Common Symptoms of Anxiety:

Anxiety is commonly paired and experienced with an excessive amount of worry overall and specifically as it relates to the future ahead. If you are someone who thinks ahead than you are most definetley at a higher risk of being prone to anxiety. The common symptoms are feeling restless, wound up or on edge. Being easily fatigued, having difficulty concentrating and being irritable. You may also experience sleep challenges and physical manifestations such as headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches and unexplained pains.

It is important to note that there are 4 different types of anxieties within the umbrella of anxiety:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder- usually is a persistent feeling of anxiety/dread that interferes with daily life. Not to be confused with an occasional worry episode. Symptoms include: restless, wound up, easily tires, difficulty concentrating, irritability.

Panic Disorder- Frequent unexpected panic attacks, sudden moments of intense fear, discomfort or sense of loosing control. During this type of episode you will feel pounding heart, sweat, trembling, chest pain and feeling of impending doom.

Social Anxiety Disorder- Intense, persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. Fear of social situations may feel so intense that it seems beyond their control. A few symptoms include, blushing, sweating, stomachaches, rigid body posture, overly soft voice.

Phobia Relates Disorders- are common and have 5 subcategories. A phobia is an intense fear of or aversion to specific objects or situations. Spcific Phobias include (flying, heights, specific animals, receiving injections and blood). Social Anxiety is a constant and overwhelming fear of being judged by others and evaluated. Separation Anxiety Disorder is also common. The less common is selective mutism. Agoraphobia is intense fear of 2 or more of the following:

• Ussing public transportation

• Being in Open Spaces

• Being in Enclosed Spaces

• Standing in line/crowd

• being outside of home alone

  Let’s Make it Personal…

  Anxiety is all too common in our society today. There is an increase of anxiety expressed in our bodies, minds and behaviors. It is so common it is normalized. It is almost as if you are looked at differently if you are NOT an anxious person. Why is this the new normal? I have struggled with anxiety all too long and it is a beast I have to overcome not only for myself but for my lineage. It was an inheritance that I did not choose. When anxiety is the driving force of major decisions of lifestyle and business, who wouldn’t think this is the new normal? The symptom of anxiety that showed up for me the most is, Ruminating Thoughts. Ruminating thoughts became so common it almost was my new friend. I became comfortable in the cage of my own mind. Ruminating every social interaction I had, ruminating the past decisions and future decisions I was up against. Awareness was my first step, once I was able to confront the sense of denial & realize that I was coping in such a way that was detrimental to my mental health; That was when change began. I have been able to slowly step away from the normality of ruminating, I began to place boundaries to the ocean waves of thoughts that surfaced. Reflect for yourself what are your necessary boundaries to set for yourself as to literally, get outside of your mind and thoughts.

  Tips

• Learn the Cognitive Distortions and Increase awareness of which pertain to you (Find in CBT Page)

• Remind yourself that you are in the present moment, a tangible object can be used to remind yourself (i.e a rock, stone, small object)

• Breathe in between your thoughts

• Contain your ruminating thoughts (Set a timer for how long you can ruminate)

• Find an Outlet for your thoughts (Physical Movements, Journaling, Talk Therapy, Art)