Anxiety can be defined as a feeling of unease, worry, or fear, often for no apparent reason. Some might also describe it as a feeling of impending doom.<\/p>\n
Anxious thoughts are often triggered by feelings of uncertainty, or caused by certain fears.<\/p>\n
Some people describe anxiety as feeling overly concerned about everything or overthinking everything, and caring too much about everything (also known as sweating the small stuff.) Anxious thoughts can be incredibly difficult to \u2018turn off\u2019 if you have not learned self-regulation techniques.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s normal for everyone to feel anxious sometimes, but when it becomes a regular or consistent feeling, it\u2019s likely a diagnosable mental health condition. It\u2019s worth speaking to your doctor and getting a referral to see a psychiatrist.<\/p>\n
When we are feeling anxious, our nervous system is dysregulated, which makes us feel \u2018on edge\u2019 or physically uncomfortable. Due to the activation of our fight-or-flight response during an anxiety episode, we feel dysregulated and emotionally distressed. The flight-or-flight response is supposed to be a natural reaction to feeling threatened, under pressure, or stressed. Sometimes, however, your anxiety can cause your body\u2019s fight-or-flight response to activate even though no actual threat is present. You might not always be able to pinpoint a specific trigger, and the anxiety episode emerges unexpectedly. Other times, something does trigger your anxiety, and even though you\u2019re safe at home, your body begins responding as though an intruder is at your door.<\/p>\n
Anxiety is not always entirely a negative experience. Anxiety can help to motivate us and keep us alert, and it can make us aware of any risks surrounding us, as well as improve problem-solving capabilities.<\/p>\n
Anxiety becomes a serious problem that needs to be professionally addressed if it is impacting your daily life to the point where you are struggling to perform basic daily tasks.<\/p>\n
When anxiety becomes constant, intense, prolonged, ongoing, hard to control, or blown out of proportion to your current situation, these are the signs that it is a mental health condition. The good news is that help is always available, and treatments are always available.<\/p>\n There are several types of anxiety, and you can suffer from one of them or multiple forms. Here is a quick breakdown of some of the different types of anxiety, or mental illnesses that have anxiety as a core symptom:<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to read these articles that explain the difference between stress and anxiety<\/a>, and the difference between panic and anxiety<\/a>. This way, you can pinpoint whether or not anxiety is your problem, and then seek appropriate treatment.<\/p>\n There are many different causes of anxiety, and there isn\u2019t necessarily just one reason why you have developed it. Some of the most common causes of anxiety disorders are:<\/p>\n These are only some of the potential causes of anxiety. Many people will experience anxiety for other reasons as well.<\/p>\n There are many different types of ways to treat your anxiety. Natural remedies such as CBD oil, grounding exercises and nature therapy can work in conjunction with more professional treatments such as counseling or prescription medication. For this reason, many anxiety sufferers use more than one treatment method in their anxiety management program.<\/p>\n Below are some common ways to treat anxiety, to reduce your anxiety episodes or help you manage the symptoms:<\/p>\n When you have anxiety, your nervous system is often dysregulated<\/a>. This can create physical and emotional responses that feel uncomfortable, but you can learn how to self-regulate your nervous system and self-soothe.<\/p>\n Many people discover self-regulation strategies by seeing a counselor, and others just experiment with different ideas while they\u2019re feeling dysregulated, so they can see what works for them to self-regulate.<\/p>\n Self-regulation strategies include going for a walk outside and watching the sunset, doing grounding exercises, singing karaoke, watching the flames at a bonfire or in a fireplace, doing deep breathing exercises<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n Many Registered Clinical Counselors or Psychologists specialize in anxiety or trauma. There are also certain types of therapy that are known for being good for treating anxiety. These include:<\/p>\n CBD oil is made from the cannabis plant, but it does not get you \u2018stoned\u2019 or \u2018high\u2019. Instead, CBD oil has anxiety-reducing properties that can help your body and mind relax, and it can even help you fall asleep. This is great news for people who have anxious thoughts that prevent them from falling asleep at night, but are against taking sleeping pills<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve tried counseling, and tried many natural remedies for anxiety, but you\u2019re still experiencing chronic anxiety or panic attacks, your doctor may prescribe medication for your anxiety. Anti-anxiety medications such as Ativan or Xanax can be addictive and can have other negative side effects, so it\u2019s best to try natural remedies for anxiety if you can, which brings us to our next anxiety treatment tip:<\/p>\n You may find that a natural plant-based remedy for anxiety works better for you than prescription medication. This is because many plant-based substances such as Kava Kava<\/a> or Ashwagandha, can legitimately combat the symptoms of anxiety and help relax you or shift your mood out of an anxious state. Try experimenting with a few plant-based remedies (in the recommended doses from your naturopath) and see what works best for you.<\/p>\n Many people find that a tight hug really helps calm their nervous system and helps them when they\u2019re feeling anxious \u2013 but if you live alone, you may not always have someone to hug you. Using a weighted blanket for anxiety could be a game-changer. Weighted blankets<\/a> simulate the therapeutic technique of deep pressure stimulation, which induces a feeling of calm.<\/p>\n You can use the creation of art to express your emotions, or to practice a zen-like state of mindfulness and relaxation. It can be used as a standalone therapy, but it is more commonly used in conjunction with CBT to allow for better emotional expression.<\/p>\n Exercise releases natural \u2018happy hormones\u2019 in the brain, such as endorphins. Exercise also helps you release pent-up energy in your body, and as you release this energy through exercise, you\u2019ll also be releasing some of that anxious energy.<\/p>\n Exposure to nature can help with anxiety and can uplift your mood, as spending time with nature is scientifically linked with increased happiness.<\/p>\n Nature is very healing, so don\u2019t be surprised if walking a beautiful forested trail, or watching the sunset at the beach, improves your anxiety.<\/p>\n No matter how bad your anxiety is, there\u2019s always hope. A combination of the above treatments could end up helping you reduce your anxiety significantly. All you have to do is experiment with various treatment methods. There are even certain foods known to help combat anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"circlemagazine-circledna-anxiety\"](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1635719436446-fda963ea42b6?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8MjF8fGFueGlldHl8ZW58MHx8MHx8&w=1000&q=80\")
Different Types of Anxiety<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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What Causes Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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![\"circlemagazine-circledna-anxiety\"](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1633423411797-9a7317784d2b?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8Mnx8Y2JkJTIwb2lsfGVufDB8fDB8fA%3D%3D&w=1000&q=80\")
Treatments and Therapies for Anxiety<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Self-Regulation<\/h3>\n
Anxiety-Focused Therapy or Counseling Sessions<\/h3>\n
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CBD Oil<\/h3>\n
Prescription Medication<\/h3>\n
Kava Kava, Ashwagandha, Chamomile, or Other Herbal Remedies<\/h3>\n
Weighted Blankets<\/h3>\n
Art Therapy<\/h3>\n
Exercise<\/h3>\n
Nature<\/h3>\n
Getting a Handle on Your Anxiety<\/strong><\/h2>\n