Anxiety is a common human emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. Nearly everyone experiences some anxiety in their life.
Anxiety serves an important purpose - it helps us notice and respond to threats or dangers around us. A little bit of anxiety can help us perform well under pressure. For example, anxiety about an exam can motivate you to study harder.
However, for some people anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, and overwhelming. This is when it qualifies as an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in the United States every year. Common symptoms include:
If you struggle with overwhelming anxiety that interferes with daily life, you may have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or another anxiety condition. The good news is anxiety disorders are treatable, often with a combination of talk therapy and medication.
"After years of anxiety ruling my life, I finally got help. Now I feel more empowered, relaxed, and in control."
Now back to understanding anxiety disorders. There are several major types:
Social Anxiety Disorder
As you can see, anxiety comes in many forms - but the underlying cause is thought patterns that exaggerate fear and perceived threats. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment that helps people identify and change thought patterns contributing to anxiety.
Anxiety treatment takes time and commitment, but it is very worthwhile. Overcoming anxiety allows people to live more freely and fully embrace all that life has to offer! The first step is reaching out for help.