WHAT IS ANXIETY? ANXIETY THERAPY IN VALENCIA
Understand what anxiety is, how it manifests itself, and the tools available to help you manage it successfully
WHAT IS ANXIETY? ANXIETY THERAPY IN VALENCIA
Anxiety is excessive and persistent worry about present or future dangers, without serving any useful purpose. When it appears at the appropriate moment, anxiety can actually be positive, as it may help us overcome challenges. The problem arises when it becomes disproportionate and starts interfering with everyday life.
It is common for anxiety to appear even in situations that previously caused us no difficulty. Everyone experiences anxiety at certain moments in life.
Ideally, anxiety should be addressed before it becomes a source of excessive suffering, preventing it from escalating and stopping feelings such as nervousness, helplessness, mental blockage, or loss of control from spreading into other areas of life.
Among the most common anxiety-related difficulties are generalised anxiety, social anxiety, anxiety attacks (or panic attacks), health anxiety, phobias, and agoraphobia.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY?
Anxiety can produce different types of symptoms: physical (in the body), mental (related to thoughts), emotional, and behavioural.
Physical symptoms
Chest tightness, sweating, changes in appetite, feeling short of breath, rapid heartbeat, trembling, accelerated breathing, agitation, fatigue, and gastrointestinal problems.
Mental symptoms
Tension, mental hyperactivity, excessive worry, obsessive thoughts, negative thinking, mental exhaustion, a sense of imminent danger, concentration difficulties, sleep problems, difficulty controlling worries, and constantly thinking about the future.
Emotional symptoms
Nervousness, feelings of tension, emotional sensitivity, irritability, lack of motivation, intense fear, confusion, distrust, and feeling defensive.
Behavioural symptoms
Agitation, avoidance of situations, hyperactivity, sudden crying, excessive talking, repetitive behaviours (such as scratching or tics), social isolation, verbal or physical aggression, mutism (being unable to speak), and depersonalisation.