Medically defined by Merriam-Webster, Anxiety is "an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it".
At Teen Connect, we completely understand the importance of mental health and the effects it can have on someone's life. In this blog post, we asked our medical expert, Dr. Ian Robinson, to define anxiety and how we can manage it on a daily basis.
Anxiety can be a difficult topic to understand and even more difficult to navigate on your own. If you or someone is struggling with anxiety, feel free to check out our Counseling & Mental Health Programs page to connect with a mental health expert! If you would like help navigating our mental health resources, please feel free to contact a navigator using this Referrals link!
Q: What is anxiety?
A: Everyone typically has some worries, concerns, and fears. Anxiety disorder is a condition in which someone’s thoughts, worries, or concerns are persistent and excessive despite reassurance and support. These thoughts may run uncontrollably to a point in which they impair your everyday life.
Q: What are the symptoms of anxiety?
A: The symptoms of anxiety include pervasive anxious thoughts and constant worrying. The thoughts can often lead to difficulty sleeping, focusing, or avoiding certain social settings. Another symptom of anxiety could be a change in appetite. Sometimes these thoughts can even manifest as physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, or stomach aches.
Q: How can anxiety influence my day-to-day life?
A: Anxiety can influence your performance at school or at work. If your concentration is impaired, you may not be able to complete your tasks as expected. Depending on the type, anxiety can also affect your relationships with family, friends, and partners.
Q: What are some behaviors I can adopt to help me cope with anxiety?
A: Many behaviors found to help with anxiety include improving your overall health. Exercising and eating a healthy diet can help to reduce anxious thoughts. Avoiding frequent use of caffeine (coffee, energy drinks or soda) can help to reduce anxiety. You can even use certain techniques for meditation or relaxation to help with these feelings. Some apps on your phone which may provide helpful techniques include Headspace, Calm, The Mindfulness App, and Smiling Mind.
Q: What behaviors negatively affect anxiety?
A: Behaviors that can negatively affect anxiety include smoking, drinking, persistent caffeine use, and poor sleep at night. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking is much more common among adults with mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, than in the general population.
Q: Are there any medications available to help me deal with anxiety?
A: Anxiety is typically treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Therapy involves speaking with a counselor about the fear and worry you may be experiencing. Therapy also involves developing a separate way to view the stressors causing the anxiety. Medication typically involves increasing the levels of serotonin around the receptors in the brain to improve overall mood.
Q: Why am I scared of things I cannot control?
A: It is uncertain as to why these anxious thoughts develop. There is a consensus that there are complex interactions among biological, psychological, and social/environmental factors which lead to these concerns. However, you can take steps to reduce anxiety by the methods discussed above.
Ian Robinson, MD
PGY-2 USF Pediatrics
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