Anxiety

Anxiety is experienced as excessive worry and fear and is felt both emotionally and physically.  Certain amounts of anxiety are normal and in fact needed for survival and balanced functioning.  However, the challenge comes when one leaves the realm of moderate and finds themselves overwhelmed with debilitating fears.

In the brain, of a person experiencing anxiety, threat detection is working overtime and leads to increased physical responses from the sympathetic nervous system sending the body into the fight, flight or freeze modes.  

Anxiety is a very common medically diagnosed illness across all ages and can include emotional, cognitive, and physical/behavioral symptoms, with each symptom varying on a continuum of intensity and debilitation.

Emotional

  • Feeling of loosing control
  • Overwhelm
  • Tension
  • Apprehension
  • Feeling of nervourness, worry, and fear

Cognitive

  • Irrational fears
  • Excessive worries
  • Nervous projections regarding the future

Physical/Behavioural

  • Panic attacks
  • Difficulty breathing – breathlessness or rapid shallow breathing
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach aches
  • Head aches
  • Sweating
  • Shakiness in hands and feet – fidgeting constantly
  • Avoidance tendency – micro avoidance and macro avoidance
  • Safety behaviours – tendencies developed which accommodate anxiety by giving a feeling of safety

Anxiety is developed most often from a combination of contributors (environmental, psychological and biological) and can be exacerbated by behavioral tendencies of avoidance, accommodation and unhealthy coping mechanisms such as the usage of drugs and alcohol.  

Fortunately, anxiety is manageable and generally responds well to treatment.  Treatment can include medical assessment, medication, psychotherapy, individual coping skill development and awareness, and mental health support groups.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a widely researched and recommended approach for the management of anxiety and includes empowering the person to be aware of their anxiety triggers and to intentionally lead their own thoughts, feeling and behaviors in a way that is evidence based rather than fear based.  Other skills can be developed to de-escalate the body during a fight/flight/freeze response.  

If you would like more information on anxiety or help in managing anxiety reach out for support.