Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety

Anxiety is more common than ever in today’s busy society. It can affect people of all ages and all walks of life. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety
disorders are the most prevalent mental illness in the US. Approximately 40 million adults over
the age of 18 are plagued by this condition. This means that over 18 percent of the population
is affected by anxiety every year.

Anxiety is usually described as an irrational fear caused by uncertainty. We all experience
anxiety on some level, but for many of us, it can be crippling. Many people suffering from
anxiety don’t seek out treatment due to the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety manifests itself as excessive worry and fear related to uncertain situations. The
uncertainty of life events creates a mental tension that prevents normal functioning. People
suffering from anxiety feel especially helpless because they have no control over situations in
their future. But not all anxiety is malicious. Mild anxiety that occurs before big life events is
considered beneficial because it can boost your motivation.

Anxiety is most commonly classified into two categories, simple and neurotic. Simple anxiety is
a normal occurrence characterized by mild worry caused by daily stress. On the other hand,
neurotic anxiety manifests itself as a personality trait. People suffering from neurotic anxiety
constantly feel fear about what the future holds, and the fact that they can’t control situations.
prevents them from functioning.

The Origin of Anxiety

Most medical professionals have difficulty explaining anxiety and its causes. Usually, anxiety
stems from one of three mental states. The first is guilt. The feeling of guilt naturally creates
some stress whether the guilt is realistic or unrealistic; it has similar consequences on our
mental health. We often find ourselves unable to please others or live up to their expectations.
This, in turn, leaves us feeling guilty. This unrealistic feeling of guilt can be detrimental to a
person’s health. It’s important to analyze the situation and determine if the guilt you are feeling is justified. Unjustified guilt shouldn’t plague your daily life.

The second source of anxiety is egoism. Egoistic people are always concerned with their needs,
above the needs of other people. Egoism can manifest itself as a feeling of superiority or
inferiority. People who feel superior to others rarely suffer from anxiety. On the other hand,
people who feel inferior to others often feel rejected by society, and inadequate. This feeling of
inadequacy can cause them to be anxious and have low self-esteem.

The third cause of anxiety is fear. Justified fear is necessary for humans to survive. However,
morbid fear can occur if a person is stressed about achieving a particular goal. People
sometimes overvalue certain things like social status and fear the loss of their reputation. This
type of unhealthy fear can handicap a person and stop them from achieving their goals.

How Anxiety Affects Daily Life

Anxiety can affect people physically, psychologically and socially. Physical effects of anxiety
include muscle cramps, increased heart rate, and digestion problems. People who suffer from
chronic anxiety usually develop more serious health problems over time. They can suffer from
cardiological diseases or irritable bowel syndrome.

The psychological effects of anxiety manifest as feelings of helplessness and despair. People
suffering from anxiety often feel like they can’t do anything right. All these feelings can lead to depression and a distorted perception of reality.

Anxiety can also affect a person’s social life and cause them to alienate themselves from family
and close friends. By isolating themselves from social situations, people feel their anxiety levels
are decreasing. However, this has extremely negative effects on their social skills.

Living with Anxiety

The first step in managing your anxiety is introspection. You must analyze your lifestyle and
behavior and determine which situations make you anxious. The next step is making sure you
have a realistic perception of these situations. It’s often very difficult to change your perception without the help of therapy, so don’t be afraid to consult a therapist to help you on your journey to recovery.

The last step in managing your anxiety is living a healthy lifestyle. You should maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly and give yourself time to enjoy doing the things you love. Establishing a healthy routine can do wonders to help ease the symptoms of your anxiety.

However, if you aren’t able to manage your symptoms by yourself it’s best to schedule an
appointment with a licensed medical professional that can provide you with the proper
medication and therapy. Although you may feel lost and hopeless, there are always people who
will do their best to help you make it through tough times.

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