What is Anxiety?
If you are reading this then you either know you are (or someone you know is) living with anxiety or are trying to figure out if it is what you are experiencing and if therapy can help. If you already know you are experiencing anxiety then you don’t need me to tell you how uncomfortable, unhelpful and, at many times, limiting it can be. If you are trying to figure out if you are overly anxious then here is some information to help you know.
What is anxiety? How does anxiety feel?
Michael D. Yapko, Ph.D., Psychologist puts it really well ‘Everyone gets anxious from time to time, of course. But, if you find yourself worrying too often, thinking too much about how things may go wrong, spinning around the same thoughts over and over, avoiding situations that cause you discomfort, or regularly feel you might not be able to cope with daily challenges without getting overwhelmed, then anxiety is likely to be a bigger part of your life than it needs to be.’
Anxiety can be a generalised, unsettling discomfort running through your life or it can be around a specific issue (e.g. work, exams) or a set of circumstances (e.g. social situations).
It can also show up as a phobia – fear of flying, needles, small spaces, heights etc.
Often times it can also affect your mood, relationships, energy, appetite and sleep.
Anxiety can be a helpful response to danger or threat (when it’s a signal to pay attention to), but when it becomes excessive or chronic, it can interfere with daily life and be debilitating (when it becomes noise in your head).