Anxiety

What is it?

Anxiety is a natural and adaptive response to stress or perceived threats, characterized by feelings of worry, fear, or unease. It can range from occasional, manageable stress to a more persistent and overwhelming condition when it interferes with daily life. Anxiety disorders encompass a range of conditions where anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, and difficult to control, often requiring treatment.

What are the symptoms / What does it feel like?

The symptoms and experience of anxiety can vary from person to person, but common symptoms and sensations include:

Excessive Worry: Persistent and uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life, including health, work, relationships, and the future.
Physical Symptoms: These can include increased heart rate, muscle tension, sweating, trembling, dizziness, and stomach discomfort.
Restlessness: Feeling on edge, agitated, or unable to relax.
Difficulty Concentrating: Finding it challenging to focus or concentrate on tasks due to racing thoughts.
Irritability: Being easily annoyed or angered, often without a clear reason.
Fatigue: Feeling mentally and physically drained, even without significant exertion.
Sleep Disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restful sleep.
Avoidance Behavior: Avoiding situations or places that trigger anxiety, which can limit daily activities.
Social Anxiety: Fear of judgment or embarrassment in social situations, leading to avoidance of social interactions.
Panic Attacks: Intense, sudden surges of anxiety with symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, and a feeling of impending doom.
Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors: Engaging in repetitive actions or thoughts to alleviate anxiety (e.g., excessive handwashing).
Negative Thought Patterns: Persistent negative thoughts and catastrophic thinking about potential future events.
Physical Sensations: Feeling "butterflies" in the stomach, a racing heart, or a lump in the throat.

Are there different types?

Different types of anxiety disorders:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Characterized by excessive and persistent worry about various aspects of life, often without a specific trigger. Physical symptoms like restlessness and muscle tension are common.
Panic Disorder: Involves recurring panic attacks, sudden and intense episodes of fear or discomfort. Panic attacks can occur without warning and include symptoms like rapid heart rate and shortness of breath.
Social Anxiety Disorder: Individuals with social anxiety disorder have an intense fear of social situations and a fear of being judged or embarrassed in front of others. Social interactions may be avoided or endured with significant distress.
Specific Phobias: These are intense fears of particular objects or situations, such as flying, spiders, or heights. People with specific phobias often engage in avoidance behaviors when confronted with the feared stimulus.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Characterized by intrusive, repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and the urge to perform ritualistic behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) to reduce anxiety. Common obsessions include fears of contamination or harm.
Separation Anxiety Disorder: Typically seen in children, this involves excessive fear and distress when separated from attachment figures, such as parents or caregivers.
Agoraphobia: Involves fear of situations where escape may be difficult or help may not be available, leading to avoidance of places like crowded areas or public transportation.

What are the treatment options?

See the range of therapies we offer at Immersive to support you.

Anything else important to mention:

Often feelings of anxiety show up even when taking the step into therapy. We know that is step is really hard, and for most it is actually the hardest step. Its normal to feel more anxious as your start taking steps towards this journey. If you’re having trouble taking the step, reaching out, booking an appointment or showing up to your first session, please let us know. We understand how hard it is, and we are here to help make you feel welcome, cared for, and reduce the uncertainty.