Worry Thoughts as Part of the Anxiety Continuum
Anxiety can be thought of as on a spectrum, with a variant of presentation along the way. If residual worry is on one extreme and paranoid OCD panic is on the other, what might fall in between? Let’s take a look at the different ways anxiety may present itself and what that might look like for you and your treatment.
Everyone worries from time to time, but generalized worry can come and leave rather quickly without leaving much residue behind. Troublesome worry on the other hand, tends to stay and fester.
Sometimes worry is internalized about ourselves and those within proximity of us “what if I’m late…I’ll never…” or “He probably thinks I’m an idiot” “What if I get fired for…”
Other times worry is external and larger than us, “What if global warming takes over and…” or “NO ONE recycles enough. Pretty soon….”
Worry takes over our thoughts, increases our heart rate and begins to create anxiety and sometimes even panic. A good clinician can help put you in touch with the voice of the worries and can help them stop. New thoughts can replace old worries and calm bodily sensations can replace jittery, anxious feelings.
Everyone worries from time to time, but generalized worry can come and leave rather quickly without leaving much residue behind. Troublesome worry on the other hand, tends to stay and fester.
Sometimes worry is internalized about ourselves and those within proximity of us “what if I’m late…I’ll never…” or “He probably thinks I’m an idiot” “What if I get fired for…”
Other times worry is external and larger than us, “What if global warming takes over and…” or “NO ONE recycles enough. Pretty soon….”
Worry takes over our thoughts, increases our heart rate and begins to create anxiety and sometimes even panic. A good clinician can help put you in touch with the voice of the worries and can help them stop. New thoughts can replace old worries and calm bodily sensations can replace jittery, anxious feelings.
Anxiety and Nervous Feelings can be Decreased and Controlled
One of the key components to learning how to harness anxiety is creating awareness as to how many systems the anxiety is effecting. What are the thoughts associated, what feelings couple with or precede the anxiety, where in the body are these feeling expressed and felt? Are there global cognitions that you now believe to be true about your life or the world because of these thoughts and feelings?
The best way to decrease anxiety is by becoming curious as to how and why it arrived in the first place. Is something in your life out of balance? Is your gut health poor? Could encephalitis or infection be driving the symptoms?
The best way to decrease anxiety is by becoming curious as to how and why it arrived in the first place. Is something in your life out of balance? Is your gut health poor? Could encephalitis or infection be driving the symptoms?
When Anxiety Turns into Panic
Anyone who has had a panic attack will know how terrifying and helpless panic can feel. For some, a panic attack is rapid breathing and an inability to speak, for others it is uncontrollable crying. Some may be plagued with intrusive thoughts and the feeling that nothing and no one can help.
Once a panic attack has begun, it can be challenging to turn it around. Understanding what triggers them is where a therapist will begin and learning how to avoid them is key. Read this article and learn how magnesium and essential oils may help settle the body, especially if used routinely. When panic does not make sense, looking into other factors like methylation, encephalitis, unspoken trauma, etc. may be a helpful approach.
Once a panic attack has begun, it can be challenging to turn it around. Understanding what triggers them is where a therapist will begin and learning how to avoid them is key. Read this article and learn how magnesium and essential oils may help settle the body, especially if used routinely. When panic does not make sense, looking into other factors like methylation, encephalitis, unspoken trauma, etc. may be a helpful approach.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Attempts to Soothe Anxiety
Anyone can exhibit OCD behaviors and tendencies, but this does not mean the diagnosis must be used. Compulsions sooth us; that is why humans do them. When anxiety, worry and or panic become too relevant, often OCD comes in as a way to manage, control and sooth. It is often a sign that the anxiety is taking up way too much space. Again, getting under the anxiety, becoming curious as to why it is there is the absolute key here.
Changing the OCD behaviors does not really make sense if there is no knowledge as to how things spiraled so out of control in the first place. Once the root of the problem is identified and the original anxiety decreases, the OCD should theoretically shrink. What makes this confusing is that often OCD behaviors become a habit. They no longer serve a soothing purpose, but instead become engrained in the daily routine. When this happens, a trained therapist will help the client extinguish these behaviors one at a time. Doing this before the anxiety has decreased can be detrimental and maybe even dangerous. Remember: the OCD is serving a purpose by helping the anxiety feel more manageable. Seeking a professional who is trained to help anxiety is key.
Changing the OCD behaviors does not really make sense if there is no knowledge as to how things spiraled so out of control in the first place. Once the root of the problem is identified and the original anxiety decreases, the OCD should theoretically shrink. What makes this confusing is that often OCD behaviors become a habit. They no longer serve a soothing purpose, but instead become engrained in the daily routine. When this happens, a trained therapist will help the client extinguish these behaviors one at a time. Doing this before the anxiety has decreased can be detrimental and maybe even dangerous. Remember: the OCD is serving a purpose by helping the anxiety feel more manageable. Seeking a professional who is trained to help anxiety is key.
I Feel Your Pain: When an Empath Experiences SOMEONE ELSE’S Anxiety
Another less popular subset of anxiety is the ability that some have to feel and experience others’ emotions. An empath, and sometimes known as a highly sensitive person, is one who is sensitive to emotional stimuli and feels the sensations as if they were his own. Here is a blog article to read that explain these abilities in detail. Some untrained Empaths become overwhelmed in crowded rooms because of the tremendous amount of emotion and energy they experience from others in attendance. An Empath who has not learned to harness this ability will feel depression out of nowhere or anxiety without cause. If you think you have this sensitive ability, talk to your therapist about it today. Our therapists are trained to help clients navigate this subset of symptomology as well.
When Social Anxiety Gets in the Way of Your Relationships and Life
Anxiety can be triggered by social stimuli. Maybe the worry thoughts from above impact insecurities or maybe you are a little more sensitive and porous, like an empath. Sometimes home becomes the safe haven and going anywhere else feels too vulnerable. Whatever is creating the social anxiety can be organized and decreased with a caring, trained therapist.
Get Help For The Anxiety Today!
You have made it this far and are doing your homework to learn how to manage your anxiety. Wait no longer, get help today! Reach out and let us help you become empowered over your anxious thoughts and feelings.
Want to enhance your ability to control your thoughts and feelings and live a more mindful existence? Click here to learn about our on-going meditation sessions. Mediation is open to everyone; being a current client of the center is not necessary.
Get Help For The Anxiety Today!
You have made it this far and are doing your homework to learn how to manage your anxiety. Wait no longer, get help today! Reach out and let us help you become empowered over your anxious thoughts and feelings.
Want to enhance your ability to control your thoughts and feelings and live a more mindful existence? Click here to learn about our on-going meditation sessions. Mediation is open to everyone; being a current client of the center is not necessary.