What Does Anxiety Feel Like?
Most of the time, when you feel fear, it’s may not be significant, and, in fact, it can be pretty helpful at the right moment. Yet when your fear spirals out of control, the effect can be shocking.
Which brings us to the big question. What is Anxiety?
According to Medical News Today, anxiety is actually a non-medical term. It refers to a feeling of fear or worry that often relates to a particular issue or concern. It generally occurs when a person fears that something bad is going to happen. According to the Oxford dictionary, it is a feeling of worry and nervousness about something with an uncertain outcome.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people have experienced more anxiety than is usually the case. There has been almost a 50% increase in word searches on topics that alone have the potential to increase anxiety such as “recession”, “survival” and “conspiracy theories”?
It, therefore, seems that the coronavirus pandemic is, in turn, creating and fueling an anxiety pandemic in many ways. As a result of this increased anxiety. Do you have questions about anxiety to recognize and cope with it?
Anxiety is not recognized as a mental disorder.
Anxiety is not recognized as a mental disorder because it is a normal response to life events that are stressful. Most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives. In fact, before the Coronavirus pandemic, about 19% of all American adults were already going to experience at least one anxiety disorder within a twelve-month period. That translates over 66,000,00 people in the general population.
What does anxiety feel like?
The following are some of the symptoms of anxiety:
- Worry and apprehension- It varies in severity and can affect the ability to concentrate or accomplish daily tasks.
- Feeling pressured and hurried. People with anxiety usually tend to feel that they are being rushed.
- Sadness – People with anxiety tend to experience sadness because of whatever is triggering their anxiety.
- Difficulty concentrating – Concentrating especially in daily tasks is a symptom of anxiety that you need to look out for.
- Restlessness – If you are restless, it is a symptom that you might be experiencing anxiety. If you experience restlessness on several days over a six month period, this may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder and you would need to consult a doctor or health professional.
- Sleep problems – Anxiety causes problems sleeping, trouble falling asleep, or awakening in the middle of the night.
The physical symptoms of anxiety include:
- Changes in heart rate – Anxiety causes a change in the heart rate from what is normal.
- Nausea or diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Tension in the head or neck
- Tightness in the throat and difficulty breathing.
Depending on the cause or trigger and how a person reacts to it, anxiety can be mild, moderate, or severe.
For instance, individuals faced with intense financial or work pressure may feel mildly apprehensive, while others may experience all the above symptoms. The reaction is determined by the severity of the trigger and how the victim responds.
Most of the time, when the trigger or perceived danger that caused the anxiety is no longer a threat, the symptoms of anxiety go away. But if the anxiety continues for a long time, such as over six months, professional help may be needed as this may be a sign of another disorder.
As a final tip on anxiety, don’t watch too much news during the coronavirus pandemic because the news usually adds to the anxiety. Use your time to be involved in more relaxing things such as coloring or doodling or going for a walk.
Studies have shown that “structured coloring of an intricate geometric pattern,” such as a mandala pattern or coloring book, can produce a meditative state that helps decrease anxiety. Take out your coloring books, or create your own patterns.
Walking is not just physical activity, but also delivers mental health benefits. Studies have shown that a vigorous walk can make you feel more creative. A 2016 study found that walking can make you feel more content, decreasing the feelings of boredom and worry, even if you are walking indoors. I walk twice every day and find many people walking outside staying at least six feet from others which is safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, FYI.)
At Medvesta Hypnosis, we will keep you focused on today and your future. Our goal is to help you with moving away from living with distress toward living with purpose; to move away from avoidance and toward vitality: the increased sense of being engaged with living. Here you will not only learn to experience relief from distress but also how to thrive as a result.