Anxiety

There is no worse state to experience, then that of anxiety. Anxiety is defined as an emotional state of uneasiness, apprehension, or worry. Signs that one may be suffering from anxiety can include: 1) increased perspiration 2) inability to sleep 3) motor agitation 4) ruminating endlessly 4) increased respirations 5) eating more than usual or less than usual and 6) feelings of regret or remorse.

Excessive anxiety can lead to severe health problems, such as ulcers, high blood pressure, coronary illness, bruxism, TMJ, loss of hair, and stroke. On the emotional side, untreated anxiety can ruin relationships, result in a significant loss of self-esteem, and create memory deficits.

In severe cases of anxiety, the patient may need immediate relief to be able to function and thus may be prescribed an axiolytic or anti-anxiety medication. Yet, medication only treats the symptoms of anxiety and does not address or remediate the root of the problem.

Often anxiety can be traced to deep seeded feelings of inadequacy that were instilled in us as children. Overly critical or hostile or domineering parents are often the culprits. Even an overindulgent parent can create an individual racked by anxiety. A parent who has not taught their child to self-soothe or encouraged self-discipline, can create a child who is fearful and thus anxious to function in the world. Essentially, this is because the underlying message that the parent has given their child is that they are not capable of functioning in the world, that is why mother or father must “do it for you.”

Treatment is geared toward learning to conquer the anxiety through the use of: 1) self-talk 2) challenging false assumptions and 3) replacing the inaccurate thought, with a thought more grounded in reality.

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