You look in the mirror and test out different masks.
Happiness is up first. You grab the mask and place it over your head. Your face instantly transforms into a smile bearing your teeth. Your eyes sparkle, and your cheeks even grow a little pink.
As soon as you reach for sadness, your happy smile fades. It's almost as if the smile on your face has completely switched directions into a frown. Your eyes start to get wet and watery, and a tear may even fall down your cheek.
Anger is up next. Your face immediately feels tense, red, and almost hot to the touch. Your eyes slant and your teeth grit together with a clenched jaw.
Next up is anxiety. You're not really sure how to portray this in your face. But before you know it, your body takes over instead. You start shaking. Your heartbeat quickens. And you feel short of breath. Anxiety isn't a common emotion, but you know that you struggle with it from time to time.
Let's learn more about what anxiety is and how you can deal with it.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal part of life. It's as common of an emotion or feeling as happiness, sadness, or anger. Everyone deals with anxiety from time to time just like experiencing any other emotion. Anxiety is the feeling of fear or uneasiness as a response to a stressor. Although anxiety is a common emotion, it can become a larger issue if it starts to have an impact on your daily life and routine.
The Signs and Symptoms
These are some of the most common signs and symptoms of anxiety:
Avoidance
Difficulty concentrating
Digestive issues
Fatigue
Increased heart rate
Restlessness
Shaking or trembling
Sleeping problems
Sweating
Tense
Quickened breathing
The Causes
The exact cause of anxiety is actually unknown. That being said, there are several factors that are believed to contribute to the signs and symptoms of anxiety. These are some of the most commonly believed factors:
Brain chemical imbalance
Environmental factors
Family history
Genetics
Health conditions
Personality
Stress
Traumatic events
How You Can Deal With It
If you're struggling with anxiety, it's not something that you have to continue to deal with day in and day out. Help is available to you. Thankfully, there are steps that you can take and implement in your own life to better manage and cope with your anxiety.
These are some of the most common and easy ways to help you deal with your anxiety:
Deep breathing
Get outside
Lean on your loved ones
Meditation
Move your body
Prioritize your sleep
Repeat a mantra
Start a journal
Take care of yourself
Yoga
Next Steps
If you notice that your anxiety hasn't gotten any better or may even be worsening over time, it may be time to reach out for additional support. You're not alone if you struggle with anxiety and help is available to you.
Working with a licensed and trained mental health professional like a counselor or a therapist may be exactly what you need as a next step in finding a way to deal with your anxiety. A mental health professional will be able to help work with you to help you understand the root cause of your anxiety and help you work through it in healthy ways moving forward.
Don't delay in getting the help you need and deserve. It's time to take back your life again from your anxiety. Reach out to us today if you're interested in learning more about treatment options for anxiety therapy or setting up an initial consultation.