Feelings of stress, fear and worry can be normal from time to time. These feelings can often help to keep us alert and on our toes, or even protect us from danger, such as with our body’s natural “fight, flight or freeze” response. 

However, excessive feelings of nervousness, anxiousness, fear or worry that are ongoing and affect our ability to function within our daily lives are referred to as anxiety disorders and can be extremely exhausting, crippling and debilitating for people living with them. 

If left untreated, severe and persistent anxiety can often have a negative impact on our body’s physical health, as well as our mental and emotional well-being.

Some symptoms of Anxiety Disorders can be more general in nature, such as with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and can include finding it very difficult to control worry or fear, feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge, feeling tired or finding it difficult to fall or stay asleep. 

Anxiety disorders may also cause difficulty concentrating, anger or irritability. Anxiety Disorders can sometimes bring about physical symptoms like headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or unexplained pains.

Panic Disorder is an anxiety disorder that causes panic attacks, or sudden periods of intense fear, discomfort, or a sense of losing control even when there is no clear danger or trigger. Symptoms of panic attacks may include a pounding or racing heartbeat, sweating, trembling or tingling, chest pain, feelings of impending doom and feelings of losing control of your body. 

Social Anxiety is an intense and persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. Social Anxiety can often get in the way of going to work, school, parties, social events, etc. 

In some circumstances, anxiety and the activation of our body’s stress response or “fight or flight” response can be triggered by experiencing a traumatic situation, as in the case with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. 

In the case of eating disorders or body dysmorphic disorder, anxiety is largely related to feelings of insecurity about the body, stress or nervousness that leads to compulsive eating, or even unresolved past traumatic experiences that have caused people living with these disorders feel as if they are losing a sense of control over their lives and use food as an (unsuccessful) attempt to regain control. 

The Mindfulness Space Therapy in Greensboro NC, specializes in the treatment of both generalized anxiety disorders, as well as anxiety and stress related disorders that impact our relationships with food, our bodies and our inner selves. Schedule your free 30 minute consultation call in order to find out how the mindfulness space can help you!