Why am I so Anxious? and What Should I Do?!

Anxiety is a normal and often healthy emotion. It is a part of our bodies’ natural alarm system, the “fight or flight” response, which exists to protect us from danger. However, when a person regularly feels disproportionate levels of anxiety, it might become really uncomfortable and a medical disorder.

The most pure form of the “fight or flight” response is a panic attack. People can experience a wide variety of powerful physical sensations as part of a panic attack.

The most common sensations include:

• Racing heart (and/or other changes in perceived heart activity, so that it might seem to beat louder, faster, harder, or slower, and perhaps miss beats as well.)

• Chest pain, tightness, and heaviness

• Feeling dizzy and/or light headed

• Rapid heartbeat

• Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet

• Labored breathing, feeling short of breath, and hyperventilation

• Sweating

• Feeling: “Things aren’t real”

• Stomach upset

• Feeling pressure to urinate or empty your bowels

• Nausea, vomiting

• Tingling and numbness in fingers, toes, and other extremities

• Weakness in major muscles, especially the legs

• Dry mouth

• Hot and cold flashes

I am often asked: “How do I know if I have an anxiety disorder?”

An anxiety disorder is diagnosed when someone experiences anxiety symptoms and these symptoms:

- interferes with your life goals

- are experienced too often or with too much intensity, given the actual danger of a

situation

- are not explained by other factors, such as a medical problem or substance abuse

Some people experience significant anxiety and choose simply to live with it. It is up to you to decide if you can handle the anxiety on your own, or if treatment is necessary.