by Taylor Cockrum, MT-BC
What’s that?
Anxiety …
- is an intense worry or fear about everyday situations. It can be triggered by life experiences or be inherited.
- affects ALL people, however, it can become a problem when the frequency of this intense worry interferes with daily functioning. Not all people who experience anxiety have an anxiety disorder!
- Can look like: increased heart rate, sweating, nausea, difficulty sleeping, rapid breathing, panic attacks, difficulty concentrating, avoiding tasks and responsibilities, feeling tense and/or restless, mood swings, etc.
Misconceptions
Anxiety is NOT …
- Rational. You cannot “logic” your way through anxiety.
- Fake. Whether your symptoms are visible or not, anxiety is very real.
- One size fits all. Everyone experiences anxiety differently.
- The same as being depressed or a perfectionist.
- Your fault!
- Attention-seeking.
- A sign of weakness.
- Shameful.
- Untreatable / unmanageable
What can I do?
If you’re experiencing anxiety or are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, you’re not alone! Over 3 million people are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in the US every year.
So what helps?
- A solid support system.
- Developing healthy coping skills / self-care (i.e. meditation, journaling, exercising, spending time outside, socializing, listening to music, and art, just to name a few)
- Identifying specific anxiety triggers.
- Therapy. If you are having a hard time coming up with coping skills, holding yourself accountable, or
if you need additional support identifying triggers of your anxiety, therapists are trained to support you through this process. - Medication. SOMETIMES. But talk to a doctor to see if this is a good fit for you!
Takeaway
If you have anxiety, remember …
- You’re not alone.
- Your feelings are valid.
- To find what works best for you, do it, and then find people who make sure you KEEP doing it.
- Get HELP if you need it. There is no shame in needing some.
- It is okay to not be okay all the time.
- You’ll get there. Be patient with yourself.
- You are worthy of love and support, just as you are.
Chime in!
What other therapy buzzwords should we discuss? We’d love to hear from you.
