Why is anxiety so scary




















It is used when the fear is about something in the future rather than what is happening right now. When you feel frightened or seriously anxious, your mind and body work very quickly. These are some of the things that might happen: [5]. These things occur because your body, sensing fear, is preparing you for an emergency, so it makes your blood flow to the muscles, increases blood sugar, and gives you the mental ability to focus on the thing that your body perceives as a threat.

With anxiety, in the longer term, you may have some of the above symptoms as well as a more nagging sense of fear, and you may get irritable, have trouble sleeping, develop headaches, or have trouble getting on with work and planning for the future; you might have problems having sex, and might lose self-confidence.

Early humans needed the fast, powerful responses that fear causes, as they were often in situations of physical danger; however, we no longer face the same threats in modern-day living.

Despite this, our minds and bodies still work in the same way as our early ancestors, and we have the same reactions to our modern worries about bills, travel and social situations. Instead of alerting you to a danger and preparing you to respond to it, your fear or anxiety can kick in for any perceived threat, which could be imaginary or minor. Some people feel a constant sense of anxiety all the time, without any particular trigger.

Even if you can see how out of proportion a fear is, the emotional part of your brain keeps sending danger signals to your body. A phobia is an extreme fear of a particular animal, thing, place or situation. People with phobias have an overwhelming need to avoid any contact with the specific cause of the anxiety or fear. The thought of coming into contact with the cause of the phobia makes you anxious or panicky. Fear and anxiety can affect all of us every now and then.

It is only when it is severe and long-lasting that doctors class it as a mental health problem. The same is true if a phobia is causing problems in your daily life, or if you are experiencing panic attacks. If you always avoid situations that scare you, you might stop doing things you want or need to do.

Anxiety problems tend to increase if you get into this pattern. Exposing yourself to your fears can be an effective way of overcoming this anxiety.

Try to learn more about your fear or anxiety. Keep an anxiety diary or thought record to note down when it happens and what happens. You could carry with you a list of things that help at times when you are likely to be become frightened or anxious.

Notice and observe things you have never paid attention to before. Maybe say what you observe out loud, or just to yourself. You can mix it up anyway you like, perhaps you are at a restaurant and you can taste 5 things, or smell 5 things. It is just about using your senses in a purposeful, intentional way. By getting out of your head and engaging your body in a slow, mindful activity it is pretty much impossible to focus on the image that turned anxiety up in the first place.

I feel like I am going crazy! A quick peek at your latest social media feed and you see a story about a family who had a burglar break in their house and murder three people.

Quickly shock, fear, horror, or sadness fills your experience. It is valid that you may feel that way but the mind, in its amazing abilities, will use those emotions as proof to make a conclusion that may not be true. They feel physical symptoms of anxiety in situations such as giving a speech, playing a sports game, or dancing or playing a musical instrument on stage. Social anxiety disorder usually starts during youth in people who are extremely shy. Social anxiety disorder is not uncommon; research suggests that about 7 percent of Americans are affected.

Without treatment, social anxiety disorder can last for many years or a lifetime and prevent a person from reaching his or her full potential.

When having to perform in front of or be around others, people with social anxiety disorder tend to:. Researchers have found that several parts of the brain are involved in fear and anxiety.

For example, you may think that people are staring or frowning at you when they truly are not. Underdeveloped social skills are another possible contributor to social anxiety. For example, if you have underdeveloped social skills, you may feel discouraged after talking with people and may worry about doing it in the future. By learning more about fear and anxiety in the brain, scientists may be able to create better treatments. Researchers are also looking for ways in which stress and environmental factors may play a role.

First, talk to your doctor or health care professional about your symptoms. Your doctor should do an exam and ask you about your health history to make sure that an unrelated physical problem is not causing your symptoms.

Your doctor may refer you to a mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, or counselor. The first step to effective treatment is to have a diagnosis made, usually by a mental health specialist. Speak with your doctor or health care provider about the best treatment for you. A type of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy CBT is especially useful for treating social anxiety disorder.

CBT teaches you different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations that help you feel less anxious and fearful. It can also help you learn and practice social skills. CBT delivered in a group format can be especially helpful. For more information on psychotherapy, please visit www. Many people with social anxiety also find support groups helpful.

In a group of people who all have social anxiety disorder, you can receive unbiased, honest feedback about how others in the group see you. This way, you can learn that your thoughts about judgment and rejection are not true or are distorted. You can also learn how others with social anxiety disorder approach and overcome the fear of social situations.

Site last updated November 14, Physical Symptoms of Severe Anxiety Anxiety is not just about feeling anxious — it is also about the real, physical symptoms caused by an anxiety disorder. Physical symptoms of severe anxiety are common in panic attacks and include: 1 Palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate Sweating Trembling or shaking Shortness of breath; feeling of being smothered or choked Chest pain Nausea or abdominal distress Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint Becoming detached from oneself and the environment Numbness or tingling sensations Chills or hot flashes If you suffer from panic attacks, learn how to deal with panic attacks and get panic attack treatment.

Psychological Symptoms of Severe Anxiety Intense fears of losing control, going crazy or dying are common psychological symptoms of severe anxiety. Post-traumatic stress disorder can produce symptoms of severe anxiety including: Psychologically reliving the traumatic event Overreacting with intense fear to anything reminiscent of the traumatic event Feelings of a shortened life Looking for and seeing danger everywhere Overreacting with fear when startled Behavioral Symptoms of Severe Anxiety Behavioral symptoms of severe anxiety often take the form of avoidance.

This might include: Not going to specific places Not seeing certain people Not having specific experiences These severe symptoms of anxiety can even escalate until the person refuses to leave the house or talk to most people. People with OCD become obsessed with ideas such as: 2 Contamination Safety Order Doubt Once an obsession takes hold, the person feels an overwhelming urge to perform an action, a compulsion, also known as a ritual. Examples of severe compulsions include: Washing of hands until the skin is raw Picking of skin and hair around the face until there are open wounds Being unable to leave the house due to repeated checking of things related to safety such as turning off the stove article references.

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