Anxiety - Common Problem in Modern Society
It is normal to experience some form of anxiety from time to time. For example, if you have a test coming up, a presentation or a public speaking event – a bit of anxiety in these types of situations is normal and appropriate. It is our body’s way of making us alert and focused to perform our very best in the scenarios that require this type of focus.
But what happens, when our anxiety spills over to other areas of our lives and we don’t know how to get rid of it? Then, we run into trouble. Our bodies can tolerate brief exposure to stress, but if we remain in the emotional state of anxiety for prolonged periods of time, we run the risk of experiencing high levels of stress which can sometimes even lead to becoming physically ill. Think of it as a car whose engine runs on high RPMs or an air conditioner that runs in 90-degree heat with no shut-off time or a student who has been pulling all-nighters for days straight. Our bodies operating at this level of intensity usually affect us in the following ways:
Emotional/Functional Effects of Anxiety
- We start worrying about everything that is taking place in our lives, not just the things that really do require our planning and attention
- We tend to focus on the negative events in our lives and often think of the worst case scenarios of the events that have not even happened yet or that may never happen
- We perceive events that are neutral as negative
- We crave control over things that are out of our control and when faced with the reality of inability to control them, we feel depressed and anxious
- Our fear of making the wrong decision can be so paralyzing that we find ourselves in a situation where we make no decisions at all
- In our attempts to control our anxiety, we actually end up feeling more anxious
- We find ourselves being unable to focus on anything that requires attention
- We may experience the feeling of disconnection and it may seem like we are living in a dream-like state and just going through the motions
- Inability to relax, feeling restless, and feeling keyed up or on edge
Physical Effects of Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Trouble Sleeping
- Muscle Tension or Aches
- High Blood Pressure
- Nervousness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Sweating
- Irritability
- High levels of stress that can lead to illness
Treatment
How can we address this condition that is common to a lot of people who live in this modern world that sometimes places unrealistic expectations on us? During the course of therapy, we look at some of the imbalances that may be present in our lives today. We also examine the way we process events in our lives; we often discover that the way we maladaptively process things takes root in our early childhood experiences. We explore what is within our control today and where have we been caught in an attempt to control the uncontrollable (past, present and future), we learn to slow down and become more mindful of what we do. We explore what is really important in our lives today and how can we create space to have more meaningful experiences that gives us joy, satisfaction, serenity and happiness. We learn to let go of the things that seem to have had total control over us. We also evaluate if there is a need for anti-anxiety medication while you are making some of these changes in your lives. If there is such a need, we work together with your psychiatrist or your primary doctor collaboratively to meet your specific needs. If you have been struggling with anxiety, know that there is a way out and love yourself enough to reach out for help when you are struggling because help is available.
