Understanding Chronic Anxiety Disorder

We all experience anxiety in our lives. Anxiety is the human body’s natural response to impending fear, stress, or unpleasant feelings. It is completely natural to experience anxiety in normal levels. However, there are some who experience large amounts of anxiety in their daily lives over things that should not normally be anxiety producing. When this unnatural or unexplained anxiety lasts for longer than six months and is not triggered anything specific, it is often a sign of chronic anxiety disorder.

The Difference Between Common Anxiety and Chronic Anxiety Disorder

Chronic anxiety sufferers often have no reason to their feelings of fear, nervousness, or dread. They feel anxious most or all of the time and cannot explain why. Often , these feelings are amplified when in a social setting, or when faced with things that normally would produce mild feelings of nervousness or anxiety. With feelings of common anxiety, there is a clear indicator for why the individual feels this way. Maybe there is a big event coming up in his or her life, such as a test worth much of the grade or a large presentation to the whole office. However, chronic anxiety disorder causes these feelings, but often with no culprit to blame. Sufferers feel tense and nervous, but without a clear reason. Or perhaps there is a reason, but the individual is far more anxious than what the normal response to a small event should be.

How to Spot Chronic Anxiety Disorder

If you feel like there is a possibility you may be suffering from chronic anxiety disorder, here are some common symptoms to watch out for:

If you have experienced these symptoms for more than 6 months with no relief, or if you are troubled by your feelings, the only way to know if you are suffering from chronic anxiety disorder is to see your doctor. He or she will evaluate how you have been feeling. You will be asked you questions about your daily anxiety levels. Then the doctor will decide on a course of treatment with therapy, medication, or both.

Ways to Calm Anxiety Symptoms

It is important to keep your feelings of anxiety under control. Often anxiety can lead to panic, and then it becomes a cycle. Feeling anxiety brings on more anxiety. Before you know it, you could be spiraling out of control into a panic attack. There are many ways to calm anxiety symptoms before reaching this level of panic.

Here is one of my favorites:

When you start to feel panicked, sit on the ground and place your head as far between your knees as you can. Having your head lowered reduces circulation to the brain, which can calm feelings of lightheadedness and dizziness associated with a panic attack. Count to fifty and concentrate on the numbers as they go through your mind. As you say each number, imagine it is leaving your mouth and taking a small piece of your panic out with it. By the time you reach 50, if you are not feeling calmer and more relaxed, continue counting to one hundred, or until you do feel better.

Additional Articles on Anxiety and Treatment:

Causes of Anxiety

Anxiety Solutions

Panic Attack Solutions

Anxiety Physical Symptoms

Anxiety Support Groups and Online Alternatives

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