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about anxiety
anx·i·e·ty
/aNGˈzīədē/
noun
a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
overview
Anxiety is our body's way of alerting us of a potential threat. In primitive days, worries and stress kept us alive and aware of our surroundings. However, this function became less vital as society modernized and advanced. This caused anxiety to evolve into the disorder that we are familiar with today.
origin
Thousands of years ago, humans were hunters and gatherers. Since we were not at the top of the food chain, we had to develop ways to survive in the wild without being eaten. Our brains grew in size and became more complex, allowing us to have more sophisticated thoughts. This paved the way for the development of the fight or flight response.
The fight or flight response is the ability of our brains to assess a situation and determine the best possible behavior to respond to that situation. For example, if you were picking berries and you came across a hungry lion, your brain would sense the danger of the lion. It would then send messages to various parts of the body, heightening your senses. Your breathing and heart rate would increase, pumping oxygenated blood to your muscles. Adrenaline would also be released into your bloodstream, preparing you for action. Keep in mind that this is all occurring in less than a second's time.
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Next your brain would make the assessment of whether to fight the threat or run from it. In this case, it is unlikely that you would win a battle against a lion, so your brain would choose to run away to a safe place (up a tree, in a small cave, etc.). This amazing instinct has enabled the human species to survive and evolve into what it has become today.
modern anxiety
Over the millennia, society has evolved and grown in complexity. Humans have risen up the ranks to the top of the food chain, and we do not have to worry about many of the issues that our ancestors did. This gradual change has caused our fight or flight response to morph into anxiety. Instead of worrying about being eaten, modern day people stress over school and work. All people experience anxiety some time during their lives, as it is a completely normal response to stressors.
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The levels of anxiety that one experiences over a lifetime can depend on many factors including location, peers, and even genetics. Those who experience higher levels of stress than most have what is called anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorder can take on many forms and is the most common mental illness in the world. People who have anxiety disorder (including myself) experience irrational and excessive stress which can affect your quality of life. Symptoms include rapid breathing, sweating, lack of sleep, restlessness, and unhealthy eating habits. These are just common symptoms, however everyone experiences anxiety in slightly different ways.
Although there is no cure for anxiety, there are many ways to control your emotions and thoughts to lessen its impact on your well-being. Even if you are not diagnosed with anxiety disorder, you can still use these strategies to decrease your stress.
types of anxiety
There are six main types of anxiety. Determining which type you have will put you one step closer to finding effective treatment. It is possible for you to show symptoms for more than one type of anxiety.
generalized anxiety disorder
People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) display excessive anxiety or worry, most days for at least 6 months, about a number of things such as personal health, work, social interactions, and everyday routine life circumstances. The fear and anxiety can cause significant problems in areas of their life, such as social interactions, school, and work.
social anxiety disorder
Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation - such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others - or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people.
post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.
All of the information from this section came directly from HHS.gov and MayoClinic.org.