Living with Anxiety and Receiving the Help you Need

The feelings can happen suddenly. You’re at a party, doing your daily work, or just going shopping, and suddenly your heart rate quickens, your head starts to feel light, and you are now experiencing anxiety for no reason.

Anxiety is a common experience for many people. For some, it’s an every-now-and-then experience, but there are also many people who experience generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). A mental health issue that causes frequent anxiety attacks.

In this resource, we’ll cover everything you need to know about anxiety.

What is Anxiety? 

Anxiety in and of itself is a very normal reaction to danger and stress. It helps us to react and be more aware when in potentially harmful situations. However, anxiety disorders differ greatly from the minor, everyday occurrences of anxiety. Anxiety disorders cause extreme and sometimes sudden feelings of stress, fear, and discomfort. 

These feelings can be incredibly difficult to avoid or predict in everyday life, making it difficult to complete typical day-to-day activities. Anxiety disorders are alarmingly common in the US, with an estimated 6.8 million adults being affected by generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety is highly unique and case-by-case in terms of triggers and causes. However, many people experience similar symptoms.

Anxiety is a full-body experience and affects people mentally and physically.

Mental Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can affect how you think and your cognitive ability. The mental symptoms of anxiety include:

• Extreme feelings of fear and worry
• Impaired concentration
• Social withdrawal 
• Irritability 
• Racing thoughts
• Brain fog

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

In addition to cognitive symptoms, many anxiety symptoms are physical. That’s because when the brain thinks there’s a danger, it releases hormones that help the brain either fight or flee. It’s helpful for truly dangerous situations, but when there’s no danger, the symptoms are distressing.

• Muscle tension
• Fatigue 
• Difficulty sleeping 
• Feeling dizzy or faint 
• Nausea 
• Feeling alert
• Sweating
• Changes in appetite
• Digestion issues
• High heart rate

These physical symptoms often create more anxious thoughts and feelings, and in turn can make all the symptoms worse.

Anxiety Attacks

Anxiety is most often experienced in the form of short-term and intense episodes called anxiety attacks. These attacks are overwhelming and create symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. 

They can happen suddenly, but are usually the breaking point after an ongoing stressor becomes too much to handle.

Living with Anxiety 

Living with anxiety can lead to an array of different challenges. Some include difficulties with relationships, social situations, school, and work. Such challenges make it harder to try new things, can lead to isolation, and if left untreated, cause one’s potential to be unfulfilled. This isolation and guilt typically lead to more stress and anxiety, sending people into a spiral of returning anxiety. 

Humans are inherently social beings and desire connection with one another. In addition to this, most opportunities are discovered through networking in social environments. Anxiety instills fear of rejection and limits willingness to meet new people or have new experiences. 

Living with anxiety is a great hurdle that often stops people from living the life they want.

Anxiety and Depression 

Depression goes far beyond having a bad week, month, or even year. Depression is a mood disorder that persistently and negatively affects the way one thinks and acts. Similar to anxiety, depression’s persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest can make it incredibly hard to function at a typical level.

Some symptoms of depression include: 

• Loss of interest and motivation for usual activities 
• Chronic fatigue and difficulty sleeping 
• Extreme and persistent hopelessness or pessimism 
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Thoughts of suicide

The symptoms of anxiety can oftentimes lead to depression. When a person is overwhelmed, isolated, fearful, or in a state of panic, it is hard to live how you want. This lack of normalcy feels like a failure and can move a person toward a state of depression.

What Causes Anxiety?

The exact causes of anxiety are not entirely understood. That’s because there are varying contributors and sometimes even a combination of them. Like other mental illnesses, anxiety is not a result of flawed character or personal weakness. 

Family History 

A person’s genetic makeup does not always define one’s destiny. However, it does give us insight into why we may be more or less susceptible to certain health challenges. Most mental illnesses are primarily impacted by environmental factors. However, our genes respond to these factors in a variety of positive or negative ways. 

