Anxiety

Anxiety can be exhausting and debilitating. Over time chronic anxiety can cause many physical and emotional problems. Anxiety and depression are different sides of the same coin and often accompany one another. You are not alone and do not have to suffer.

Symptoms of anxiety include:

• Heart palpitations or flutters, chest tightness
• Shallow breathing, feel like can't take a deep breath
• High blood pressure
• Fast heart rate
• Light headed or dizzy
• Changes in appetite
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Racing thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares
• Inability to concentrate, make decisions or remember things
• Startles easily
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Sweating, shaking, feeling cold or hot
• Restless and irritable
• Depression

Causes:

• Genetic - it can run in families
• Situational - stressful life events
• Trauma - a traumatic event you may flash back to, or have nightmares about

Prevention and Treatment:

• Avoid caffeine
• Do not smoke - many people self medicate for anxiety by smoking. The nicotine helps them relax - but it compounds the circulatory problems caused by anxiety.
• Exercise
• Do not stress eat
• Engage your mind
• Increase your self care activities
• Build things you enjoy into your daily life
• Guided imagery and meditation
• Reach out for help from family and friends - do not let yourself get isolated
• Counseling
• Medications

If you are struggling with anxiety please reach out for help and support from your providers here. For more information check out our list of internet resources on our health links page, under the topic mental health.