Do you often find yourself worrying about everyday issues for no reason? Are you always waiting for disaster to strike or excessively worried about things such as health, money, family, work, or school? If so, you MAY have a type of anxiety weakness or disorder called Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It can make daily life feel like a constant worry, fear, and dread. But it can be treatable-natural and many other different ways. 

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. People may worry about things such as health, money, or family problems. But people with generalized anxiety disorder feel extremely worried or nervous more frequently about these and other thing-even when there is little to no reason to worry about them. Anxiety usually involves a persistent feeling of anxiety or dread that interferes with how you live your life. It is not the same as occasionally worrying about things or experiencing anxiety due to stressful life events. People with anxiety experience frequent anxiety for months, if not years.

Anxiety refers to anticipation of a future concern and is more associated with muscle tension and avoidance behaviors.

Fear is an emotional response to an immediate threat and is more associated with a fight or flight reaction-either staying to fight or leaving to escape danger.

Generalized anxiety disorder (G.A.D.) involves persistent and excessive worry that interferes with daily activities. This ongoing worry and tension may be accompanied by physical symptoms, such as restlessness, feeling on edge or easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, or problems sleeping. Often the worries focus on everyday things such as job responsibilities, family health, or minor matters such as chores, car repairs, or appointments.

Social anxiety or social phobia, is intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social or performance situation. May worry about acting or appearing visibly anxious (e.g., blushing or stumbling over words), or being viewed as stupid, awkward, or boring. 

All anxiety disorders may relate to a difficulty tolerating uncertainty and therefore many people with (G.A.D.) try to plan or control situations.

Everyday Anxiety

• Worry about paying bills, landing a job, a romantic breakup, or other important events.
• Embarrassment or self-consciousness in an uncomfortable or awkward social situation
• A case of nerves or sweating before a big test, business presentation, stage performance, or other significant event

Anxiety Disorder

• Constant worry that causes significant distress and interferes with daily life.
• Avoiding situations for fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated.
• Seemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks and the preoccupation with the fear of having another one.
• Irrational fear or avoidance of an object, place, or situation that poses little or no threat of danger.
• Recurring nightmares, flashbacks, or emotional numbing related to a traumatic event that occurred several months or years ago.

Signs And Symptoms 

• Worry excessively about everyday things.
• Have trouble controlling their worries or feelings of nervousness.
• Feel restless and have trouble relaxing.
• Have a hard time concentrating.
• Startle easily
• Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Tore easily or feel tired all the time.
• Have headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or unexplained pains.
• Hard time swallowing
• Tremble or twitch
• Feel irritable or “on edge.”
• Sweat a lot, feel lightheaded, or feel out of breath.
• Frequent restroom visits
• Stomachaches or headaches
• Feeling nervous, irritable, or on-edge
• Having a sense of impeding danger, panic or trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Rapid heart rate
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Often feel powerless against anxiety

Nervous About Everyday Things or Circumstances

• Job security or performance
• Health
• Finances
• Health and well-being of children or other family members
• Being late
• Completing household chores and other responsibilities

Treatments

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-teaches different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations that help you feel less anxious and worried.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-mindfulness and goal setting to reduce your discomfort and anxiety.

What Is Stress?

Stress is the physical or mental response to an external cause, such as having a lot of homework or having an illness. A stressor may be a one-time or short-term occurrence, or it can happen repeatedly over a long time. 

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is your bodies response to or reaction to stressors and can occur even if there is no current threat.

Stress	Both Anxiety and Stress	Anxiety
Response to external causeGoes away once situation is resolved.Can be positive or negative. For example, it may inspire you to meet a deadline, or it may cause you to lose sleep.	Can affect your mind and body.Excessive worryUneasinessTensionHeadaches or body painHigh blood pressureLoss of sleep	Generally, is internal, meaning it’s your reaction to stress.Persistent feeling of apprehension or dread that doesn’t go away.Interferes with everyday life.Constant, even if there is no immediate threat.



Try:

• Take a time-out (yoga, music, meditation, massage, relaxation techniques
• Eat well-balanced meals and healthy snacks.
• Limit alcohol
• Deep breathing
• Count to 10 slowly
• Accept that you cannot control everything.
• Maintain a positive attitude.
• Volunteer to help others.
• Learn what triggers your anxiety.
• Journaling 
• Download a app that provides relaxation techniques. 
• Exercise
• Sleep routine and enough sleep 
• Reach out to someone you trust.

Fitness Tips

Try to include at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) each week, 1.25 hours of vigorous-intensity activity (such as jogging or swimming laps), or a combination of the two.

• 5 X 30: jog, walk, bike, or dance three to five times a week for 30 minutes.
• Set small daily goals and aim for daily consistency rather than perfect workouts. 
• Find forms of exercise that are fun and enjoyable. 
• Distract yourself.
• Be patient when you start a new exercise routine. Most sedentary people require about four to eight weeks to feel coordinated and sufficiently in shape so that exercise feels easier.

If you are in immediate distress or are thinking about hurting yourself, call or text the 988 lifeline or chat at 988lifeline.com.