It’s estimated that anxiety is about 30 percent inherited. The rest is credited to people’s environment. A major portion of these environmental risk factors is attributed to a person’s home life growing up. Parents or other family members who model anxious behaviors or ideals are likely to pass them down to their children.

Though a parent cannot change their child's genetic makeup, they can make a dedicated effort to avoid the expression of such behaviors in their children. 

Trauma 

Trauma of any kind can make significant changes to the brain. When a traumatic event is experienced, the nervous system is kicked into high gear, and stress hormones are released.

The brain does not always do a hard reset and stays in survival mode for longer than necessary. During these times people are constantly reminded of a past experience and have difficulty relaxing, moving on, and fully recovering from the event. 

Trauma can cause prolonged symptoms of anxiety, such as fear of a repeated occurrence of the event, distraction due to flashbacks, and loss of sleep due to anxiousness surrounding the event. 

Like other mental illnesses, anxiety is not a result of flawed character or personal weakness.

Prolonged or Recent Exposure to Extreme Stress 

Frequent and prolonged stress can ravage someone’s body and mind. Though our bodies are designed to respond to and protect us from stress, there is a breaking point where stress is too much to handle. 

The long-term activation of the body’s stress response and overexposure to stress hormones can put a person at risk of developing an anxiety disorder. By learning how to better manage stress, a person can greatly decrease their chances of experiencing severe anxiety. In turn, the overall quality of life is greatly improved.

Physical Causes

Anxiety is not only mental. There’s a physical component in how it can manifest and how it’s caused.

Underlying medical conditions like thyroid dysfunction, heart disease, diabetes, and neurological disorders can each cause anxiety.

Not only that, but nutritional deficiencies and diet can cause anxiety issues.

Don’t assume the issue is in how you’re thinking; there may be many other issues that should be addressed. In some cases, changing your diet can make a big difference.

Anxiety Treatment and Management

Anxiety as a disorder can be treated through psychotherapy and medication. However, there are various approaches to how these treatments are implemented.

Psychotherapy for Anxiety

Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is what most people think of when they think about therapy. It’s working directly with a therapist to talk through mental health difficulties.

During this treatment, people will work to build healthy coping skills, learn to build healthy boundaries, and work through trauma.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is the most effective form of therapy for anxiety. This form of therapy focuses on finding cognitive distortions and replacing them with a clearer picture of reality.

You’ll also learn specific skills to help you manage anxiety symptoms.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT is focused on recognizing and acknowledging inner thoughts, feelings, urges, and pain without judgment. Then, learning how to view these things as nothing more than bits of language. It helps them feel less threatening and negative.

The observing self is a core principle of ACT. It’s the idea that a person can view their feelings from a different perspective and focus on the present moment.

Anxiety Medication

Medication for anxiety can be incredibly helpful for people who are struggling with managing anxiety symptoms. In some instances, taking the medication on their own is not enough to see long-term results; however, when coupled with psychotherapy, it’s often necessary to feel stable.

When it comes to choosing which medication is best for you, talk with your doctor and trust their assessment.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

This type of medication is the most common and first-line medication for managing anxiety and depression. It works by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain. This increases serotonin levels to improve mood, regulate emotions, and reduce anxiety.

Learn more about SSRIs and other antidepressants.

Serotonin-norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

This form of medication is a form of antidepressant medication that can be helpful to treat depression, chronic pain, and anxiety. It increases neurotransmitter levels.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about the benefits, risks, and possible side effects of potential medication options.

Anxiety Treatment in Mesa, Arizona

Effective anxiety treatment is determined by individual needs. It may take some trial and error to determine the ideal treatment plan for an individual. Some common forms of treatment include: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy 
• Medication 
• Lifestyle changes 
• Support groups
  

Breaking the cycle of anxiety is possible—let us help you do so! Our caring and knowledgeable staff will help you take action, stick to your treatment plan, and live the life you deserve. Call today to schedule a consultation.