Anxiety is a normal emotion- it is your brain's way of reacting to stress and alerting you of potential danger. For people suffering with anxiety it may feel that life is not safe anymore. Everyone feels anxious now and then, but anxiety disorders are different. They are a group of mental illnesses that cause overwhelming and constant fear and anxiety. Excessive anxiety can make you avoid school, work, family get-togethers, and social gatherings that might worsen or trigger your symptoms. Luckily, with treatment, many people with anxiety disorders can manage their feelings and learn appropriate coping mechanisms to better deal with anxiety.
Symptoms of anxiety disorders
Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
- Excessive worry, panic, fear, and uneasiness
- Feelings of doom, panic, or danger
- Sleep problems
- Inability to stay calm.
- Shortness of breath
- Hyperventilating
- Heart palpitations
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Tense muscles
- Sleep problems
- Dizziness
- Thinking about a problem constantly.
- Sweaty, cold, tingling or numb hands or feet
- Inability to concentrate
- Intensely or obsessively avoiding places or objects.
Treatment
Treatment consists of either psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy. During psychotherapy, you will learn how your emotions affect your behaviours. Marésa will listen and talk to you about your thoughts and feelings and suggests ways to understand and manage them and your anxiety disorder.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) teaches you how to turn negative, or panic-causing, thoughts and behaviours into positive ones. Marésa will teach you new ways to carefully approach and manage fearful or worrisome situations without less anxiety.