Let’s Talk About Anxiety

The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes. It goes above and beyond the normal stressors of daily life and can leave people with feelings of impending doom. As outline in the definition, when someone experiences anxiety, they won’t only notice it through bothersome thoughts and emotions, but also physical symptoms that cause varying levels of discomfort. Symptoms of anxiety include feelings of overwhelming worry, extreme nervousness, difficulty sleeping, poor concentration, feeling on-edge, avoidant behaviors, fatigue, muscle tension, racing heart rate, stomachaches, sweating, trembling, and rapid breathing.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health struggle in the US, affecting at least 40 million adults each year. Although anxiety is highly treatable through outlets like psychotherapy, less than 37% of those who suffer receive treatment. There are many proven coping skills and lifestyle changes that can help get anxiety under control. These include:

·         Deep breathing

·         Meditation

·         Positive Imagery

·         Mindfulness

·         Learn your triggers

·         Progressive muscle relaxation

·         Challenging anxious thoughts

·         Exercise/yoga

·         Limit caffeine and alcohol

·         Journal

If you or someone you care about are part of the 40 million American adults struggling with anxiety, help is out there. Contact us to get started.