Anxiety gets a bad rap. It’s a normal and inevitable part of life. Anxiety is designed to warn and protect us and that’s precisely what it usually does. In a moment of danger, we have anxiety to thank for responding and staying safe. We commonly call this process “fight-or-flight.”
Also, there are all those moments when you must rise to the occasion. Our anxiety response allows us to rise up to challenges. Problems arise when our anxiety becomes chronic and disproportionate. We get stuck in the fight-or-flight state. Our bodies can’t tell the difference between real and perceived threats. This is the start of an anxiety disorder.
Some Basics About Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders impact at least 20 percent of American adults each year
They may be diagnosed if your fear and worry interferes with daily activity for at least six months
There are several different kinds of anxiety-related conditions, e.g. generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks
Left unchecked, an anxiety disorder can raise the risk of physical issues ranging from heart disease to substance abuse
Therapy is a common and very effective option for treating most anxiety disorders
3 Giant Steps Toward Controlling Your Anxiety Disorder
1. Recognize the Physical Signs
Anxiety is a trickster. It tells you lies and disguises itself. So, a huge step toward controlling it is recognizing it. An overlooked way to do this is to understand its impact on your physical well-being. Everyone is different but some common threads exist, such as:
Rapid breathing
Accelerated heart rate
Sweating
Shaking and trembling
Sleep disturbances
Digestive issues
Unexplained muscle pain or tension
2. Identify It in the Small Moments and Details
Being stuck in a state of worry doesn’t have to be all about major events. Anxiety is more often found in your daily activities. Minor concerns can blossom into long-term dread. For example:
Making decisions — especially if someone is watching you
Feeling insecure about your appearance
Imagining that others don’t like you
Feeling inadequate in the small actions of your day
If you can identify anxiety in these relatively small moments, you are better positioned to get the help you need.
3. Differentiating Anxiety From Nervousness
Since some amount of anxiety is normal and necessary, it helps to understand the difference between short-term stress and a potential disorder.
Focus: When you’re nervous, you almost always know the reason why. Anxiety can be far more elusive and vague.
Duration: Nervousness typically ends when the source of nervousness has passed. (Meeting with the boss, giving a presentation etc.) Anxiety is ongoing and fluctuates in its ability to impact your daily functioning.
Intensity: Having a temporary bout of nervousness rarely prevents you from performing normal day-to-day activities and behavior. An anxiety disorder has the potential to hijack your concentration and leave you feeling incapable of even basic tasks.
Using the three steps above as guidelines can go a long way in helping you understand anxiety. The trick is to not trigger your anxiety in the process of analyzing your anxiety. If you feel you are dealing with more than just the standard nervousness, it really makes sense to get an expert opinion.
Let’s Connect For a Free Consultation
Anxiety can be common and confusing but also, very treatable. It might affect your life in negative ways and escalate over time. All of this adds up to a reminder that help is available. You do not have to struggle in silence or shame. Anxiety is not about assigning blame or guilt. We live in dramatic and stressful times. Everyone could use a little guidance from time to time. I invite you to reach out so we can begin that process for you. If you’d like to read more about Anxiety Treatment, click here.