It’s normal to feel anxious at times. Feeling stressed and anxious can be a good thing when used to help us improve performance or decision-making processes. If we feel some anxiety at work, it may be a signal we need to have a discussion with our supervisor about performance-related concerns. Being stressed and anxious about our grade before a test or exam at school can be an extra incentive to put in more hours studying to do well. Being anxious and stressed about making a big decision makes us slow down and consider our options carefully to make the best choice.
Are Stress and Anxiety the Same Thing?
Stress and anxiety are related, but not exactly the same. Stress is defined as “any demand placed on your brain or physical body.” This means when you are in any situation where you feel nervous, frustrated, or are pushing your body hard, you are under stress. Anxiety is about different feelings: being worried or afraid.
What are Anxiety Disorders, Then?
Anxiety disorders aren’t your ordinary, garden-variety types of anxiety. When someone experiences a level of anxiety that interferes with their everyday life, they may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, such as:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): a mental health condition where the person is constantly overwhelmed by everyday life. Someone living with GAD worries excessively about normal situations.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): a type of anxiety disorder where the affected person has fearful ideas (obsessions) and performs ritualistic behaviors (compulsions). Obsessions are repetitive, unwanted thoughts that the person living with OCD is unable to stop. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that people living with OCD perform to decrease the anxiety caused by the obsessions. Someone with OCD may constantly check the locks on their home or wash their hands several times daily.
- Panic Disorder: a mental health condition where the affected person experiences “unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear.” During these episodes, the affected person also experiences symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. Someone with a panic disorder may also experience dizziness and abdominal issues. During an attack, someone with a panic disorder may feel nauseous. They may report feeling chilled or flushed, tingling or numb hands, or a smothering sensation. The person with a panic disorder may be concerned that they are having a heart attack. These panic attacks can occur at any time, even while the person is asleep.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a type of anxiety disorder that may develop after someone is exposed to either a frightening event or a situation where serious physical harm was possible (or occurred). After a disaster, such as an earthquake, flood, forest fire, or plane crash, it isn’t uncommon for first responders, survivors, and witnesses to experience heightened fear, anger, worry, and sadness. People who have experienced a significant event like a house fire, a car accident, or who have been victims of a crime may report similar feelings. For many of them, the feelings lessen over time and with support from family, friends, and perhaps professional counseling. For some people, these feelings persist. They may become severe, and the person may find that they get triggered by everyday events. During these episodes, the person relives the stressful event which interferes with their ability to function.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: a mental health condition where the affected person experiences overwhelming anxiety and feels extremely self-conscious when socializing in everyday situations. The person may feel anxious in certain situations, such as having to give a presentation or eating and drinking in front of other people. In more extreme cases, a person may experience a high level of anxiety nearly all the time when they are around other people.
How Anxiety Affects the Body
Anxiety has multiple physical effects on the body:
- Abdominal pain
- Backaches
- Chest pain
- Churning feeling in the stomach
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness
- Extreme fatigue
- Frequent feelings of impending doom
- Headaches
- Hot flushes
- Increase in blood pressure
- Indigestion
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Loss of libido
- Muscle aches and pains
- Nausea
- Panic attacks
- Pins and needles
- Pounding heart
- Rapid breathing
- Restlessness
- Stomach upset
- Sweating
When someone feels anxious, their heart rate and respiration rates increase. The body focuses on routing blood flow to the brain, where it is needed most. Its response is completely focused on preparing for whatever may happen.
Long-Term Effects of Anxiety
Chronic anxiety has the potential to cause several long-term physical effects on the body.
- Breathing issues
- Chronic pain
- Headaches
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Higher risk of dementia
- Increased risk of depression
- Immune system deficiency
- Memory loss
- Muscle tension
- Stroke
- Weight loss
When someone feels anxious, the stress response starts in the brain. It is so fast that the person isn’t aware of it. A signal is sent from their ears or eyes to the amygdala, which interprets images and sounds. If the data is interpreted as dangerous, the distress signal gets sent on to the hypothalamus, the command center. All of this takes place in the blink of an eye, and the person has no control over it.
Adrenaline starts pumping, increasing blood pressure and pulse rate. Breathing becomes rapid, and senses are sharpened. If the brain continues to perceive a dangerous situation, it releases cortisol (a stress hormone) to keep the body on high alert.
The danger response continues until the danger has passed. If the threat is still perceived to be present, the nervous system continues to maintain its stress response in place. A person’s nervous system can overreact to a stressor, leading to long-term negative effects on their health.
Find Help for Anxiety Disorder at Cottonwood
Cottonwood is pleased to offer treatment to clients living with anxiety, along with substance abuse disorders. We are a dual diagnosis center, which means we treat each health issue concurrently (at the same time). New clients are evaluated by our caring, experienced medical and counseling staff.
Once a new client is fully evaluated and an accurate diagnosis has been made, the treatment team develops a detailed treatment plan. This plan accounts for the client’s history, current condition, and their treatment goals.
Each client at Cottonwood participates in group therapy and individual counseling sessions. Our program also includes a nutritious diet, regular exercise and a sleep schedule.
