An Overview of Anxiety
Figure 1-1: Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety is a feeling that can include tension, unease, and nervousness about recent, ongoing, or upcoming events. Perhaps one of themost crucialthings to comprehend about anxiety is that it’s not always a bad emotion. Anxiety can be expected in some circumstances. For instance, feeling anxious before starting a new job, speaking in front of an audience, or going on a blind date can be expected.
In other cases, anxiety may be a helpful indicator that someone is about to make a mistake or act in their best interests. The key to understanding anxiety is recognizing that anxiety levels can significantly affect perception.
Anxiety affects about 19.1% of Americans annually, making it one of the most prevalent mental illnesses in the country. We’ll examine the four levels and the symptoms connected to each to understand better how detrimental anxiety can be.
Anxiety is typically divided into four categories: mild, moderate, severe, and panic-level, also known as panic disorder.
What Are the Four Anxiety Levels?
Figure 1-2: Levels of Anxiety
The severity and extent of distress and impairment each anxiety level causes are categorized as mild, moderate, severe, or panic-level anxiety.
- Mild Anxiety
Mild anxiety can affect a person’s emotions, relationships, social skills, and performance at work or school, even though it is typically regarded as mild or subclinical. Their symptoms resemble social anxiety, including persistent ignored worries, nervousness, nausea, shakiness, and sweating. Even though most of these symptoms are present in most people with anxiety disorders, they aren’t crippling in those with mild anxiety.
A person with mild anxiety may appear timid, self-conscious, and slightly awkward. If left untreated, these symptoms can last into adulthood. For those who do not receive counselling or therapy for mild anxiety, developing unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as abusing alcohol, is a severe concern in addition to symptoms getting worse.
- Moderate Anxiety
The second level of anxiety is moderate anxiety. Although moderate anxiety symptoms are more frequent than mild ones, they are still more tolerable than severe anxiety or panic disorder symptoms. People with moderate anxiety, for instance, might experience symptoms likejitterinessor a sense of being on edge, be unable to stop worrying, or find it challenging to unwind most days of the week.
However, it’s crucial to stress that even moderate anxiety should be treated because people with anxiety disorders are more likely to form harmful coping mechanisms that could worsen their symptoms.
- Severe Anxiety
The third level of anxiety is when debilitating symptoms appear. Severe anxiety symptoms diagnose clinically significant anxiety disorder or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). There are behavioral symptoms of extreme stress, such as the inability to control worrying, distress that is out of proportion to the situation, an inability to relax, difficulty concentrating, and more, in addition to physical symptoms like head and stomachaches, shaking, and frequent urination.
People with severe anxiety typically feel more distress and have less energy. In addition, a person with this condition may experience symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and memory and concentration problems similar to those of major depression. It is more difficult for a person to function and finish even the most basic tasks when experiencing severe anxiety symptoms because they are persistent.
- Panic Level Anxiety
Panic disorder, the fourth level of anxiety, is characterized by frequent, recurrent, and unanticipated panic attacks. The following are common panic attack symptoms:
- Extreme fear and dread of the future
- Palpitations or a fast heartbeat
- Breathing quickly
- Dizziness or nausea
- Death phobia
- Fainting or losing consciousness
Panic attacks can happen suddenly and typically last 10 minutes in people with panic disorders. Panic attack triggers differ from person to person, so working with a therapist or mental health specialists to identify these triggers and develop appropriate coping mechanisms is beneficial.
Causes and Treatment of Anxiety
Figure 2-1: Anxiety Disorder Treatment
Anxiety can be caused or exacerbated by a variety of factors. Anxiety can sometimes be more common in people already stressed out or going through difficult times. Additionally, close biological ties to other people who experience chronic, clinical anxiety can be a contributing factor, as can regular exposure to anxiety triggers.
Treatment options for anxiety disorders can vary. Of course, the best treatment depends on a variety of factors. For instance, severe anxiety typically requires more intense forms of therapy.
But therapy, medication, or a mix of the two are typically the mainstays of treatment for anxiety. There may be several actions that people can take to lessen the incidence of stress in their lives, depending on the level in question. These actions can include reducing exposure to triggers, eating a healthy diet, and having a solid support system.
Don’t be afraid to seek help:
Figure 2-2: Ask for help
Many people experiencing anxiety may believe they must handle it on their own. In reality, attempting to take everything on your own can exacerbate anxiety. Conversely, assistance and guidance from others can serve as excellent tools to help you grow and evolve. Attending therapy in person or online is a helpful way to get your desired direction. Online therapy may be beneficial if you struggle with social anxiety or anxiety related to new experiences because it allows you to receive treatment from the comfort of your home.
According to thisstudy, internet-based psychotherapeutic interventions may be very successful, mainly when used to treat anxiety and the effects of stress. Please don’t be afraid to ask for the support you need if you think you could benefit from online therapy.
Concluding Words
The struggle of having an anxiety disorder can be difficult and frustrating. You might feel worn out due to your ongoing anxiety and fear. If you have discussed your symptoms with a doctor, you have already begun letting go of your worry.
Finding the proper treatment that works for you can take some time. You might require various forms of treatment if you suffer from multiple anxiety disorders. A combination of medication & counselling works best for most people with anxiety disorders. You can learn to control your symptoms and thrive if you receive the proper care and treatment. Stay safe and learn more from #1 AAA CE Trainings continuing education training,eetsonline.com/ce.