ANXIETY

What is it?

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. Everyone can experience anxiety every once in a while. It can happen right before a big presentation, a meeting, an interview or exam. But if you struggle with feelings of anxiety that seem to overwhelm you for a period longer than six months, you could have an anxiety disorder.

Note that it’s possible to have more than one disorder. These can also develop from a medical issue that needs to be fixed. The most common risk factors of anxiety are trauma, illness, stress buildup, personality, other mental health disorders, genetics, and drugs and alcohol abuse.

What are the types and symptoms of anxiety disorder?

Social anxiety disorder: extreme fear of being judged by others in social situations
Panic disorder: recurring episodes of panic attack (anxiety, stress, overwhelming emotions you cannot control, feeling like you are suffocating)
Separation anxiety disorder: fear of being away from home or loved ones
Phobia: excessive and irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity. A person with phobias may experience sweating, heart palpitations and shaking when they encounter their phobias.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: recurring irrational thoughts that lead you to perform specific, repeated behaviors
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): anxiety following a traumatic event (physical and sexual abuse, war, loss, accident, etc)

What are the signs of anxiety?

Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
Having an impending sense of danger, or doom
Increased heart rate
Breathing rapidly
Sweating
Trembling
Feeling weak or tired
Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than worrying
Trouble sleeping
Gastrointestinal problems
Having trouble containing your worries
Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Whichever type of chronic anxiety you have, you can get treatment and help. There is hope!

Treatment – How to get help?

You need to get help when:

You feel like you are worrying too much and it’s interfering with your work or relationships or your life in general
Your fear, worry, or anxiety, is challenging to control and upsetting
You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical condition
You are having suicidal thoughts or behavior.

If you, or your loved one experience the above symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact us. We can guide you to the right support and services.