Anxiety is an emotion that involves feelings of fear, uneasiness, stress, and nervousness. Like any emotion, feelings of anxiety have their time and place. Likewise, it is essential to understand that anxiety is not always an inherently negative emotion. After all, it can motivate us to enhance our performance or, more appropriately, judge the risks that could result from a particular situation.
But when anxiety begins to interfere with our ability to function normally in our daily life, it should be addressed seriously. Unfortunately, we live in a world where anxiety seems more prevalent than ever. However, that does not mean chronic or persistent anxiety is healthy or normal. With that, knowing how to identify abnormal anxiety if or when it surfaces in yourself and others throughout your life is essential.
Anxiety is an all-encompassing survival mechanism. In other words, it is a psychological, physiological, and behavioral state of being. So naturally, this state is induced in animals and humans when we experience a threat to our well-being and survival. When our body is anxious, it is trying to best adapt and cope with an adverse or otherwise unexpected event.
Every person experiences different symptoms of anxiety; however, there are a variety of symptoms that many individuals share. Typically, these symptoms include:
In short, anxiety is meant to keep us safe. For example, we may experience anxiety when crossing a busy street. In the same way, we may feel anxiety as we attempt to respond to loss in our lives.
It can be helpful to understand that anxiety exists on a spectrum. Opposite to normal anxiety lies anxiety-related disorders. There are several different types of anxiety disorders, each characterized by unique symptoms. Nearly 20% of adults in the United States struggle with anxiety disorders annually.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common mental health disorders. Nearly six percent of adults will experience GAD throughout their lives.
This condition is characterized by persistent feelings of worry that interfere with one’s ability to function normally in daily life. Often, these symptoms will last for months, well into years.
Symptoms include:
Frequent and unexpected panic attacks characterize panic disorder. Panic attacks are sudden and intense episodes of fear, discomfort, and a sense of lost control. These episodes can occur with or without an obvious trigger.
People who struggle with panic disorder experience intense worry about when their next panic attack will occur. As a result, they will often attempt to avoid places and situations that could potentially trigger them.
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by persistent fear of judgment from others. This fear may be so intense that it causes an individual to fear attending school, working, or completing other everyday tasks.
During social situations, individuals with SAD may experience:
A phobia is an intense fear of a particular stimulus or situation. However, when someone has a phobia-related disorder, their fear of a specific object or thing is so severe that it interferes with their daily life.
Individuals who have phobias may:
It can be challenging to determine if and when someone’s anxiety is becoming abnormal. This is especially apparent for those that may have learned to live with their abnormally anxious symptoms. Fortunately, a mental health professional can help diagnose abnormal anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. Online resources, such as anxiety self-tests, can help individuals better understand their anxiety.
In general, anxiety becomes a disorder when it’s either irrational, excessive, or interferes with an individual’s ability to function normally in their daily life. It may affect one’s ability to cope with life’s stressors appropriately or is disproportionate to the severity of a seemingly-threatening stimulus.
It is vital to understand that treatment and support for anxiety are available. Likewise, recovery from anxiety disorders is possible. Every treatment facility utilizes unique approaches to treat anxiety. Most use a combination of evidence-based practices and holistic interventions.
A few treatment modalities that facilities may use to treat anxiety and anxiety-related disorders include:
When abnormal anxiety is left unresolved, it can lead to many mental and physical health problems. To heal from the long-lasting effects of anxiety, it is crucial to receive treatment from a facility that supports and empowers clients.
While anxiety is a natural part of life, it can become a concern when it turns irrational, excessive, or disrupts daily activities, potentially signaling an anxiety disorder. The good news is that effective treatment options are available, and recovery is within reach. It’s crucial to understand that anxiety disorders vary greatly and what works for one person may not be effective for another.
Our directory provides access to a broad range of treatment facilities and modalities for individuals seeking to manage their anxiety and its symptoms. These facilities focus on creating personalized treatment plans tailored to the unique needs and recovery goals of each person. Treatment options might include a combination of medication management, various forms of psychotherapy, and holistic approaches.
Exploring our directory can help you learn more about the different treatment possibilities and programs available for anxiety disorders. You can find resources and contact information for facilities that specialize in anxiety treatment, guiding you towards making an informed decision about your mental health care. Take the first step towards managing your anxiety by finding a treatment approach that aligns with your needs.
