Every day life can be stressful. So, it’s natural to occasionally experience anxiety or feelings of anxiousness. In fact, anxiety can serve as a protective mechanism to alert you to possible danger.
But, when you experience extended periods of anxiety that disrupt your work, relationships and sleep, it can be a sign of a serious condition that requires professional assistance.
If one or more of these problems describes your situation, you may require professional help:
- Wake up in the morning and dread facing the day
- Have panic attacks that cause shortness of breath, feelings of choking or sweating, rapid heart rate, shakiness, dizziness, numbness and tingling or lightheadedness
- Find yourself exaggerating the level of danger in a situation and underestimating your control over the situation.
Here’s an example of how anxiety can adversely affect someone:
Ben’s anxiety is so severe that he quit his job. He has been out of work for several months. The night before a job interview, he becomes anxious and experiences shortness of breath, numbness, lightheadedness and sweating. His symptoms become so severe that he decides to cancel the interview. He immediately feels a sense of relief. As a result of this reaction, the next time Ben is offered an interview, not only will he be likely to experience considerable anxiety, but he will also be strongly compelled to cancel the interview thus setting up a cycle of anxiety/avoidance that can be difficult to break.
Anxiety has many causes. But it’s important to remember, you are not alone. The clinical staff at Belmont Behavioral Health can help you understand what you are going through and work with you to develop a plan to help get your life back.
When you need to talk to someone, turn to Belmont.
Call 1-800-220-HELP (4357) or (215) 456-8000 to get the help you need.
Get more information about the following behavioral health disorders:
Anxiety and Aging
Mood / Affective Disorder
Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder