Anxiety is a feeling that most people are familiar with to a certain extent. This normal emotion in humans is part of our fight-or-flight instinct. Its purpose is to keep us safe from harm or bring our awareness to something that requires our attention. When this feeling doesn’t subside within a few moments, or is triggered without the presence of an actual threat, it can become a behavioral health concern. With symptoms that range from inconvenient to debilitating, it’s no wonder that Google searches abound with questions like: Is it anxiety? At Xpress Wellness Behavioral Health, we recognize the difficulties that anxiety can pose to those who struggle with it. Here are some facts about anxiety, and how we help patients release tension, fears, and panic to achieve overall well being.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety disorders often involve repetitive or persistent fear and worry over everyday activities, feelings, thoughts, or sensations. These episodes can last a long time, or can escalate quickly into intense fear or dread, peaking in a panic attack within a few minutes. These feelings disrupt daily life and activities, are difficult for the sufferer to control, and are usually out of proportion to the perceived or actual danger. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder – encompasses the persistent and excessive anxious thoughts and feelings about everyday activities, with the worry being disproportionate to the actual circumstance, and often causing physical symptoms
- Panic disorder – this condition occurs when bouts of intense fear, anxiety, or feelings of impending doom escalate and peak within a few minutes in a panic attack, often along with symptoms such as chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations (pounding, rapid, or fluttering heartbeat)
- – also known as agoraphobia, causes people to avoid situations or places that could trigger panic, make them feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed