Let’s Talk About It: Anxiety

Feeling anxious is a completely normal part of being human. In fact, if we didn’t feel anxious, we humans may have never made it to 2021.

Anxiety is our bodies built in alarm system; this keeps us on the lookout for danger and helps to keep us safe. Sometimes though, our alarm system is triggered by something that is perceived to be dangerous but may actually have no threat at all... when this continuously is triggered it results in anxiety disorders.

So, before we discuss common symptoms of anxiety it is important to know a few things about the amazing human brain and body. What we experience as feelings and physical sensations are actually chemicals or neurotransmitters being processed. This process may be a bit complicated so I won’t bore you, but if you are interested in learning more then check this out. The main idea is when you experience a feeling such as happy, nervous, or excited, there is a specific kind of chemical being released, blocked, or processed. This information is super helpful to remember because it helps us understand what is happening in the brain in times of increased anxiety. When your alarm system starts ringing for no reason, then something triggered the part of your brain to function as if there was a threat.

Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

These symptoms are all outlined in the DSM-5.

• Excessive worry

• Restlessness

• Fatigue

• Increased body tension, muscle aches

• Impaired Concentration, Mind going blank

• Irritability

• Difficulty Sleeping

Additional symptoms related to anxiety may include increased heart rate, sweating, flushed skin, indigestion, shortness of breath, and headaches.

If you find yourself reading this article, thinking “I deal with this all the time”, know you are not alone! There is no wrong time to seek treatment for anxiety because the experience of anxiety is likely not going to disappear. Like we mentioned earlier, anxiety is a totally natural and normal human experience. Going to therapy often involves learning about how the brain works, identifying how your behaviors are impacted, and then practice strategic methods to reduce symptoms or find relief. You can still benefit from therapy even if you do not meet DSM criteria for a diagnosis.

Let’s Talk About it!