Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
Anxiety isn’t weakness, sensitivity, or “overthinking.” It is a survival system turned up too high, a nervous system doing its best to protect you even when you’re safe.
Anxiety evolved to keep humans alive. It sharpened their senses, quickened their reflexes, and helped our ancestors detect threats before they appeared. That apprehensive feeling that “something’s not right” once helped humans avoid danger long before they could see it.
Today, the dangers are different (deadlines, uncertainty, parenting stress, social pressure), but the brain still activates the same ancient alarm system. Sometimes anxiety protects us; other times, it exhausts us. Anxiety becomes problematic when the alarm doesn’t shut off and begins to interfere with daily life, sleep, relationships, or work.
When anxiety creates constant or severe stress, to a level that interferes with a person’s daily activities, it’s time to seek medical help.
Fear vs. Anxiety
Although the terms fear and anxiety are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. Fear is the body’s response to an immediate threat, and the brain’s threat system fires in about 200 milliseconds before conscious thinking even starts. Fear often begins before we’re even aware of it.
Anxiety, by contrast, is the body’s response to a possible or future threat. Your brain reacts to imagined danger almost the same as real danger. But a loud alarm doesn’t always mean real danger. Think of anxiety like a smoke detector: it should go off for real smoke, but sometimes it goes off just because the toast popped up.
When this system becomes overactive, and is persistent, frequent, and overwhelming for an individual, they may have an anxiety disorder. This is a mental health condition where the anxiety experienced is out of proportion to the actual threat, and interferes with a person’s daily life, work, sleep, or relationships.
Anxiety disorders can be diagnosed by a primary care provider, a psychologist, or other professionals who evaluate mental health conditions.
What are the different types of anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States, and nearly 40 million adults experience one each year. The National Institute of Mental Health identifies several different types:
Some individuals may experience symptoms of more than one of these disorders.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
People with anxiety often experience intrusive, worrisome thoughts that create a cycle of stress. This stress can cause mental, emotional, and physical symptoms.
Mental and emotional symptoms of anxiety may include:
- Persistent worry or “looping” thoughts
- Difficulty relaxing or “turning off the brain”
- Irritability
- Trouble concentrating
- “Catastrophizing,” or expecting worst-case scenarios.
Physical symptoms of anxiety can include:
- Accelerated heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Stomach discomfort
- Muscle tension
- Sleep difficulty
- Panic attacks
Different ways a person can experience anxiety
Anxiety can look invisible from the outside, yet feel overwhelming on the inside. Examples of how an individual may experience anxiety in daily life include:
- You care deeply for family, but mornings feel heavy and tense.
- You avoid scheduling appointments not due to lack of care, but because uncertainty feels overwhelming.
- You complete your tasks at work, but lie awake replaying conversations from the day.
- You appear calm until panic strikes suddenly and without warning.
Two people can do the same task, yet it costs someone with anxiety double the internal effort to complete it.
What causes an anxiety disorder?
It’s common for most people to experience anxiety periodically. But it’s estimated that nearly one third of U.S. adults will experience a more serious anxiety disorder at some time in their life.
An anxiety disorder is characterized by anxiety that doesn’t go away and interferes with an individual’s daily activities and relationships.
There is no single cause of anxiety disorders. Contributing factors include:
- Genetics/ family history
- Brain chemistry
- Personality
- Stress or trauma
- Learned patterns
- Medical conditions
The brain strengthens what it rehearses. If you practice worry, the brain becomes very good at worry. The good news? The same neuroplasticity that builds anxiety can un-build it through practice.
Treatments for anxiety that work
Common treatment approaches for anxiety include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – a type of talk therapy that teaches people how to change their thinking and behavior in ways that can help them feel less anxious.
- Lifestyle changes – may include adjustments to exercise, sleep, and stress routines.
- Medication (when appropriate) – Medication does not cure an anxiety disorder. It may help some individuals, but is not always a necessary part of treatment.
- Strategies that recalibrate the brain’s alarm system rather than shut if off completely. You still need an alarm system, just not one that goes off more than it’s needed.
Treatments can help reduce or moderate a person’s anxiety to make their life more manageable.
When to seek help for anxiety
It may not be possible to prevent anxiety completely. Consider reaching out to a healthcare provider if your anxiety:
- Never truly turns off
- Affects your sleep or energy
- Interferes with work or relationships
- Leads to avoidance
- Creates physical symptoms without medical cause
- Shrinks your confidence or daily life
People don’t seek support because they are weak. They seek support because they are tired of living in emergency mode. A great place to start is by talking to your primary care provider.
Where to go for help
If feelings of anxiety are interfering with your life, start with your primary care provider. They can:
- Evaluate your current symptoms
- Review your health history and family medical history
- Rule out other medical causes
- Recommend therapy
- Prescribe medication if appropriate
- Refer you to resources or a specialist, if needed
After assessing the above factors, your provider can make a diagnosis, recommend appropriate treatment options, or refer you to a specialist as needed. Request an appointment with a WWMG primary care provider today.
Additional support
Marysville Family Medicine and Whitehorse Family Medicine now offer the Collaborative Care model. For patients with mild to moderate mental health conditions, this model provides access to a behavioral health clinician right in their clinics. Patients who need support are referred to the Collaborative Care program by their primary care provider.
For patients with more complex needs, or those who require a higher level of care, the provider will write a referral to WWMG Psychology, or other trusted behavioral health specialists.
Who to call if you are in crisis
If you are at immediate risk of harm, or unable to keep yourself safe, call or text 988 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.
Having anxiety does not mean you’re too sensitive
If you often experience anxiety, or have an anxiety disorder, you are not “too sensitive.” You are not “overreacting.” You are a human being with a nervous system designed to protect you, sometimes too enthusiastically. With the right support, the brain can learn to keep you safe again.
Anxiety is treatable. Relief is possible. You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to help.