Anxiety is real. It can range from mild anxiety symptoms to severe anxiety levels. Anxiety can make itself present in the form of physical symptoms such as tightness in the chest.  Anxiety symptoms on an emotional level may follow you and appear like a cloud of negativity everywhere. Such types of anxiety may take over your life slowly by affecting your normal routine and habits.

What is an Anxiety Disorder?

What causes anxiety? Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness, fear or angst that often occurs without understandable explanation. Anxiety can be distinguished from fear because fear occurs in response to an actual danger whereas anxiety may occur in response to any situation. As such, a person suffering from anxiety may imagine an outcome even before the situation takes place. This is often referred to as the fear of the unknown. 

Anxiety disorder can also be an outcome of internal emotional conflicts that may not be visible to the anxious person on a conscious level. Anxiety is often a part of life and may contribute to optimal functioning. However, prolonged symptoms of anxiety disorder may cause threats to a person’s thinking capabilities affecting personal and professional life. Anxiety disorder is one of the most commonly occurring mental disorders. However, anxiety symptoms are often left undiagnosed and untreated due to lack of awareness. Anxiety symptoms may appear gradually over time to increase in intensity. It can last for a  few seconds or even a couple of years. 

Understanding Anxiety Symptoms

The symptoms of anxiety include increased heart rate, fast breathing, uneasiness, poor concentration and inability to fall asleep. The causes of anxiety include environmental stressors (difficulties in personal or professional life), genetic factors, medical factors (diseases, medications), brain chemistry or drug abuse. Most often, it can also be a result of internal conflict which if left unattended, may hamper normal life.

Understanding Anxiety Symptoms

There are three distinct types of anxiety levels. These three levels are named as mild anxiety, moderate anxiety and severe anxiety. 

Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness, fear or angst that often occurs without understandable explanation

Mild Anxiety 
Mild anxiety is clinically non-significant. It is a part of daily life. It is experienced as uneasiness or moderately increased heart rate. It can lead to an imbalance in emotions if it persists for a prolonged period of time. Mild anxiety symptoms can be beneficial too! It can improve alertness and maximize overall focus.
  
Moderate anxiety 
Moderate anxiety symptoms are often similar to mild anxiety. The difference lies in the intensity of anxiety symptoms. Moderate anxiety levels brings focussed attention on the anxiety itself while reducing attention from one’s environment.  Moderate symptoms of anxiety include muscle tension, trembling voice, physical pain or sometimes disturbed sleep patterns. Moderate anxiety symptoms may interfere with normal functioning, but a person may resort to use self-help strategies to move ahead to a calmer space. 
 
Severe Anxiety 
Severe anxiety disorder needs clinical attention. This stage of anxiety is considered to be detrimental to a person's well-being. It interferes with an individual’s ability to think rationally. Severe anxiety symptoms usually occur with major depressive disorders that can lead to considerable impairment. Symptoms of severe anxiety include chronic and persistent increase in heart rate, panic and withdrawal from one’s surrounding. Severe anxiety can also cause problems in professional and personal life and extreme cases may need hospitalization. Individuals with severe anxiety symptoms may resort to alcohol and drug abuse as a form of a coping strategy. 
 

Anxiety Treatment Options: When should one Hire a Counselor or a Psychologist?

Counselors and psychologists are equipped with relevant degrees and qualifications for anxiety treatment. Any treatment of anxiety disorder includes long term plans wherein the root causes are addressed.  When anxiety symptoms begin interfering with daily functioning, it’s a strong indication to seek treatment by a professional. Counselors or psychologists are equipped to diagnose as they are trained to identify as well as treat severe anxiety. Professional therapists work on the root causes and individuals need to work in tandem with their therapist to create desired results. Counselors or therapists  focus on the past to help in overcoming anxiety while suggesting methods to make an individual work on their personal self. Professional counselors possess the knowledge and competence in handling severe mental health issues; anxiety disorder being one of them. Their interventions are backed by scientific theories that makes it necessary for those with anxiety symptoms to begin counseling and restart life again! 

Feeling anxious? Try the Beck’s Anxiety Inventory Assessment to gauge your anxiety levels.

When Should One Seek a Professional Life Coach?

A Life Coach partners with you in identifying goals, understanding road blocks, analyzing behavior patterns while installing new habits to create desired results. Life Coaches help you look ahead without past emotional baggage giving you the wings needed to take the flight to freedom. Life coaching can maximize the benefits of psychotherapy or counseling because it can help in achieving goals of therapeutic treatment as well. However, a Life Coach is not to be confused with a counselor. A counselor is trained to treat complex mental health disorders wherein a Life Coach acts as a supplementary support to individuals looking to move towards a better life with greater speed. A Life Coach helps people in regaining control and managing thoughts; a process useful for individuals suffering from anxiety.  They also teach exercises for the brain that can be employed when anxiety-provoking situations arise. They work on altering problematic patterns of thinking and behavior which result in alleviating anxiety levels. A Life Coach assists in identifying challenges, setting goals, increasing motivational levels, finance management, focusing on the future, eliminating self-limiting beliefs, defining purpose, reducing anxiety and boosting confidence. As Life Coaches focus on the future, individuals gather more momentum in moving towards an improved life. 

Are you suffering from an anxiety disorder? We recommend you to identify your symptoms and seek professional help. Seeking assistance is no longer taboo in a world where mental health is as important as building physical strength.

Here’s something to remember! Though therapists and life coaches may utilize different approaches in addressing anxiety issues, both are highly effective methods. This of course,  depends upon the nature of anxiety. Counseling uses a strong science-backed approach which is always offered by highly experienced professionals. You know your journey towards healing has begun when you’ve identified your anxiety symptoms and accepted that you need support. 

Are you experiencing any anxiety symptoms right now? Are you looking for a person to connect with and share your story? Book your appointment with a Mental Strength Professional, now. They are trained counselors who listen without judging while giving you expert guidance in life. Most importantly, the sessions are confidential and available online. Click here to book your appointment, now.

Please note: Our anxiety treatment options do not include medication.