MENTAL HEALTH: What is Anxiety?

by Alexis Rosendo

What is anxiety? 

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. Anxiety is not the same as fear, but they are often used interchangeably. Anxiety is considered a future-oriented, long-acting response broadly focused on a diffuse threat, whereas fear is an appropriate, present-oriented, and short-lived response to a clearly identifiable and specific threat” (2022). 

Whew! That’s a mouthful. Let’s make it relatable. 

Everyone has anxiety at some point about something, and a great deal of the time anxiety symptoms are simply a part of the typical human experience! Think about the time you have been anxious about an upcoming exam, or anxious about the outcome of trying a new job, or moving to a new place, or swimming in deep water for the first time. This is perfectly normal, and that anxiety is a good thing! Healthy anxiety helps us to focus on the parts of life that may need extra preparation or caution. It is a driving force that causes us to study for the upcoming exam, or wear a life jacket when swimming in deep water for the first time. In a lot of ways, healthy anxiety keeps us alive! Without it, we may walk a little too close to a busy street, or make decisions without an appropriate and reasonable amount of forethought. Healthy anxiety that leads to preparation or caution should always be encouraged and celebrated. 

But what about anxiety that isn’t healthy? 

What if it feels like you’re a little too cautious? Or maybe you always feel the need to over-prepare for everything? What if the anxiety seems to be all-consuming? What if it feels like you are always in a high state of anxiety, so much so that this anxiety has become a part of your personality and identity? What’s the difference between healthy anxiety and problematic anxiety?

Anxiety disorders, or anxiety that is problematic and impacts daily functioning, do exist in various forms. Anxiety disorders are the top mental health disorder experienced by people of all ages all over the world, and over 31% of adults will suffer from an anxiety disorder in their lifetime (American Psychiatric Association, 2021). Medical doctors and mental health professionals, such as counselors, psychologists, and social workers, can give you an official diagnosis of an anxiety disorder as well as help you treat it therapeutically or pharmaceutically (depending on the diagnosis, severity, and your personal preference and need).

Anxiety presents mentally (with racing thoughts, intrusive thoughts, and dread) as well as physically (with a racing heartbeat, sweat, shaky hands, or butterflies in the stomach) BUT anxiety presents differently from person-to-person, which can make it hard to know if your anxiety is healthy or not. Remember, not all anxiety is bad and not all anxiety constitutes a clinical disorder nor requires treatment, so having an official diagnosis is very important.

Keep reading and ask yourself the following questions to see if it might be a good idea to contact a mental health professional to explore the possibility of an anxiety diagnosis.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Is it hard to remember the last day or time that you weren’t anxious?
2. Would you classify your anxiety level as high?
3. Are most of your decisions made because you are anxious about the future, or trying to avoid becoming more anxious?
4. Do you feel anxiety even when you are trying to rest or relax?
5. Do you feel the need to distract yourself from your anxious thoughts ? Do you use alcohol, drugs, social media, and other daily habits on a regular basis to quiet and calm the anxiety that you feel?
6. Do you get the impression that you are more anxious than the average individual?
7. Has anxiety stopped you from doing something that you know you should have done?
8. Has anxiety stop you from going somewhere that you needed to go?
9. Have you begun to take extensive measures to avoid places and things that make you anxious?
10. Do you feel like your anxiety controls your life?

If these questions resonate with your regular experience of anxiety, I encourage you to reach out to local mental health organizations to be assessed for an anxiety disorder. Again, it is extremely common for individuals to qualify for a diagnosis of anxiety disorder at some point in their life, so you are NOT alone and there is no reason to be ashamed. For some, they have experienced the anxiety disorder for their entire life to where it is all that they know. For others, they may qualify for the diagnosis of an anxiety disorder for a short time due to a recent trauma or major life adjustment that they are struggling to cope with. Either way, there are various treatment approaches and options that you can explore with the mental health practitioner of your choosing.

The bottom line is, there is hope! You do not have to live your life in a constant state of worry and tension. You do not have to live controlled by the physical symptoms of anxiety. You can be empowered to manage and even decrease the frequency, intensity, and impact of anxiety on your life. Anxiety does not have to be your normal. THERE IS HOPE! Reach out and get the help you need… you deserve it and your future will thank you! 

Onward and upward!  

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2021, June). What are anxiety disorders?. American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/anxiety-disorders/what-are-anxiety-disorders#:~:text=Anxiety%20disorders%20are%20the%20most,of%20effective%20treatments%20are%20available.

American Psychological Association. (2022, August). Anxiety. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety