can teach you how to understand what you're feeling and work towards managing the emotions affecting your anxiety.
We want you to feel better, let’s begin your transformative journey now to live a live freer from anxiety.
If you would like to schedule your appointment, you may do so online by clicking here to go to the appointments page. There you can view therapist’s availability and schedule conveniently online.
