Do you have stress? It seems like a silly question, doesn’t it? In today’s fast-paced world, we all face increasing levels of stress. The difference is that some stress can make us productive, while too much of it can be crippling and create anxiety.
How do you know if you should get help? Anxiety is a tricky beast. It manifests in many different ways, so it’s important to recognize when your stress is having a negative effect on your life. Stress that’s short-lived and occasional is generally fine, but if yours is persistent or severe, it may be time to seek counselling.
What does anxiety feel like?
Imagine constantly feeling worried about things that don’t seem to bother anyone else, or consumed by thinking that no one likes you. Maybe you experience a sudden onset of symptoms that are similar to a heart attack, but that are actually caused by a surge of stress chemicals. You might not even want to leave your house, for fear of encountering specific situations.
All of these experiences may be familiar to someone with anxiety. Stress turns into anxiety when these feelings persist and have an impact on your ability to work, study, socialize, or manage tasks. You might even find yourself resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms, like substance use.
It’s a slippery list of symptoms, because anxiety can present itself in lots of different ways, and some of them can overlap. If these explanations are relatable, you may be affected by one or more anxiety disorders, such as:
- Phobia, or a specific, intense fear
- Panic disorder, which elicits sudden attacks of shorter duration, seemingly without cause, and involving physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea
- Agoraphobia, or a fear of certain situations that leads to avoidance and may even prevent you from leaving your home
- Social anxiety disorder, and feelings of embarrassment or being disliked
- Selective mutism, or being unable to speak in some situations, usually starting in childhood
- Separation anxiety disorder, which causes intense anxiety when separated from a loved one or caregiver
And, of course, generalized anxiety disorder, which involves disproportionately worrying about any number of everyday problems, usually extending over six or more months. Physical symptoms like sleep disruptions and muscle tension aren’t uncommon, but there’s a long list of other ones, too. Hello, headaches, gut problems, seeking validation, struggling with perfectionism, or even battling stinky stress sweat.
Does it sound like we’ve described you? There’s no shame in that – anxiety can affect anyone. Although it might be connected to the way you see the world and the life experiences you’ve had, there may also be no identifiable reason at all.
So what now?
If you think you might have an anxiety disorder, you aren’t alone. In fact, it’s estimated that one in ten Canadians is affected by anxiety, making this the most common mental health problem.
Maybe just wondering if you have anxiety is giving you anxiety. It’s okay – we know that struggling with anxiety is overwhelming, but we’re here to offer hope. Counselling and family therapy have been shown to have a positive affect on how you manage your anxiety. It enables you to hone in on strategies that decrease its impact on your life. Even exploring meditation and relaxation practices can help.
Seeking professional support for your specific concerns will also allow us to address this anxiety with the right psychological treatments. Often, clients with anxiety find that cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), sometimes in combination with medication or alternative holistic approaches, is an effective way to deal with the symptoms.
We’re here for you. Find out how our team at WJW Counselling & Mediation can support you in overcoming anxiety. If this article resonated with you, know that brighter days are ahead. Come in for an appointment and let’s get started.
