Do you struggle with thoughts of worry, fear, or nervousness? Do you wrestle with about the meaning of life? Are there social situations that you intentionally avoid? If so, then you might have anxiety. By understanding anxiety symptoms and how they develop, you can take steps to treat it and live a more worry-free life.
What is Anxiety?
So what is anxiety anyway? Anxiety is actually a normal human emotion. We all get anxious from time-to-time, worrying whether or not we did well on a test or got the big promotion at work. An anxiety disorder is something more. The Mayo Clinic defines generalized anxiety disorder as, “excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that interferes with day-to-day activities.”
This means that the worry and fear you feel is a constant in your life and never seems to fully go away. This prevents you from functioning well in daily life.
How Does Anxiety Develop?
Anxiety can develop in both adults or children, and affects both men and women. According to Psychology Today:
- Anxiety can be based in biology or occur from environmental stressors.
- Some individuals may have a genetic predisposition to anxiety.
- A traumatic experience may precede anxiety.
Understanding anxiety means knowing that just about anyone can be prone to developing the condition, but that children are particularly susceptible. This is especially true, if they’ve survived some sort of traumatic event.
Are There Physical Symptoms of Anxiety?
When understanding anxiety, know that there are physical symptoms that go along with the condition. Anxiety symptoms include::
- An elevated heartbeat
- Upset stomach
- Bouts of nausea
- Dry mouth
- Tingling and numbness
- Sweaty or cold hands or feet
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
What Effect Can Anxiety Have on My Life?
Left untreated, anxiety can have a tremendous effect on your everyday life. Experiencing persistent negative thoughts and worry can make it difficult to concentrate at work or school. Feeling anxious or tense can have a negative impact on professional and personal relationships. The physical symptoms themselves can be further upsetting and uncomfortable. Anxiety could also:
- Be the root of an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Be the cause of a panic disorder.
- Be associated with other conditions, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
As you can see, as we gain a greater understanding of anxiety we learn and accept that it can have significant root causes and have a major impact on our lives.
How Can You Treat Anxiety?
Anxiety is a treatable condition, with treatment options that employ different techniques. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) lists the following options:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: you and your therapist work together to challenge your thinking and change behavior.
- Exposure Therapy: you are gradually exposed to whatever triggers your anxiety and then process the experiences with a therapist.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: you use mindfulness techniques to foster change and acceptance.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: you focus on eye movement and its connection to thoughts.
- Interpersonal Therapy: you focus on your interpersonal experiences with others.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: You use mindfulness to forge commitment and change.
Lifestyle Changes to Treat Anxiety
The ADAA also makes recommendations for lifestyle changes that may have a positive impact on anxiety. These include:
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Exercising regularly.
- Avoiding caffeine and alcohol use.
- Practicing meditation and yoga.
- Staying positive and having a sense of humor.
- Taking “time-outs” to count or focus on breathing.
- Joining a support group.
- Getting plenty of sleep.
You do not have to be burdened by the fears and worry caused by anxiety. By understanding anxiety, including its causes, symptoms, and treatment methods, you too can lead a better life that is more positive and worry-free.
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"Igor Giusti is a profoundly gifted healer and spiritual guide. His deep knowledge of different styles of therapy is balanced by an equally deep knowledge of spiritual practice and literature. He really does practice what he teaches - integrating the mind, heart, and body together in a life dedicated to spiritual realization. He has studied extensively and done lengthy retreats. I know personally from working with him and observing him that his clinical perception is extremely precise and his responses very accurate and effective. He has clarity and intelligence, is heartful, caring, and also dedicated, strong, and incisive when needed. I can't think of a better guide in the process of getting
to know one's inner nature and bringing it into the world." Josh Medley MA, NCC, LPC -- Psychotherapist, Boulder, CO
"Igor is, first and foremost, a fine, sensitive human being, with a heightened self-awareness as well as a deep sense of compassion for other people. There is also a deep inner quiet about him, perhaps developed in his meditation practice. In addition to these aspects of emotional intelligence, empathy, self-awareness, and presence, he has a fine sense of humor." Deepesh Faucheux -- Adjunct Professor and Psychotherapist, Boulder, CO
"Igor’s greatest gifts are his somatic intelligence and compassionate heart. He is surprisingly attuned to the inner realm of sensations and feelings. He relates to the world from a spiritual and somatic felt sense, rather than from his mind alone. This makes him highly capable in guiding clients to become more embodied, in touch with their feelings, and grounded in their spiritual experiences while living in the world." Les McAllan PhD -- Retired Professor and Psychologist, Prescott AZ
Igor has a warm, open, and attentive presence. His warm listening capacity, keen curiosity, psychological depth, and insight are palpable. Igor is a transpersonally trained psychotherapist with group and individual experience, as well as a participant-explorer in other types of contemplative and psychological intra- and inter-personal work. He has great value for and emphasis on the body and his adept somatic awareness is evident by the way he can articulate—and help others get in touch with and articulate—bodily, emotional, and mental experiences. In general I would say Igor is a
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One of the biggest problems we face is that the majority of us totally underestimate just how crucial sleep is to maintain basic bodily functions. We depend on a restful sleep cycle in order to repair damaged tissue, rejuvenate our cells, and grow muscle – along with numerous other processes. On top of that, any reader that has at any point suffered through a night of restless sleep knows exactly how frustrating it can be to wake up in the morning, begin your day, and have the ability to to focus on the daily tasks you have to concentrate on. While I was conducting research for a recent piece, I was kind of surprised to find out that the CDC has put out reports proving that thirty-three percent of adults do not sleep anywhere near as well as they ought to. It’s horrible how we’re affecting our bodies when we deprive ourselves of enough quality sleep.
If you are referring to how anxiety can affect sleep and how anxiety can consume people because it causes insomnia and drains you during the day, yes–it is a big challenge for people.
In fact, just being able to have a good night of sound sleep can completely change how people feel about their day. Instead of feeling uneasy or tense about it, they can actually feel energized and look forward to it. Sleep is crucial.
For people who are anxious, I really recommend to look at ways on how to improve their sleep. It can make a world of difference.