The Nature Of Anxiety

Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress, you can experience it at a new job, a new school, or any new or uncomfortable setting. Though anxiety is a natural part of life and it comes and goes, some people experience it daily and with a stronger force that renders them “useless” or unable to live from day to day. Anxiety can be caused by many different factors and can be experienced in many different ways.

Anxiety can be caused by genetic factors, if someone in one’s family (mother, father, grandmother, etc.) has an anxiety disorder they are also most likely to develop one later in the future. One’s environment can also lead to developing an anxiety disorder, like being surrounded in a stressful environment where one is being overworked and they are not getting the rest they need or they are not comfortable in the space. Medical factors can also cause anxiety, like a disease or even one’s medication can cause anxiety. Brain chemistry could also be a factor, psychologists have an idea that anxiety could be an imbalance in hormones and electrical signs in the brain. And lastly, withdrawal from medication or illicit substances can cause anxiety to develop greatly.

Anxiety has many different types of symptoms that change from person to person. These symptoms range from butterflies in your stomach to being out of touch with the world and not feeling in control of your body anymore. The most common symptoms of anxiety are: increased heart rate, rapid breathing, restlessness, trouble concentrating, and difficulty falling asleep. Other than those symptoms, others may also experience somatic symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and perspiration. Many also experience a fear of dying because of their loss of control towards their bodies. When one is having an anxiety or panic attack it feels like someone is stabbing them in the chest with every breath they take, a storm is following them with every drop of water there comes a negative thought, someone has stolen their identity and has acted differently than who they truly are by “giving blank stares and fidgeting and not having much interesting to say,” and explosions in their brain that leave their memory foggy, leaving them empty of any response.

Once one is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, it does not necessarily mean that they have to go through medical treatment, some just need to make changes to their lifestyles that can make a huge difference. In severe cases though, some do need to seek treatment like psychotherapy or even medication. During psychotherapy, they are introduced to a form of psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). With CBT, psychologists assist patients in learning how to cope and manage the factors in their life that contributes to towards their anxiety. “Through the cognitive component of therapy, patients learn to understand how their thoughts contribute to their anxiety symptoms.

Works Cited

1. Barry, Steve. 4 Illustrations of What Anxiety Looks Like – Healthline. 26 Aug. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/what-anxiety-looks-like.
2. Felman, Adam. “Anxiety: Overview, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 26 Oct. 2018, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323454.php.
3. Holland, Kimberly. Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and More – Healthline. Edited by Timothy J. Legg, 19 Sept. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety.
4. Hurley, Katie. “Depression and Anxiety: Patients With One, Often Have The Other.” Psycom.net – Mental Health Treatment Resource Since 1986, 13 Feb. 2018, https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.anxiety.html