Anxiety Overview
Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. It’s a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
However, when anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, and interferes with your daily life, it may be an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in Canada. They affect people of all ages and backgrounds, and they can have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Signs & Symptoms
Anxiety can manifest in various ways, both physically and emotionally.
- Rapid heartbeat
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Muscle tension
- Fatigue
- Excessive worry
- Fear
- Apprehension
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling on edge
Causes & Risk Factors
Anxiety disorders are complex and can develop from a combination of factors, including:
- Genetics: A family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions can increase your risk.
- Brain chemistry: Imbalances in neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and GABA, can contribute to anxiety.
- Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, like thyroid problems or heart disease, can trigger or worsen anxiety.
- Stressful Life Events: Trauma, major life changes, or ongoing stress can increase your vulnerability to anxiety disorders.
- Childhood Experiences: Early experiences of neglect, abuse, or instability can contribute to anxiety later in life.
- Personality: Certain personality traits, such as shyness or perfectionism, can make you more prone to anxiety.
- Negative Thinking Patterns: Catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, and other negative thought patterns can fuel anxiety.
- Substance Abuse: Drug or alcohol use can trigger or worsen anxiety.
- Caffeine and Other Stimulants: These substances can increase anxiety symptoms.
It’s important to remember that having one or more of these risk factors doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop an anxiety disorder. It’s the complex interaction of these factors that contributes to the development of anxiety.
Treatment
Anxiety is highly treatable and there are a number of different treatment methods that can help anxiety sufferers to better manage their symptoms. The most common treatment modalities used to treat anxiety include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Evidence-based therapy that helps you identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety.
- Relaxation Techniques: Learn and practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and mindfulness, to manage anxiety symptoms.
- Exposure Therapy: Gradually and safely confront your fears to reduce anxiety and avoidance behaviors
A List of Adult Mental Health Issues We Treat at Sullivan & Associates
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