Anxiety is an unpleasant feeling of apprehension about future events or circumstances. We’ve all dealt with it.
People who suffer from anxiety often feel worried or fearful about something they perceive as threatening or dangerous. They may also feel restless, irritable, tense, shaky, jittery, or unable to sleep. Some people experience panic attacks, where they suddenly feel very frightened or panicked. Others may experience chronic anxiety, such as worrying too much about things that do not really matter.
Anxiety disorders include panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). These conditions may occur alone or in combination. They affect how people think, feel and behave. People who suffer from an anxiety disorder often worry excessively about things they cannot control. They also may avoid certain activities because they fear what might happen if they do them. Some people with anxiety disorders have physical reactions such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness or faintness. Others have trouble sleeping.
What causes anxiety?
If anxiety prevents you living your life, you might be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can be lifelong, or they can occur after a particular triggering event, or they can be caused by prolonged stress. There is also a genetic factor – if your parents had anxiety disorders, you are much more likely to get one too.
Early relationships also influence how we perceive stressful situations and affect our ability to manage stress. We learn what to be stressed out about from the people around us, and how to respond to stress through their example (e.g., if they were anxious themselves). If you grew up with an anxious caregiver, then your own experience of anxiety may feel overwhelming and difficult to control. If that caregiver struggles to manage their anxiety, then your own state of constant worry may seem intimidating or even impossible to overcome!
How can I treat my anxiety?
Understanding the origins of your emotions can be a powerful tool for managing anxiety. By processing your traumas of the past, examining your inherited perspectives on life, and simply articulating your fears to an impartial third person, you can loosen anxiety’s hold on your life. Many people who suffer from anxiety disorders find themselves trapped by their fears, and blocked from pursuing their goals and passions. Therapy can help you identify areas where your anxiety disorder represents a roadblock, suggest ways to work around those obstacles, and support you.
