What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but it can become overwhelming. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of anxiety.
Anxiety
Photo by Hailey Kean

DEFINITION – What is Anxiety?

Anxiety refers to the feeling of fear about future events. Many people feel anxious in the event of the first day of a new job, moving, or giving a speech. If your anxious feelings last for more than 6 months, it’s often categorized as an anxiety disorder.

BREAKING DOWN – Anxiety 

Anxiety is a completely normal feeling. In times of stress, you might feel anxious about what’s to come. Your heart may begin to race. You might start to breathe faster and more shallowly. You may also have trouble concentrating or falling asleep. 

Anxiety only becomes problematic when you feel overwhelmed by it, you experience a panic attack, or you’ve been anxious for over 6 months. This may indicate that an anxiety disorder is at play. 

There are various types of anxiety disorders including panic disorders, phobias, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. 

Experts say that anxiety is typically caused by a combination of environmental factors and individual brain chemistry. Frequently, the areas of the brain involved include the ones that handle emotional memory and reaction to fear. 

Often, making lifestyle changes or adjustments in your life is enough to decrease and eliminate anxiety. Decreasing stress through relaxation techniques, regular exercise, getting quality sleep and enough sleep, and a healthy and balanced diet are a few examples of ways to reduce feelings of anxiety. 

Yet, if your anxiety is severe, an appropriate treatment path may be recommended by your doctor. This may involve medication or therapy to help you find methods to cope. 

Massage therapy can further help you relax and decrease your stress or anxiety levels. In particular, a Swedish massage helps promote relaxation and reduces muscle tension throughout the body. At Athlete’s Choice Massage, our team is ready to help you unwind after a stressful week or day. Click BOOK NOW below to schedule your next massage appointment. 

bold

Share this article

About Athlete’s Choice Massage

Athlete’s Choice Massage was created to provide consistently excellent rehabilitative services for health-conscious people. Our team is extremely well-trained and they take pride in their work. They are constantly striving to learn and better themselves in their respective fields so that they can help you recover and aid in the maintenance of your well-being.

best massage Edmonton

All appointments will begin with a short but in-depth one-on-one assessment. This is your opportunity to point out what area you’d like to work on during your time, as well as identify any special requests or concerns you may have. Should you have more than one area of concern, your therapist will prioritize the chief complaint and create a treatment plan for the time allotted and for follow-ups as needed.

Please note our 24 Hour Cancelation Policy.

With massage therapy being covered by many people’s extended health care benefits, it is now easier than ever to experience the positive effects of therapeutic massage.

DYNAMIC

Frequently Asked Question

When a massage is administered, your body reacts to the pressure and movement of the massage therapist’s hands in a variety of ways. As your body relaxes, the massage prompts the release of hormones and Read More

I am item content. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

I am item content. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

I am item content. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

I am item content. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Anxiety is a normal and often helpful emotion that helps us respond to danger or stress. However, when anxiety becomes persistent, intense, and interferes with daily life, it may be an anxiety disorder.

The common symptoms of anxiety include excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, fatigue, sleep problems, and panic attacks.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Anxiety can be treated with various methods such as psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on changing negative thinking patterns and behaviors related to anxiety. Medications such as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or beta-blockers may be prescribed depending on the severity of the symptoms. Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and stress-management techniques can also help alleviate anxiety symptoms.