What is anxiety?

According to the American Psychological Association anxiety is “characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes”.
 

With as simple of a definition as the one above, you might be thinking, “Everyone must have anxiety then!” And the truth of the matter is, everyone does- At varying degrees and varying times throughout life. Anxiety can be a normal reaction to stress, uncertainty, life changes (present or anticipated), relationship troubles, pressure at work, and many other common challenges which arise in life.

Anxiety is the brain and body’s response to a perceived threat.

To learn more about perceived threat read our post titled “Why do we get anxious?”

What are symptoms of anxiety?
There are two categories of anxiety symptoms

Mental/emotional symptoms:

  • Obsessive thinking (known as rumination)

  • Excessive worry

  • Intrusive thoughts

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Difficulty making decisions

  • Excessive self-doubt, self-criticism

  • Feeling of impending doom

  • Desire to avoid certain social or physical situations

  • Feeling powerless

Physical symptoms:

  • Rapid heartrate

  • Feeling shaky or tingling sensations in body

  • Dizziness

  • Stomach cramps, nausea or diarrhea

  • Tightness in chest

  • Feeling short of breath or unable to take a full breath

  • Hot or cold flashes, sweating

  • Feeling wound up and/or restless

  • Difficulty sleeping

  • Feeling fatigued or weak

How do I know if I need to see a professional about my anxiety?

As mentioned above, everyone experiences symptoms of anxiety from time to time related to stressors and transition, and usually anxious symptoms dissipate after the stressful event has passed.

However, you may want to consider seeking professional help if:

  • Your symptoms persist for more than a 5 to 6 weeks after the stressful event

  • Your fears and worries become generalized to broader situations (i.e. Instead of being anxious about your upcoming work presentation, you now become anxious when thinking about or attending work in general)

  • The severity of symptoms begins to impair your ability to function or carry out day-to-day responsibilities

A therapist can work with you to identify the cause of your anxiety and learn strategies to manage mental/emotional and physical symptoms through evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and EMDR among others.

If you’d like to learn more about how therapy can help and speak to a professional in the Bay Area, contact us at Therapy Now SF to book a free consultation.

Andrea Zorbas