Anxiety can interfere with your normal functioning, causing you to lose sleep, eat too much, or avoid social situations. Millions of people have found relief from anxiety through cognitive behavioral therapy. While not everyone experiences anxiety to the same degree, it is one of America’s most common mental disorders. Unfortunately, stress and anxiety are persistent conditions that can be difficult to manage.
Anxiety plays a huge role in the lives of people who suffer from it. Anxiety disorders come in many different forms, but the most common is anxiety disorder that causes panic attacks. Anxiety attacks can cause people to believe they are having a heart attack or stroke. Others struggle with an anxiety disorder that causes them to worry about everything.
So, What Is Anxiety?
An anxiety disorder is marked by persistent worry about a situation, often accompanied by physical sensations like shortness of breath or trembling. Anxiety is the body’s way of warning us of something potentially dangerous. But anxiety is often characterized by having to constantly think on your toes, which can make you feel incredibly tense and on edge.
Many people suffer from anxiety, whether it takes the form of a panic attack, generalized anxiety disorder, or phobias. And for those who do not seek treatment, anxiety can just sit like a chump on their shoulder, nagging them and preventing them from living their lives to the fullest.
Can It Go Away on Its Own?
The good news is, yes, it can. For many people, especially those with milder forms of anxiety, anxiety disorders can eventually fade into the background as our brains become more resilient to the triggers that initially set off the anxiety. (This is called desensitization). Whilst anxiety can indeed go away on its own, it may well take time. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to lessen the severity of anxiety symptoms and speed up recovery.
It is important to know that anxiety can become so debilitating that some people may need to seek professional help—either from a counselor or a psychologist. In some cases, they may even need to take medication to help them manage their anxiety. It can make you feel that you are losing your mind, but anxiety is treatable, and you do not need to let it win. If you suffer from anxiety, you may have already talked with your doctor about ways to cope with it. While all anxiety is different, some common triggers for anxiety, like a stressful day at work, lack of sleep, or relationship issues, can exacerbate anxiety symptoms.
Too many times, people suffering from anxiety are told to just “get over it” or that they are trying to “get a grip on it.” Unfortunately, there is no quick fix or magic pill for anxiety. Mental health conditions, like anxiety, take time and effort to understand and live with every day. In time though, anxiety can be managed.
Anxiety is the brain’s reaction to threats. It is a natural response, and the body responds to perceived danger by releasing chemicals that make you more alert and anxious. When anxiety is unchecked, it can lead to a number of mental and behavioral health problems.
Some anxiety can be triggered by a specific event, such as the loss of a job or the death of a loved one. When anxiety becomes more severe, sufferers may develop persistent and debilitating fears, which interfere with social activities, work, and relationships. The key to conquering anxiety is to identify when it begins and ends. Because anxiety often starts when there is not anything to worry about, recognizing when it ends can help you pinpoint when it arises.
