Your body tingles, your heart races, you feel dizzy, and out of breath. This sensation came out of nowhere. One minute you were fine and the next minute you are not sure what is happening or why. Anxiety has hit. You feel scared but logically you know your safe. What is happening?
According to the dictionary: “Anxiety is a painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill. It is a fearful concern or interest, marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension or increase pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt of one’s capacity to cope with it.” Sound familiar?? Well here’s the thing…
Everyone has anxiety. It’s a natural part of life. Not all anxiety is a mental health disorder. Our brains are designed to help us survive, as a result it is always scanning for danger in our environment. 100 % percent of the population has anxiety. Only when it disrupts your life is it considered a disorder.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders describes generalized anxiety as the following;
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety
PTSD, OCD, Panic Disorder, and Agoraphobia also fall into this category. When it comes to anxiety, it overlaps many areas and many diagnoses. The most important thing to remember is that anxiety Is not a mental health condition, it is only a disorder if it disrupts your life.
Now that we have discussed the technical stuff. Let me tell you a story. Let me introduce you to Lisa (not her real name). Lisa struggled with anxiety most of her life. She had difficulty sleeping, would wake up feeling anxious, complained of feeling tired, and worried all the time. When she came to the counseling center she felt hopeless and believed she would have to suffer with anxiety for the rest of her life. The anxiety impacted her whole life. She was fearful of being in social environments, worried she would have a panic attack in public, and was worried all the time.
That’s not the end of her story..
Through attending regular therapy sessions, Lisa learned the root causes of her anxiety. She began to learn skills to manage her symptoms, and she started paying attention to the negative thoughts that were contributing to her anxiety. Little by little, Lisa got stronger. Her fears abated and her world opened. She no longer feared that she would have a panic attack in public. She enjoyed being outdoors and started enjoying more and more activities.
This can be your story. If you are suffering with life altering anxiety, you don’t have to suffer anymore. Anxiety can be helped. All you need is the right therapist and the right tools. There is hope. Contact our counseling center and get connected to one of our expert therapists.
You are worth it.