What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a common mental health disorder characterized by persistent, excessive worry or fear about everyday situations. It affects millions of adults across the globe. Some key features of anxiety include:
- Feeling apprehensive or tense much of the time
- Worrying excessively about real or perceived threats
- Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
- Physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, and sleep issues
Anxiety differs from normal apprehension or fear in both intensity and duration. While occasional anxiety is a normal part of life, anxiety disorders cause significant distress or interfere with daily activities. There are several types of anxiety disorders:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday issues. People with GAD may be excessively concerned about health, family, finances, or other aspects of life.
- Social Anxiety Disorder causes extreme fear of social settings and interactions. Someone with this disorder may avoid parties, work presentations, or interacting with strangers out of fear of embarrassment, judgment, or rejection.
- Panic Disorder features sudden, unexpected panic attacks and preoccupation about having another attack. Panic attacks are intense periods of fear or terror accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heart.
Anxiety disorders likely have both environmental and genetic causes. Risk factors can include trauma, chronic stress, personality factors like shyness or neuroticism, biological factors like brain chemistry and genetics, and early childhood experiences.
Treatment commonly involves psychotherapy, medication, or both. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps patients recognize irrational fears and thought patterns. Medications can also help relieve symptoms. Managing stress through self-care habits is another important component of treatment.
If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety, it's important to seek professional help. Vitality Health Clinic offers a range of therapeutic services to support individuals dealing with anxiety disorders. With proper treatment, it is possible to manage and overcome anxiety, improving overall quality of life.