Understanding anxiety

Anxiety disorder (AD) occurs when fear and worry become sufficiently frequent and intense that they negatively affect your quality of life. AD is often associated with feeling chronically tense, having trouble sleeping, irritability, difficulty concentrating and irrational thoughts. You may also experience physical symptoms such as rapid breathing and heart rate, cold, clammy hands and feet, muscle tension, change in skin temperature, digestive system complaints or episodes of dizziness.

ANXIETY IS A NORMAL EMOTION

Anxiety is a natural bodily reaction to stress. We all experience it to some extent, especially when we feel nervous or keyed up about meeting new people, taking an important exam or starting a new job. A person with Anxiety Disorder experiences anxiety at a much higher level.

ARE ANXIETY AND FEAR THE SAME THING?

Not exactly. Fear is a normal response to danger! Being fearful can keep us safe by keeping us “on alert” to things around us. Fear can prompt the “fight or flight response” that may save us in a dangerous situation. A person with AD may experience chronic fears that overtake their wellbeing.

WHEN ANXIETY BECOMES DEBILITATING

Anxiety can become debilitating when it escalates to a level of excessive nervousness or worry that is unfounded. It can cause you to second-guess your relationships, your conversations and your competency. You may know it is irrational, but the fear is real anyway. This is AD. And you can beat it.