why do I get anxious?

Anxiety effects everyone, we get anxious before an interview or an exam, we get anxious in the dark, in supermarket queues or if we think we may be late for an appointment. Anxiety is a normal, natural response which can be useful for heightening our senses and giving us the increased adrenalin we need to deal with a particular situation. 

When we get anxious, our body triggers a response called “fight or flight”.  A term first coined by the American Physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon.  In humans when the body senses danger, a signal is sent from the brain to redirect blood to the hands and the feet enabling the person to either fight or take flight (run away).

So when does anxiety move from being regular anxiety into an anxiety disorder?   The answer to this, is generally thought to be, when the effects of the anxiety become unmanageable to the sufferer i.e. when the symptoms begin to negatively effect a person’s life in a way they no longer feel they are able to control.

symptoms of anxiety disorder:

Anxiety can arise unexpectedly, as in panic, or gradually over minutes, hours, or days. Anxiety can last for any length of time, from a few seconds to years. It ranges in intensity from scarcely detectable worries to full-blown panic attacks.

There are a number of different symptoms, some of the common ones are listed below:-

Psychological

restlessness and an inability to relax

tiredness

poor concentration

irritability

poor sleep (insomnia)

Physical

muscle tension/pain

headaches

joint pain

breathlessness

racing heart

tightness or pain in your chest

dry mouth

sweating

flushing

nausea,

stomach pains, and diarrhoea

It is important to note that some of these symptoms can point towards other medical problems - if you are unsure, you should always consult your GP.

symptoms of anxiety disorder:

Anxiety disorders are split into a number of different categories:

General Anxiety Disorders (GAD),
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD),
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder.
Phobias
Social phobias

GAD (Generalised Anxiety Disorder)

Persistent feelings of anxiety which do not seem to be related to anything in particular. It is much more than the regular anxiety most of us feel, it is a perpetual feeling that something terrible is about to happen. Constant worrying even though a person may know the situation does not warrant it. GAD sufferers have an inability to relax and therefore have no respite from the anxious feelings.

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Unwanted thoughts or images and the compulsion to engage in ritualistic behaviours a person feels they cannot control.  The thoughts/images are know as the obsessions and the behaviours the compulsions.  Most people understand the behaviour is pointless or irrational but feel they are unable to stop.

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Following a traumatic event such as a kidnapping, a bomb explosion or a soldier who has been to war, the person constantly and distressingly recalls the event in their mind.  Sufferers can become detached and avoid situations they once loved.

Panic Attack & Panic Disorder

Approximately 15% of the population suffer from panic disorder and the majority of those are women.  Panic disorder manifests itself in unexpected attacks of terror.  The sufferer often has no idea what is causing the attack and therefore has no clue when or where the next one will occur.

Panic disorder can lead to phobias and avoidance of any situations in which they believe a panic attack will occur.

Panic Attack Symptoms

Terror

Tingling or numbness

Pounding heart

Flushes

Sweating or chills

Feeling sick

Out of body experience

Feeling a loss of control or going mad

escape the fear and take your life back!

Modern hypnotherapy is seeing dramatic results in helping people permanently break free from their fear. With excellent success rates, hypnotherapy is fast becoming one of the most effective ways to conquer fears and take your life back.

If you're curious as to how hypnotherapy can work for you, why not call us for a FREE telephone consultation, where we will be happy to discuss your requirements. There are no obligations, so you have nothing to lose.  

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