Anxiety

Anxiety is our reaction to stress, threats, and uncertainty. Anxiety can feel like a sense of unease in our stomach, heart beating out of our chest, or the paralyzing fear we feel when we have to do something extremely challenging. Anxiety helps us stay safe but for people challenged with anxiety disorders it can drastically impact their functioning.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

The Diagnostic Statistical Manual describes several anxiety disorders including specific phobias, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What’s the Cause?

We all feel anxiety from time to time, it’s an important experience that often leads to action and productivity. Anxiety and fear protect us from threats in our environment. However, when these emotions cause significant challenges and affect our ability to function effectively in all areas of our life, they can develop into anxiety disorders.

According to Anxiety.com, most people develop anxiety disorders as a result of a combination of different “risk factors such as neurobiological factors, genetic markers, environmental factors, and life experiences.”

Treating Anxiety

There are many research-based strategies to reduce/dampen the stress response of the body through regulating the nervous system.

Psychotherapy may include interventions such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

Practices such as mindfulness/meditation, relaxation/self-soothing strategies, exercise, healthy diet, and rest have also been shown to be beneficial.