Anxiety
Do you often feel tense, edgy, nervous or even jumpy? Do you worry a lot and find your worried thoughts difficult to control? Do you often get heightened anxiety reactions that cause you to panic, freeze up or want to flee? Have family or friends ever pointed out that you seem too nervous?
Anxiety, like stress, is a normal part of life. It is part of the fight or flight mechanism that that the brain triggers whenever we experience feelings of fear.
Anxiety is a general term for some disorders that cause fear, apprehension and worrying. There are several types of anxiety ranging from mild or vague to severe and specific. Much of the time symptoms are physical and can be very unsettling.
Five major types of anxiety disorders are:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)
You may have a type of anxiety disorder that sometimes runs in families. If your symptoms are ongoing, lasting more than a couple of weeks, or seem to be part of your everyday life, it may be time to seek help. Most people suffering with this type of problem get accustomed to their level of anxiety. However, anxiety can increase as the stressors of everyday life increase.
If this is happening to you, and you feel it is time to take control over your anxiety, please call for a confidential consultation. Anxiety can be treated and symptoms such as unwanted thoughts, heightened anxious feelings and panic or anxiety attacks can be stopped.