Anxiety and Panic
What is anxiety?
Small levels of anxiety are normal and healthy to have throughout life. It allows your brain to communicate and alert you about the potential danger ahead. Everyone has experienced some form of anxiety or anxiousness, and that’s okay! Anxiety disorders are a bit different. It’s a grouping of disorders that inflict constant overwhelm, fear and anxiety. Because the levels of these groups of anxieties are heightened, you may find yourself avoiding social situations, family functions, school, and even work that may trigger or make the symptoms worse.
General Anxiety Symptoms May Include:
- Feelings of restlessness, on edge
- Feelings of irritability
- Sleep issues, finding it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep
- Muscle tension
- Feeling fatigued easily
- Finding it difficult to concentrate
- Struggling to control feelings of worry
- Trembling
- Increased heart rate
- Shortness of breath or a hard time catching your breath
- Chest tightness
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
You may have feelings of excessive and unrealistic worry, accompanied with tension for little to no reason.
Specific Phobias
You may have feelings of excessive and unrealistic worry, accompanied with tension for little to no reason.
Panic Disorder
You may have feelings of excessive and unrealistic worry, accompanied with tension for little to no reason.
Agoraphobia
You may have feelings of excessive and unrealistic worry, accompanied with tension for little to no reason.
Social Anxiety Disorder
You may have feelings of excessive and unrealistic worry, accompanied with tension for little to no reason.
Separation Anxiety
You may have feelings of excessive and unrealistic worry, accompanied with tension for little to no reason.
What can cause anxiety?
Experts have found it to be a combination of factors that can cause anxiety, including stress levels, diet, and genetics. Some risk factors that can play a role include:
History of Substance Abuse
The effects of substance abuse or withdrawal can cause sensations that mirror anxiety symptoms.
Personality Type
People with Type A personality types have a greater chance of developing an anxiety disorder
Serious Trauma
Childhood abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, or intense military experience
Gender
Women are twice as likely to develop a generalized anxiety disorder than men.
Other Medical Conditions
Conditions such as heart disease, thyroid problems, diabetes, IBS, and respiratory disorders can invoke anxiety responses.
