You Can Do Something About Persistent Anxiety
How do you know if you’re anxious? Your heart pounds, your palms sweat and the urge to get away from whatever is causing these feelings seems overwhelming. You either want to stomp it out of existence or run away as fast as you can. But most of all, you’re filled with worry.
We all experience anxiety from time to time, and it’s not unusual. But there’s a type of anxiety that you do not and should not resign yourself to, and that is constant anxiety. Also keep in mind that just knowing that help is available can provide some relief.
What Physical Symptoms Can Arise from an Anxiety Disorder?
An article in Harvard Health Publishing explains that prolonged anxiety can lead to the following:
- Increased cortisol levels (cortisol is the stress hormone)
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
- Stroke
- Kidney disease
- Sexual dysfunction
- Increased white cell production by the immune system
- Inflammation
- Plaque formation
While these can be the physical aspects of long-term anxiety, such anxiety also takes an emotional toll. From an emotional perspective, anxiety can make you intensely self-conscious and afraid of rejection. All too often, it can also lead to problems in relationships, school, work or other social areas of life.
Does This Sound Familiar?
It’s important to understand that you’re not alone. Surveys show that 20% of American adults over the age of 18 experienced an anxiety disorder within the last year. The percentage of teenagers between ages of 13 and 18 who experience anxiety disorders is even higher — 33%.
Now that you’ve read about the downside of constant anxiety, please realize that there is also an upside. The upside is you can get help to deal it. Different types of psychotherapy are available and lifestyle changes can often help as well: dietary changes, eliminating caffeine, regular exercise, etc.
At Affordable Therapy Los Angeles we offer individualized counseling to address your particular problems. Our therapists are compassionate and dedicated to helping you deal with anxiety issues.