Easing Anxiety for Improved Health and Life

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 18 percent of the American adult population experience clinical anxiety, approximately 40 million people. The most common types/diagnoses include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, specific phobias, Social Phobia, and Agoraphobia.

While occasional fears are natural, feeling overly anxious and experiencing extreme worrying are not. If these feelings are interfering with your life, work, relationships, and health, you can find help to overcome your fears and anxiety. Therapy can help. Clinical anxiety is treatable: there are interventions that can decrease anxiety symptoms and improve the quality of your life and health.

Can Anxiety Affect Your Physical Health?

Anxiety, in the short term, prepares your body for “fight or flight.” This can include increased heart and breathing rates, triggered by the release of hormones into your bloodstream, such as adrenaline. The response is useful when you need to react to an actual threat. It can even boost your immune system. It is less than helpful, however, when you are not faced with a threat to your safety.

If this reaction happens often, it can negatively impact your physical and emotional health. According to Healthline, chronic anxiety can weaken your immune system. Harvard Medical School revealed that people with frequent episodes of high anxiety are also more susceptible to chronic respiratory disease (COPD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), insomnia, headaches, and muscle tension.

Healthline also says, “Frequent panic attacks can cause you to fear the anxiety attacks themselves, thereby increasing overall anxiety. The constant state of stress can lead to clinical depression. You are also at increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. If you already have heart disease, anxiety disorders may raise the risk of coronary events.”

What Can You Do?

Anxiety can be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting. It often takes your mind away from your goals and the things that matter most to you. It can lower the quality of your life, as it interferes with your decisions, lowers your productivity, and can impact your relationships. Living in constant fear can leave you feeling as if you are always on high alert, wreaking havoc on your health.

You probably know that your fears are disproportionate, but your anxiety is real. This can leave you feeling helpless. If your anxiety has deep roots or is contributing to health and life concerns, you can benefit from professional help. Therapists independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville (West), NC Office can help. Call today to schedule your first appointment.

Related Articles: