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Physical, mental and emotional responses are all relevant symptoms
We all feel fear, worry and stress at different moments in our lives. And sometimes, those feelings have the power to overwhelm us. But if that’s a common human condition, how do you know if you’re experiencing a healthy amount of anxiety or if you have an anxiety disorder? Where is the line?
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Registered psychotherapist Natacha Duke, MA, RP, says it all depends upon the frequency and extent of your anxiety.
We all feel some degree of anxiety when confronted with a threat — either real (like when a car swerves into your lane) or perceived (like a pending work meeting). Both situations can trigger adrenaline and your body’s fight-or-flight response, a physiological reaction that prepares you for survival.
Perceived threats can often feel like actual threats to our well-being, even though there may be no real harm. But whether these threats are perceived or not, any threat can feel real enough when they put us on edge and trigger our ability to feel anxious.
In any of these situations, you may notice several signs of anxiety. You can have a physical response, like:
Other symptoms that might surface include:
The symptoms of anxiety vary from person to person, and they grow in severity based on the cause of stress. But in most cases, anxiety occurs when a perceived threat triggers these symptoms for a prolonged period of time and disrupt your daily life. You can experience physical signs of anxiety or mental and emotional signs of anxiety, and sometimes, even all of them at once.
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The key to understanding when anxiety needs managed is knowing how it shows up in your day-to-day life. Duke breaks anxiety down into common anxiety disorders, with varying symptoms:
There are a few factors that can help separate “normal” anxiety from clinical anxiety that would benefit from treatment, clarifies Duke. Factors to consider include:
“You really have to think about how much it affects your functioning,” Duke says. “You may be able to avoid some triggers, such as spiders. But if you are afraid of social situations, that’s harder to avoid and will likely impact your life much more.”
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If you experience any symptoms of anxiety that consistently disrupt your life or make daily activities difficult, and it’s affecting your ability to function for up to six months, you should talk to a healthcare provider or therapist about the possibility you may have an anxiety disorder.
If you decide to seek treatment, you may start with your primary care provider. Most doctors can help you get a good idea of how severe your anxiety is. They then may recommend medication, therapy or both.
Two types of medication may help manage your symptoms:
Your healthcare provider might also refer you to a psychiatrist, who can help manage your medication.
In many cases, working with a registered therapist can help you learn how to prevent anxiety in the first place. A tool they use is cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps you better understand your anxious moments and learn coping strategies for when anxiety strikes. You can often learn to manage anxiety with fewer than a dozen sessions. And Duke says combining medication and therapy is often highly effective at reducing anxiety.
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If your anxiety is debilitating, talk with a healthcare provider about your specific needs. If you’re aware of the problems anxiety is causing, you can become equipped with the right management tools for your specific situation.
“You may not need medication or therapy for life,” says Duke. “But addressing the issue is important because sometimes anxiety can get worse over time if it’s not treated.”
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