If you have anxiety, it is a normal and natural reaction that you may experience when you encounter a stressful situation. While some people can excuse the feeling when they have anxiety by allowing them to pass naturally, others may find coping challenging as their anxiety shows up as feelings of intense fear and worry.

Acknowledging that you have anxiety and learning the triggers can aid you in building healthy coping mechanisms to manage anxiety, which can be essential for your health and well-being.

At Corner Canyon Health Centers, we know this is important because when you are faced with stressful situations in the future, you will be better prepared to manage your emotions before they worsen. Becoming familiar with the different anxiety disorders and ways to manage anxiety can be instrumental in healing.

Do You Have Anxiety?

Anxiety can be described as having nervous thoughts or beliefs that are hard to control. Many people feel anxious before a big test, job interview, or first date. This is healthy and normal to have anxiety that is often manageable and passes.

But an anxiety disorder that requires professional treatment is often recognized through more severe symptoms that impact your daily life, such as, but not limited to:

• Feeling restless
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Having unexplained headaches or stomachaches
• Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
• Having sleep problems
• Pounding or racing heart
• Sweating
• Chest pain
• Feelings of impending doom or being out of control

It is important to recognize these symptoms and the different anxiety disorders they are associated with, as this can be the first step in receiving treatment. The most common anxiety disorders include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD is characterized by chronic anxiety. This disorder causes a person to experience exaggerated worry and tension. If you have anxiety like this, it can surface with little to no triggers.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is an anxiety disorder that produces intrusive and unwelcome thoughts and behaviors. These thoughts can involve repetitive behaviors and compulsions. And these behaviors can be things like constant organizing, checking, or cleaning. This disorder can cause a person to always think something is wrong or out of place.

Panic Disorder

This condition is an anxiety disorder that raises high amounts of intense fear and can physically affect us. Symptoms can include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal pain.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that can develop when a person experiences a traumatic event. Traumatic experiences can be personal violence, a violent act committed in our presence, or any event that has violence. PTSD is common in those who have experienced domestic violence and those who have served in the military.

Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder

This is an anxiety disorder that produces overwhelming anxiety and self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Also known as social anxiety disorder, social phobia can affect people in certain situations. Speaking, performing, or other activities that involve being in large crowds.

What It Is Like to Have Anxiety

If you find yourself in a state of fear or worry on a daily basis, you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder. If you discover that you have an anxiety disorder, it can be valuable to seek out a treatment program, such as ours, at Corner Canyon Health Centers. Becoming educated on healthy ways to manage these feelings in a safe space helps you heal.

Early treatment can prevent your symptoms from getting worse. If you have anxiety and leave it untreated, it can cause the development of multiple anxiety disorders at once. Developing healthy ways to deal with anxiety can help overcome the long-term effects that anxiety disorders can have on your life.

When You Have Anxiety: Triggers and Risk Factors

Researchers have found that genetic and environmental risk factors can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Risk factors can begin to surface at an early age. Some situations can create trauma, which then triggers anxiety; contributing situations include traumatic childhood experiences, exposure to violence, and other stressful life events.

Stressors are things that you face daily. Some stressors or triggers you may face are getting to work on time, passing a school exam, preparing for a work meeting, and deciding what you are going to make for dinner. These stressors can pass quickly as you check off your list for the day.

Other triggers go beyond stress and lead you to have anxiety symptoms. These are more intense and must be dealt with through acceptance and the understanding that they can consume your thoughts and impact your behavior. Events like the death of a loved one, experiencing an illness, or losing a job can impact anxiety for some. But, for others, it can be something like making small talk, waiting in line, or going to the doctor.

Healthy Ways to Overcome Anxiety

Anxiety creates patterns that are hard to break, but with the right tools, we can manage our anxiety and prevent lasting physical and mental harm. Reducing anxiety and stress levels can lead to having a happy life.

There are a number of ways to cope with anxiety. First, you can talk to someone you trust or participate in therapy. Corner Canyon Health Centers offer a number of therapeutic methods for coping with the symptoms and causes of anxiety.

Mindfulness is another important coping skill that can help you manage your symptoms. Practicing mindfulness can be received internally through meditation, self-affirmation, and positive speaking. Being mindful can help to focus on the present moment rather than the past or the future.

Additionally, self-care is essential for reducing anxiety. Activities such as getting a massage, taking a walk, going on a long drive, or spending time on a hobby that you love can reduce stress levels almost immediately. Practicing how to reduce stress levels in your life is the key to having the power and control to live with joy and happiness.

If you or someone you love is facing symptoms of anxiety, you may be wondering if it is an anxiety disorder or if it will pass on its own. With help from Corner Canyon Health Centers, you can receive a proper diagnosis as well as an individualized treatment plan that is made for you. We will work with you to determine your needs, keep your family involved, and provide the comfort and inclusivity required during mental health treatment. Our methods of healing are effective and caring. To learn more about anxiety disorders, treatments, and how we can help, be sure to reach out to us by calling (877) 717-6237 now.