Understanding Anxiety

Do you worry too much? Experiencing worry and nervousness is a normal part of life. However, if you have an anxiety disorder, you will experience an unhealthy amount of persistent worry and fear. These worries will interfere with your everyday feelings of well-being and your ability to function. Understanding anxiety is important, as this knowledge will guide you to determine if you need help.

Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the USA, affecting an estimated 40 million adults every year. Although anxiety is highly treatable, only 36% of people with anxiety seek treatment.

Anxiety develops from a complex set of factors such as heritability, brain chemistry, environmental stress, personality, and life events.

Symptoms of anxiety

It is important to understand the signs and symptoms of anxiety. If you think you may be suffering from this disorder, reach out for help. Below are some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety:

• Persistent and excessive feelings of worry and nervousness

• Difficulty handling uncertainty

• Difficulty with concentration

• Difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep

• Irritability

• Restlessness

• Easily fatigued

• Physical symptoms of tension and worry:

  • muscle tension

  • stomach issues — diarrhea, nausea, upset stomach, appetite disturbances

  • headaches

  • rapid breathing

  • weakness or fatigue

• Anxiety can often overlap with feelings of hopelessness and sadness.

Treatment for anxiety

Today we have treatments for anxiety that are effective and evidence-based.

Psychotherapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are widely used to treat anxiety. In therapy, we will first bring you to a place of calm and relief. Once you feel better, we work to understand your symptoms and help you develop the skills you need to reduce your symptoms.

CBT is a process that allows you to examine and reconstruct negative thoughts and beliefs that can contribute to anxiety and depression. The basic understanding of CBT is that our thoughts, rather than actual events, are the cause of our anxiety. In difficult situations, it is your perception that causes your anxiety. When you learn to reframe and challenge your thoughts, you will feel better. You will also learn to trust your own decisions and understand your own capacity for strength and resilience.

In therapy, we will create a personalized plan that will address your specific situation and concerns. Together, we will discover and explore the source of your anxiety. For some people, therapy can uncover deeper issues that may be underlying your anxiety such as childhood trauma, loss, or another stressful life event.

It is important to understand, whatever the cause, anxiety is treatable and you can move forward in life, feeling more confident and secure in yourself and the strength you can build.