Anxiety seems to be all around us these days. If it isn’t the emotion itself, it’s the topic. While I am glad that anxiety is being discussed, it can be concerning to see disinformation circulating when it comes to such an important topic.
A common concern that many of us have is whether or not our anxiety is “normal.” Anxiety is a natural human emotion that everyone, yes everyone, will feel from time to time. It isn’t abnormal to experience anxiety. Feeling anxious may feel uncomfortable, however, it is part of the human condition. If you are a human, I promise you will feel anxious from time to time.
While anxiety is a part of being human, the frequency and intensity of that feeling can be what complicates things.
If you feel anxiety when walking alone down a dark alley at three AM, good. This isn’t the type of anxiety you want to push through. Like all emotions, anxiety is information from us, to us, about us. (I didn’t make up that phrase but boy wouldn’t it be cool if I did?) My point is, not all anxiety is problematic.
What is an Anxiety Disorder?
We begin to become concerned about anxiety when it impacts functioning. This is where we can differentiate between feelings and conditions. If feeling anxious impacts your work, relationships, school, or ability to do anything important to you… then it may be tap dancing on disorder territory.
There are a number of different kinds of anxiety disorders, from Generalized Anxiety Disorder to Specific Phobias (the debilitating fear of specific things.) Social Phobia falls into the category of anxiety disorder, as well as Separation Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Selective Mutism.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is what I see most in my practice, and while I realize this is my own experience and not necessarily that of others, I will focus on these symptoms first.
GAD is categorized by the following:
- Excessive worry or anxiety
- Difficulty controlling said worry or anxiety
- Worry and/or anxiety come along with at least three of the following;
- Feeling on edge or restless
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble sleeping (difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep)
- These symptoms impact functioning in an important life area such as occupational, relational, or educational.
There are other deciding factors, such as symptoms not being related to a medical condition, substance use, better described by another disorder, etc. Those factors are relevant to diagnosis though may not be relevant to this conversation.
What I hope you take from the above list is a better understanding of what GAD is and whether some of these symptoms speak to you. If they do, know you are not alone and help is available.
How Does Anxiety Affect People?
Anxiety can have a big impact on how you live your life, and it doesn’t have to stay that way.
These symptoms can cause you to isolate. They can make you feel as if something is wrong with you and everyday tasks can feel overwhelming. We can be left feeling anxious about being anxious, and that can be exhausting.
Everyone is different and their symptoms will manifest as such. For some, anxiety looks like sadness. For some it is anger, and for others it’s avoidance. All of these reactions are understandable, though they may not be helpful.
If you feel that you cannot live your life the way you would like to or that your functioning is impaired by feelings of worry, it is time to do something about it.
What To Do About Anxiety
Just like each person is unique, your approach to anxiety will be unique as well. There is no “one size fits all” approach to treating anxiety. What I can say, is that doing nothing isn’t going to work.
There are options for dealing with anxiety, and here are few you can explore:
Talk to your doctor or trusted medical professional
If you have a medical professional you trust, this can be a great place to start. Let them know how you are feeling and see if they have any suggestions. Keep in mind that suggestions are just that, and you don’t HAVE to do anything you feel uncomfortable with. It can be helpful though to hear what options someone you trust thinks could help.
Notice that I didn’t suggest asking friends and family for advice. That is not because I don’t think this could be helpful– it could be remarkably helpful. It could also be really unhelpful, or it could be somewhere in between. Unfortunately, our friends can be more biased than others and may be more eager to encourage us to do what they think is best for us or what may be best for them. I’m not saying this isn’t valuable, I’m merely hesitant to suggest this as a first step in treating anxiety.
Therapy
Therapy (or counseling–same thing, different name) can be remarkably effective in treating anxiety symptoms. Finding the right therapist can be challenging, though worth it in the end. The idea of the “right” therapist is also very subjective. One person’s perfect therapist may be someone else’s nightmare and that is just fine. The key is finding the right person for you.
Do some research regarding therapists in your area and see who may be a good fit for you. It is okay to try more than one before you find a therapist that works for you. It can also be important to advocate for yourself. If you know there is a certain approach you’d like to try or NOT try, that can be valuable information to share with your therapist.
There are also things that can feel therapeutic to you, and I am going to throw them in this category as well! While things like exercise, reading, meditating, or screaming in your car may not be therapy in the clinical sense, they can feel REALLY good and should be a part of your plan to tackle anxiety if you find them helpful.
Clinical symptoms of an anxiety disorder rarely resolve on their own. Therapy can be a very valuable piece of your recovery.
Medication Management
As a therapist I do not prescribe medication and I won’t discuss details here since that’s not my area of expertise. I will, however, say that I have worked with many clients who would not have found relief from their symptoms without medication alongside therapy. I have also worked with many clients who have found remission from anxiety symptoms without medication. It is about what is right for you.
As I mentioned, there is no “one size fits all.” We are all different and experience anxiety differently. What we need in order to get to where we want to be will vary.
Medication management often faces more judgment than other treatment approaches. This can come from many places and distorted beliefs. The reality is if it works for you, why not? No one deserves to feel the debilitating effects of anxiety. If this is a necessary part of your recovery it can be worth exploring with a medical professional.
Psychiatric professionals are trained specifically in prescribing psychiatric medications. This can be a great place to start. General practitioners can be wonderful as well and perhaps easier to access if you have one you see already.
Don’t Go It Alone
If none of the above options sound right for you, that’s okay! Your journey is your own. I will say that it is not wise to stay isolated in your symptoms. Reach out for support. Find your own path. Just don’t go it alone.
Anxiety symptoms are powerful and you deserve support. While you may be overwhelmed by anxiety, you are not alone. These symptoms can improve. You don’t have to feel this way forever.
To Sum It Up
Anxiety is powerful, and so are you. If anxiety is impacting the way you live your life, you have options. Your symptoms can improve and you can get to where you want to be.
There are many options when it comes to treating anxiety, one of the most important things is that you don’t go it alone. Everyone deserves help and support.
Learn more about your symptoms and your treatment options. Don’t let anxiety dictate how you live your life.
It can be hard to feel stuck in your anxiety. It can be hard to explore ways to get out of your anxiety. Choose your hard, my fellow humans. And don’t forget, therapy can help.
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