Anxiety is one of the most common conditions we work with at Pathways, but also a condition that can cause major problems in employment and relationships with friends and family.
Most of us experience anxiety at sometime in our lives, but sometimes anxiety gets in the way of being able to enjoy our lives. Anxiety can be paralyzing.
Following is general information about anxiety, in part from rethink.org and how “everyday” anxiety differs from the need to seek help in dealing with your anxiety:
We all have feelings of anxiety, worry and fear sometimes. These can be normal responses to certain situations. For example, you might worry about a job interview, or about paying a bill on time. These feelings can be helpful in giving you an awareness of risks and what you need to do in a difficult or dangerous situation.
This reaction is known as ‘fight or flight.’ Your brain responds to a threat or danger by releasing stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Even if you have imagined the danger, these hormones cause the physical symptoms of anxiety. Once the threatening situation has stopped, your body will usually return to normal.
But if you have an anxiety disorder these feelings of fear and danger can be ongoing and interrupt your daily routine long after you the threat has gone. They can make you feel as though things are worse than they actually are.
Everyone’s experience of anxiety disorders is different. Not everyone who has an anxiety disorder will experience the same symptoms.
Mental symptoms of anxiety can include:
- Racing thoughts
- Uncontrollable over thinking
- Difficulties concentrating
- Feelings of dread, panic or ‘impending doom’
- Feeling irritable
- Heightened alertness
- Problems with sleep
- Changes in appetite
- Wanting to escape from the situation you are in
- Dissociation (If you dissociate you might feel like you are not connected to your own body. Or like you are watching things happen around you, without feeling it)
Physical symptoms of anxiety can include:
- Sweating
- Heavy and fast breathing
- Hot flushes or blushing
- Dry mouth
- Shaking
- Hair loss
- Fast heartbeat
- Extreme tiredness or lack of energy
- Dizziness and fainting
- Stomach aches and sickness
If you’re frequently experiencing these symptoms, call Pathways of Ohio Counseling Services today to set up an intake appointment to speak with one of our experienced staff members about your anxiety symptoms.