Anxiety is a very common mental illness, but also very misunderstood.
According to the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, anxiety disorder is excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not, for at least six months, about a number of events and activities (such as work or school performance). Many people I have talked to over the years have struggled to understand if they have anxiety or not, and are often not sure how to cope since it shows up at various times in their life and not sure if it is “normal” or a “problem.”
I think the best way to know if it is a “problem” is to ask yourself if worry is impacting your normal functioning and making it difficult to perform your daily tasks. One of the observations I have made over the years is that anxiety often leads to procrastination and avoidance. Another way anxiety shows up is being a perfectionist and excessively checking lists to make sure everything was completed, which even after completing the list and checking it many times, there is often a sense of “missing something” and feeling the impulse to check the list again.
Panic attacks are the most extreme forms of anxiety, which is usually characterized by shortness of breath, racing heart rate, feeling of impending doom, and for some, results in ER visits due to feeling like they are having a medical emergency. Over the years, I have worked with many people who experienced a variety of anxiety symptoms and I think most people are happy to know that the symptoms they have are not just “in their head” and it is often not just a matter of “don’t worry, be happy.”
Anxiety is physical. It can make you feel sick (headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension) to name a few. Anxiety is cognitive, it makes you think about all the “what ifs” and often one jumps from one worse scenario to the next in a matter of moments, which makes one feel fear and panic since these “what if” sessions are vivid and feel real.
The good news is that once you understand that the anxiety playing in your head is not reality and you can talk back to the negative thoughts that you have in your mind, you can start dealing with your anxiety and learning how to cope with the fear created in your mind. Anxiety is treatable and manageable and does not always have to get the last word.
Stay happy and healthy and we hope everyone is coping during these uncertain times,
Julie and your Resolve Team