Anxiety

What is Anxiety?

Being anxious is a normal part of life. If you have a job interview coming up, it is normal to be nervous. However, this does not mean you have an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders feature prolonged feelings of intense worry or fear that can get worse over time. These feelings become so consuming and intense that they interfere with everyday life activities like school or job performance. As shown in the graphic below, one’s performance is affected by their levels of anxiety. Too much or too little anxiety can negatively affect performance.

There are many types of anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can look different for everyone. Here are some common symptoms of anxiety disorders:

• Feeling on-edge, restless

• Difficulty concentrating

• Difficulty controlling feelings of worry

• Trouble sleeping, falling or staying asleep

• Sweating

• Tight muscles

• Headaches

• Stomachaches

• Increased heart rate

Statistics

• Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health illnesses in the United States affecting over 40 million people. (NIMH)

• Women are twice as likely to have anxiety as men. (NIMH)

• Anxiety disorders are treatable! However, only 36.9% of people receive treatment. (ADAA, 2022)

Treatment

There are many options for the treatment of anxiety. Psychotherapy, medication, mindfulness, support groups, and life changes are a few different ways to treat an anxiety disorder. In the end, anxiety disorders can lead to more issues if left untreated, but you should work with your health care provider to decide the best treatment for you.

Conclusion

In the end, millions of Americans of every demographic have experience with anxiety. If you or someone you know might be struggling with anxiety, feel free to contact us about starting counseling.

If this is an emergency, please dial 911 or contact your local hospital.

References

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Anxiety Disorders. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders

Anxiety & Depression Association of America. (2022). Anxiety Disorders - Facts & Statistics. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics

Written by Sabreelyn Villalpando