HOSA Happenings Issue 2 November-December 2016 | Page 8

MENTAL ILLNEsS AWARENESS

What is Anxiety?

You know that feeling of worry before a huge exam? That’s anxiety, the feeling of nervousness, tension and worry. Everyone experiences anxiety at times. From riding your first roller coaster to exam week, anxiety is common and normal. Symptoms of anxiety include increased heart rate, stomach aches, shortness of breath, and more. Everyone feels it at times, but when is too much anxiety a problem?

Anxiety disorders are characterized by a feeling of worry and nervousness that can impact and ultimately interfere with your daily life. Although there is not an exact cause of anxiety disorders, environmental factors and changes in the brain can cause them. Panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder are all types of anxiety that are very real.

Panic disorder causes unexpected panic attacks that are recurrent. People with panic disorder may have complications that lead to intense fear about when the next panic attack will occur. People with generalized anxiety disorder have constant anxiety and usually a lot of fear that can last for months on end. Other than causing the related symptoms, generalized anxiety disorder can cause complications, such as lowering your energy, diminishing your focus and worsening depression.

Social anxiety disorders cause increased fear of social situations. Complications and symptoms of this disorder include distancing yourself from public situations and having difficulty making friends.

Your mind is your prison when you focus on your fear.