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What Does Anxiety Feel Like?

What Does Anxiety Feel Like?

If you’ve ever experienced anxiety you know that it can be an overwhelming feeling that can affect your life in various ways. Anxiety can present itself in different forms, such as panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder to name a few. But what does anxiety feel like? In this article, we’ll explore the symptoms of anxiety, the effects it can have on your body and how to cope with it.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can manifest itself in various physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms. Physical symptoms include increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, muscle tension and difficulty breathing. You may also experience nausea, dizziness or feeling faint. Emotional symptoms can include feelings of restlessness, being on edge and irritability. You may find yourself worrying excessively, having intrusive thoughts or feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. Behavioral symptoms can include avoidance of certain situations or activities and difficulty concentrating.

Effects of Anxiety on Your Body

Anxiety can affect your body in several ways. When you experience anxiety your body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which can increase heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Chronic anxiety can have negative effects on your health, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, and digestive problems.

Coping with Anxiety

There are various ways to cope with anxiety, including psychotherapy and counseling. A therapist can help you identify patterns of anxious thinking and teach you techniques for managing your symptoms. Other coping strategies include meditation, mindfulness, exercise, and relaxation techniques such as deep breathing. It’s essential to identify and avoid triggers that can cause anxiety, such as stressful situations, caffeine, and alcohol.

Seeking Professional Help

If your anxiety is affecting your daily life and functioning, it’s crucial to seek professional help. Psychotherapy and counseling can be effective treatment options for anxiety. A Kitchener Waterloo therapist at CARESPACE can help you work through your anxiety, learn coping strategies, and develop resilience. Medication may also be prescribed in some cases. It’s essential to work with a mental health professional who can help you identify the best treatment plan for your individual needs.

Anxiety can be a challenging experience, but there are ways to cope with it. It’s crucial to identify the symptoms of anxiety, understand the effects it can have on your body, and seek professional help if necessary. By practicing coping strategies and seeking support, you can manage your anxiety and improve your quality of life. Remember that it’s okay to ask for help and that there is no shame in seeking mental health treatment. You deserve to feel happy and healthy, and there are resources available to help you get there.

Picture of Beth Thomsett-Scott, BSc, MSc, MA, RP

Beth Thomsett-Scott, BSc, MSc, MA, RP

Do you experience anxiety, depression, low mood, overthinking the past or future, addictions, decision paralysis, loss or grief of a person or life change, or just a feeling that life isn’t all it could be? Do these feelings affect your relationships, sense of self, or work? Are you feeling overwhelmed, lost, or exhausted from struggling with these feelings alone? You don’t need to be alone with these feelings. Beth is here to walk with you. Many people feel that they are the only ones struggling with these issues and more. You are not alone. Other men, women, and children feel similarly but there is light at the end of the tunnel! Beth believes that you can feel better, emotionally and physically, and develop a life that is rewarding and joyful. Beth starts with getting to know you and your desires. From there, you and Beth collaboratively develop strategies and tools to work through the feelings and create new pathways for you, your relationships, and your life goals. As a psychotherapist with CARESPACE, Beth offers a welcoming, non-judgmental, and inclusive space for conversation and healing in person and online. Beth is an integrative therapist and uses a variety of techniques from the areas of cognitive behavior therapy, dialectic behavior therapy, solution-focused short-term therapy, narrative therapy, couple/family counseling therapies, and children/youth therapies. Beth is a Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. She has a B.Sc. (University of Guelph), M.Sc. (University of Manitoba), and a MA (Liberty University). She was a librarian for 20 years before moving to her new career and is a firm believer in the importance of bringing a holistic biopsychosocial spiritual viewpoint into the counseling room and working with clients of all spiritualities. Take the first step towards feeling better and contact Beth today. She is waiting to hear from you.

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