What Anxiety Actually Is & Looks Like

Anxiety is a feeling that everyone experiences at some stage of our lives. It can be a normal emotional response to many stressful situations. Anxiety is also a natural, understandable emotional response that can help us prepare for challenges. A certain level of anxiety helps us stay alert and aware, but for those suffering from an anxiety disorder, it feels far from normal and it can be completely debilitating. It is different from stress that is a response to a threat in a situation whereas anxiety is a reaction to the stress.

There are many types of anxiety which many of us might not know of. Generalised anxiety disorder is when you feel excessive, unrealistic worry and tension with little or no reason. Panic disorder is this sudden, intense fear that brings on a panic attack. Which many of us have heard of . Social anxiety disorder this is when you feel overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. You obsessively worry about others judging you or being embarrassed or ridiculed. Lastly agoraphobia is having an intense fear of being in a place where it seems hard to escape or get help if an emergency occurs. For example, you may panic or feel anxious when on an airplane, public transportation, or standing in line with a crowd. These are only some of the vast types of anxiety there are.

The main symptom of anxiety disorders is excessive fear or worry. Anxiety disorders can also make it hard to breathe, sleep, stay still, and concentrate. Your specific symptoms depend on the type of anxiety disorder you have. The common ones are panic, fear, sweaty or the ting,ink of hands or feet or even shortness of breath. Thinking about a problem over and over again and unable to stop is also a symptom.But for some people we don’t even see these symptoms although they are struggling without showing others.

What we can do is simple if they are struggling with anxiety. The main one being staying with the person and keeping calm. Also don’t make assumptions about them. Instead speak to them with short and simple sentences to understand what they are struggling with. The last thing we could do is help them slow their breathing and get into their normal breathing pace. Just by bring with them can help them immensely.